New testing facility at SchuF Ireland

Line blinding is a well established maintenance and safety procedure to avoid cross-contamination and pollution during maintenance. While safety and contamination issues are comparatively easy to handle onshore, the tough conditions which offshore applications bring with them are a big challenge for any line blinding concept. Offshore applications – such as on oil rigs and FPSO vessels – pose special problems for valves in general and line blinds in particular. These include issues like flammable and hazardous media, a corrosive sea air atmosphere, high pressure applications, offshore safety procedures and often stormy and changeable weather conditions. Offshore industries have long been looking for a convenient solution to blind lines in a fast and safe way. The traditional way – the installation of conventional spectacle plates – is still an extremely time consuming way to blind lines which comes along with high expenditures in terms of personnel and equipment.