New fully automated ring pipe internal cleaning system combines stainless steel pipe expertise and mechanical engineering know-how. - Schoeller Werk and ID Engineering strengthen cooperation in special machine construction.

Hellenthal, August 25, 2025 – Schoeller, one of the leading manufacturers of longitudinally welded and drawn stainless steel tubes on the European market, has successfully commissioned a new fully automated ring tube internal cleaning system in collaboration with its subsidiary, ID Ingenieure & Dienstleistungen GmbH. The system represents the highest technical standards in special machine construction and is another example of the close and successful cooperation between the two companies.

The new system fully automates the internal cleaning of ring tubes – with an internal diameter of 2 to 16 mm and a length of several hundred meters – and raises it to a new level of efficiency. The cleaning process reliably removes lubricants from the drawing process from the inner surface of the tubes, combining high-pressure chemical cleaning with mechanical support from special cleaning elements. A digital production system automatically selects and parameterizes cleaning programs based on dimensions, controlled by scanned barcodes and database queries. This ensures reproducible results, reduces manual effort, and increases process reliability.

The development combines Schoeller's decades of experience in stainless steel pipe production with ID's engineering and manufacturing expertise. “Our joint strength lies in the combination of in-depth process understanding and innovative mechanical engineering solutions – this not only makes us strong internally, but also gives us a clear competitive advantage in the market,” emphasizes Markus Mertens, Head of Industrial Engineering at Schoeller.

ID Ingenieure & Dienstleistungen GmbH, based in Euskirchen, specializes in the construction of customized machine and plant solutions and also offers its services to external customers. For the new ring pipe internal cleaning system, the company took on key tasks in mechanical, electrical, and software-related plant engineering. “This project shows how we can work with Schoeller to bring innovative technology to series production. The high degree of automation, the reproducibility of the processes, and the technical availability of the system set new standards,” says Tobias Butscheid, CEO of ID.

The new system scores with precise cleaning results, high system availability, and significantly reduced manual work steps. It is part of a strategic further development of production processes at Schoeller and at the same time drives forward the digital transformation of the Schoeller Group's machinery.

“We don't see this project as an isolated case, but rather as a blueprint for further joint developments – both for our own needs and for ID's external customers,” adds Butscheid.