What is a flange used for ?

Have you ever needed a flange? If you are a skier, did you know that ski boots connect to the skis with the use of a flange?

Ski boots have a lip at either the toe or heel that automatically slips into the bindings of your skis. Surprisingly, the most widely used flange is a closet flange.

This flange connects a toilet to the floor and then to the drain. Flanges come in all sizes from an enormous industrial size for centrifuges in power plants to their efficient fluid system components that provide safe and effective performance of the system.

Flanges also used to connect smaller systems for reliable hospital oxygen machines that save lives, and are utilized in massive oilrigs that supply fuel and energy. 

A flange is the edge, rim, or collar on a pipe shaft, or wheel. It is used to hold, support, or strengthen an object or assists in attaching one object to another. Flanges are designed to connect pipes, hoses, or tubing to various industrial systems. Depending on the job, some flanges are designed to maintain permanent connections. Other flanges are designed to be disconnected for repairs or for speedy replacement of other component parts of a machine. 

Much research has gone into the design of the flanges used today.

Flanges have been developed over the years to withstand varying temperatures, pressures, and stresses for the continual improved functionality in industrial systems.

Not only do mechanical engineers take into account the temperature, pressure and stress requirements of a flange for their projects but how erosive elements affects the corrosion of components associated in the use of a flange.

Today most flanges are made from resilient materials such as stainless steel or alloys. Many of these alloys, such as Alloy 20 are used for their strength and resistance to corrosion.

The Swagelok Company produces flanges for clients in 70 countries on six different continents. They work to meet the proper standards set out by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), which is vital to their clients’ needs. The ASME’s system of standards and requirements offers guidelines to assist in the development and functionality of industrial projects. Their standards are respected and utilized by Swagelok in the making of the components like the flange that is built for everyone’s safety. 

For overseas projects, Swagelok produces flanges, which adhere to the DIN, (Deutsches Institut für Normung" standards). DIN, which means, "German Institute for Standardization along with the EN - European Standards, maintain the standards required for various products to include materials, services, systems, and components like the flange.

Their requirements are described in detail as to procedures, production, and needs that are respected internationally.

In Japan, the Japanese Industrial Standards (JIS) manages the requirements for industrial projects there.

Swagelok adheres to these standards and requirements needed to produce resilient industrial flanges. The flange, no matter the size, is an integral component of countless industrial systems in use today, ensuring that operations keep moving forward smoothly. 

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