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On-site machining · Face repair · RTJ grooves

Flange Facing Services in KSA, Machined Where the Flange Sits

A gasket can only seal against a face that is flat and has the right finish. Our portable flange facing machines restore damaged sealing faces in place, on pipework, vessels, exchangers and valves, so you avoid cutting out a spool or shipping equipment to a workshop.

Why flange faces fail

Most flange leaks start at the sealing face

Flange faces get damaged in ordinary service and maintenance: corrosion pits under old gaskets, radial scratches from scrapers and wire brushes, dents from dropped tools, and erosion where a leak has been cutting across the face. A radial scratch is the worst of these, because it gives the process fluid a direct path across the gasket however hard the studs are tightened.

Our flange facing services in KSA fix the face where it is. The machine clamps inside the bore or around the outside of the flange, is trued to the flange axis, and then machines the face with a single-point tool. The feed rate and tool nose radius set the groove pitch and depth, so the finish matches the gasket you will install, whether that is a spiral wound gasket on a serrated raised face or a metal ring in an RTJ groove.

After machining we check the finish against a comparator and take flatness readings, then hand the flange straight to our bolt torquing crew. Reassembling on a new face with a calculated bolt load is the combination that stops repeat leaks.

Flanged pipeline section with bolted joints ready for controlled bolt torquing
A clean, flat sealing face is the start of a leak-free joint
Machining capability

Portable machines for every flange type

Machine size and mounting are chosen from flange diameter, face type and the access around it.

ID-mounted flange facers

Clamp inside the bore for small and medium flanges, nozzles and valve ends. Quick to set up when the bore is clear.

OD-mounted flange facers

Clamp around the outside for large flanges, heat exchanger girth flanges and where the bore is blocked or unsuitable.

RTJ groove machining

Re-cutting octagonal and oval ring grooves to the correct width, depth and angle for a new ring gasket.

Serrated finish control

Feed and tool radius are set to give the groove pitch and roughness called for by the gasket and flange standard.

Weld build-up repair

Deep pits are filled by a qualified welder, then the face is machined back to profile and finish.

Seal faces on equipment

Heat exchanger channels, tubesheet faces, valve bonnets and manways, machined without removing the equipment.

Matching the face finish to the gasket

Gasket typeUsual faceWhat the machining must achieve
Spiral woundRaised face, serratedEven spiral or concentric serrations within the specified roughness range
Sheet / non-metallicRaised or flat face, serratedFinish rough enough to grip the gasket and prevent blow-out
Ring type joint (RTJ)RTJ grooveCorrect groove width, depth and side angle with a smooth, undamaged flank
Kammprofile / grooved metalRaised face, smooth to fine serrationFlat, fine finish suited to the facing layer of the gasket
Metal-jacketedRaised face or tongue-and-grooveSmooth, flat face with no radial marks
How we work

Flange facing in six steps

The same routine applies to a single valve flange or a set of exchanger joints.

  1. Inspect and measure

    We record the damage, face type and dimensions, and confirm how much material can be removed while keeping the flange within its rated thickness.

  2. Mount the machine

    The facer is clamped on the ID or OD and the area is protected from swarf entering the line.

  3. True to the axis

    The machine is set square to the flange so the new face is flat and perpendicular to the bore.

  4. Machine the face

    Light cuts remove the damage, then a finishing pass produces the specified finish or groove profile.

  5. Verify

    Finish is checked with a comparator, flatness and runout are measured, and RTJ grooves are gauged.

  6. Clean and protect

    Swarf is removed, the face is protected, and the joint is ready for the new gasket and controlled bolting.

Where it is used

Where flange facing saves time and money

On-site machining is usually faster than removing equipment, and far cheaper than replacing a forged flange.

Turnaround leak repairs

Joints that leaked in the last run cycle are opened, re-faced and rebuilt during the shutdown.

Heat exchanger maintenance

Channel, shell and floating head faces that are too large or heavy to send to a workshop.

Valve and pump overhauls

Valve end flanges and pump casings refaced in the plant or the maintenance shop.

New-build quality issues

Flanges damaged during construction or with an incorrect finish found before commissioning.

RTJ joints in high-pressure gas

Worn ring grooves on wellhead, separator and compressor connections.

Pipeline and terminal flanges

Large-diameter mainline and loading-arm flanges with corrosion pitting.

FAQ

Flange facing services in KSA: common questions

Can a flange be refaced without removing the pipe?

Yes. Portable flange facers clamp to the flange where it is installed, so the pipework and equipment stay in place. Only the joint itself needs to be opened.

How much material is removed?

Only enough to clean up the damage, usually a fraction of a millimetre. We measure the flange first and will not machine below the thickness the flange rating allows.

Can you machine RTJ grooves?

Yes. We re-cut worn and damaged ring grooves to the correct dimensions and check them with gauges so the new ring gasket seats properly.

What if the pitting is too deep to machine out?

Deep pits can be filled by a qualified welder using a suitable procedure, then machined back to the correct profile and finish. We can arrange this as part of the job.

Do you also reassemble the joint?

Yes. Our bolt torquing crews can install the new gasket and tighten the joint to a calculated load, so one team is responsible for the result.

Request a quote

Have a damaged flange face?

Send a photo of the face, the flange size and rating, and its location. We will confirm the machine and give you a price.

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