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ogether with the lower price compared to solid CRAs

and improved availability, clad products are now a seri-

ous third piping material option. Stainless Steel World got

in touch with President Dr Bhaven Chakravarti, VP Sales &

Marketing Robert Jenkerson and VP Manufacturing Keith

Oliver to learn more about 

KLAD

’s activities and the compa-

ny’s plans for the future.

It becomes clear early in the interview that 

KLAD

has gone

through quite a development since the last time we spoke

with them, two years ago. At that time, the company was

focussing heavily on working to gain acceptance of clad pip-

ing as an option for corrosive applications, and investing in

research and development work.  The marketplace respond-

ed positively to 

KLAD

' s marketing efforts and 

KLAD

moved

to a larger facility with more capabilities to properly

respond to the market's needs ensuring that clad piping

materials are available.  Maintaining the versatility and flexi-

bility of the production facilities is paramount for 

KLAD

.   

Until a few years ago the material options for piping

systems were more or less confined to solid corro-

sion-resistant alloys and carbon steel. Using clad pip-

ing material was not often considered a serious

option because of availability problems and unfamil-

iarity with the material. But things have changed

over the years, not in the least as a result of the

development and marketing efforts that Houston

based KLAD Manufacturing Company has put in clad

piping components. The company is convinced that

clad now offers the best of both worlds: corrosion

resistance that equals solid CRAs and the high

strength of a backing steel. 

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KLAD Manufacturing Co.

Versatile producer of clad piping components

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OMPLETE

Dr Chakravarti told us that in the beginning, before he

started his company, lack of availability and technical

difficulties caused by the unfamiliarity of most engineers

with clad piping materials had often made clad products

difficult to use. As a result it prevented the option from

being accepted as a solution to a plant engineer’s corro-

sion or erosion problems. In order to get the material

accepted and to guarantee optimal service to the end user,

the company had to master a variety of production

techniques to manufacture a wide range of piping compo-

nents.   

KLAD

currently produces  seamless clad pipes,

seam-welded clad pipes and fit-

tings  from roll and explo-

sion-bonded clad plates

and weld-overlaid clad

pipes, fittings, flanges,

nozzles and other vessel

components.  Each of

the techniques offers

clients options, per the

scope and schedule require-

ments of 

the project.  

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KLAD

in alliance with Wyman Gordon in Houston produces

the seamless clad pipes.  Wyman Gordon, with its massive

seamless production capabilities make supplying large clad

piping projects for oil and gas production systems, refinery

revamps and other large projects feasible.   

Dr. Chakravarti pointed out that the 

KLAD

weld overlay

facility has grown immensely and considers the welding

techniques utilised in the shop crucial to its success.

While pulsed spray GMAW process is central to much of

the overlay performed, other welding processes are also

utilised to meet other requirements.  The P-

GMAW ensures excellent bonding

KLAD

manufacturing shop for overlay and spool fabrication.

X65/SS309LMo overlaid subsea piping with TSA OD coating for 

GOM project.

KLAD

manufacturing shop for overlay and spool fabrication.

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with  low-dilution, such that, 

KLAD

routinely provides a

single layer deposit meeting the wrought alloy chemistry.

Mr Jenkerson adds: "We are able to break down a project

and select the best production method for each of its con-

stituent parts to meet the highest quality standards and

economic criteria for the project.  We are listening to our

client's needs of a better product made less expensive"

T

HIRD OPTION

But how have things been in

the past two years? Dr

Chakravarti: "We have

made 'clad' a practical,

third piping material

option, covering the full

range of materials, sizes and at

improved availability.  We

have made it easy for the

industry to work with clad,

so it now is a much more

accepted product than it

was a few years ago. It has

truly found its way in the

minds of people.  I think that

that is one of the most

important developments we have seen. 

End users have started to realise that clad allows them to

combine high strength with corrosion resistance and pro-

vides them with material solutions opportunities not avail-

able previously.  For example, the oil and gas industry is

now drilling for deep-water wells, requiring essential

material strength to withstand collapse and corrosion

resistance.  Due to their relatively lower strength, CRAs

are cost and design prohibitive, but clad now  gives them

the opportunity to combine high-strength steel with cor-

rosion-resistant cladding, in the sizes and quantities

required to make the project viable.  From a cost point of

view, clad is the attractive alternative,  making it substan-

tially more economic for projects to go ahead." 

According to Dr Chakravarti, this has led to a clear move

within the market from CRAs and carbon steel piping

equipment to clad materials, and he thinks there are

tremendous growth opportunities: "Everyone is reducing

costs, driving the maintenance world to upgrade their pip-

ing materials.  Clad has become an important parameter in

people's considerations. When you look at the total  pip-

ing market, the vast majority consists of carbon steel. Only

a small part is made of CRAs, and what we have really

done is create a third piping material option to choose

from, which is clad." The market growth means that 

KLAD

has to grow as well if the company wants to service all its

clients.  Dr Chakravarti explained that the company’s pro-

duction facilities are quite well adapted to this develop-

ment: "In the past few years we have expanded our pro-

duction capacity tremendously. The fact that we are now

able to manufacture every piping component, from  weld

overlay to  seamless pipe has been the most important

development in our company recently. 

