Successfully Delivered 1,599 ASTM A213 TP316L Heat Exchanger Tubes To Vietnam

Recently, GNEE Stainless successfully completed the production, testing, and delivery of a major export order for ASTM A213 TP316L stainless steel heat exchanger tubes. The full shipment has been dispatched to Vietnam to support local industrial heat exchanger equipment projects. This order encompasses multiple high-precision heat exchanger tube specifications, with a total shipment volume exceeding 1,000 pieces, marking one of our key flagship orders as we continue to deepen our presence in the Vietnamese industrial piping market this year.

This order covers two mainstream tube size specifications: φ8×1 and φ10×1, with customized tube lengths including 993 mm, 1193 mm, and 1493 mm. A total of 1,029 pieces were shipped. All products strictly comply with the ASTM A213 international material standard and are required to meet the ultra-low surface roughness requirement of Ra < 0.6 μm, along with solution annealing heat treatment and pickling and passivation surface treatment processes. Each production batch is supplied with an authoritative EN 10204 3.1 material certificate to ensure full material traceability and quality compliance.

Our Solutions

 

During the initial phase of the order, our technical team engaged in deep alignment with the Vietnamese customer, accurately identifying three core pain points in the custom tube production, processing, and delivery. By developing targeted end-to-end solutions, we ensured comprehensive product quality and delivery efficiency, earning high recognition from the client.

Processing Control of Ultra-Thin Wall and Extra-Long Tubes

Customer Challenge:
φ8 × 1 mm and φ10 × 1 mm tubes are classified as small-diameter thin-wall tubing. Some tube lengths reach nearly 10 meters (9,939 mm). During the cold drawing and solution annealing processes, thin-wall tubes are highly susceptible to bending deformation and uneven wall thickness, which may affect tube insertion and welding operations on heat exchanger tube sheets.
Solution:
Our production line adopts a high-precision micro-tension cold drawing process. A multi-point online straightening system is integrated into the continuous bright solution annealing furnace to precisely control heat treatment temperature and cooling rate. This ensures the full-length straightness, dimensional accuracy, and wall thickness tolerance fully comply with ASTM A213 requirements.

Strict Internal Surface Roughness Requirement (Ra < 0.6 μm)

Customer Challenge:
The internal surface roughness of heat exchanger tubes directly affects fluid resistance, flow efficiency, and scaling tendency. The customer required an extremely high internal surface finish of Ra < 0.6 μm, which is difficult to achieve consistently through conventional pickling processes alone.
Solution:
Before pickling and passivation, we added dedicated internal surface polishing and ultrasonic cleaning processes. A professional roughness tester is used for multi-point inspection of both internal and external tube surfaces on each production batch, ensuring a smooth and clean surface finish. This effectively improves corrosion resistance and extends service life in demanding operating environments.

 

Multi-Specification Small-Batch Production and Damage Protection During Long-Distance Transportation

Customer Challenge:
The order includes multiple diameters and customized lengths. During international sea and inland transportation, mixed loading of long and short tubes can easily cause tube-end impact, surface scratches, or moisture-related oxidation.

Solution:
Our quality inspection team performs 100% dimensional inspection, hydrostatic testing, and EN 10204 3.1 material traceability verification for every tube. For export packaging, each tube end is fitted with plastic protective caps, individual tubes are separated with protective film, and different sizes are bundled separately. The tubes are then secured in durable export wooden cases with moisture-proof and shock-resistant protection, ensuring the products arrive at the Vietnam destination safely and in perfect condition.

hydrostatic testing

ASTM A213 TP316L Material Certificate

TP316L stainless steel pipe + wooden case packaging

Pipe cap protection+ wooden case packaging

Customer Feedback

Faced with tight deadlines and rigorous quality standards, GNEE earned high praise from its Vietnamese client thanks to a transparent and meticulous quality control system-featuring full-process inspection videos and 3.1 certificates-and exceptional problem-solving capabilities. The client noted that this successful delivery not only resolved an urgent need regarding the assembly of their heat exchange equipment but also laid a solid foundation for long-term cooperation on future projects.

 

If you are sourcing ASTM A213 TP316L stainless steel heat exchanger tubes, GNEE offers customized production services tailored to your project requirements, including cut-to-length processing, solution annealing, pickling and passivation, and EN 10204 3.1 material certification. We accommodate both small-batch trial orders and large-scale production runs, backed by rigorous dimensional inspection, surface roughness control, and extensive experience in export packaging; our products have successfully supported numerous overseas industrial projects. Please contact us to discuss your heat exchanger tube needs and to obtain technical solutions, price quotes, and delivery schedules.

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