T

HREE TECHNIQUES

Mr Oliver continues: "Our

organisational struc-

ture has given us

tremendous

flexibility in

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Given the versatility of 

KLAD

’s production techniques and the range of

capabilities that exist, 

KLAD

actively works with client to solve their

material performance problems. 

Fabrication of X60/alloy

625 3D bend gooseneck.

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our production procedures and enables us to comply with

the fluctuations in market demand. Whether someone asks

for ten feet of pipe or five thousand feet of pipe we can

handle it. In order to do so we have three different pro-

duction techniques that are interchangeable: manufactur-

ing clad piping components  from clad plates, or  by weld

overlaying seamless carbon or low alloy steel components

and  from seamless clad pipe. The weld overlay capacity

gives us the flexibility to adjust to market demand." Mr

Jenkerson added that this sets 

KLAD

apart from its com-

petitors because they mostly concentrate on one produc-

tion technique. According to Mr Jenkerson, 

KLAD

is prob-

ably the only company to manufacture clad piping systems

through all of the production techniques: "Our clad and

overlay stations are very versatile. They can be broken

down in a pipe welding station, a pipe overlay station and

a fitting station, and once the components have been made

they enter into the fabrication part of our facilities. From

here we can supply one or two parts or a complete spool,

as well as a complete piping project. Given the versatility

of 

KLAD

’s production techniques and the range of capabili-

ties that exist, 

KLAD

actively works with client to solve

their material performance problems.  For example, here

is a case where working with a large OEM valve supplier,

we helped develop a product line, that made the product

possible." Mr Jenkerson described where 

KLAD

weld over-

laid the entire low alloy valve body with HASTELLOY®

Alloy C22. It would have been impractical from a design

and cost point of view to make the body from a solid C22.

Mr Jenkerson: "We worked hand in hand with them in the

manufacture of  the valve, which eventually improved their

process and will keep costs down. That’s the direction

we’re moving into: giving end users the opportunity to

look at their plant designs and help them improve it."

Building up a long-term relationship with plant engineers

and maintenance managers is one of the most important

ways for 

KLAD

to do business. They are the ones who

know what’s going on in their plants and who can get in

touch with 

KLAD

to discuss problems. The company then

develops the most cost-effective solution for that particu-

lar problem. Developing solutions to critical corrosion

problems is 

KLAD

’s core business. As a matter of fact, the

company is now working on a number of clad applications

for high-temperature corrosive environments and chemi-

cal plants as well as a number of other areas that will bring

advantages to the engineering community in the field of

costs and performance.  A solution to erosion problems is

another area that 

KLAD

has started work. As there are

many piping systems that can benefit from applying a

wear-resistant material. That’s what we’re working on

right now."  And that ended our interview. Asked about

KLAD

’s future expectations, Dr Chakravarti replied that

their goal now is to make 

KLAD

synonymous for clad pip-

ing systems and to make clad, the  third piping material

option, commonplace in the industry. For 

KLAD

, the sky is

the limit when it comes to clad applications and combined

with the ongoing maintenance cost reductions and carbon

steel upgrades in the industry it looks like the company is

heading for a bright future.

➛

Name:

KLAD

Manufacturing Company, Ltd.

Founded:

1995

Products:

KLAD

is a single-source supplier of metal-

lurgically bonded clad pipe, clad fittings

and weld overlaid piping components,

flanges, nozzles,  and pressure vessel com-

ponents.  Additionally, 

KLAD

fabricates

clad piping spools.

Location:

KLAD

is located in Houston, Texas.. 

Methods:

Pipe and fittings made from roll bond

and explosion bonded clad plates 

Seamless co-extruded clad piping 

Low-dilution weld overlay clad pipe, fit-

tings, flanges and valves 

Induction bending of clad pipes 

Hot formed heavy wall clad fittings

Grades:

KLAD

offers an extensive range of backing

materials such as carbon steels, chrome

moly grades and high-yield grades com-

bined with a wide range of corrosion-

resistant cladding alloys including 300

series stainless steels, Alloys 825 and 6Mo,

Nickel alloys 200, 400, 625 and C276 and

wear-resistant grades.

Markets:

Refining, Oil & Gas Production, Nuclear

Power, Environmental, Chemical Process

Industries  

F A C T S   &   F I G U R E S

1. SS304L 

KLAD

nuclear plant feedwatere heater shell

replacements.

2. Alloy C276 

KLAD

safety valve relief header.

3. Fabrication of alloy 825 

KLAD

piping for sour gas plant.