Industrial fertiliser plants are the foundation of modern agriculture. They produce the vital nutrients nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium that plants need to grow. Without these plants, it would not be possible to feed billions of people. The Haber-Bosch process, which produces ammonia from nitrogen and hydrogen, forms the basis for nitrogen fertilisers. These fertilisers increase the yields of staple foods such as wheat, rice and maize by up to 50 percent. It is estimated that 40 to 60 per cent of global crop yields depend on industrial fertilisers. Without them, the global food system would collapse under the pressure of population growth and shrinking arable land.

The production of fertilisers requires huge, capital-intensive plants that cost billions. Only through this scale can the products be made available at affordable prices and in sufficient quantities. In the past, most plants were located in highly industrialised countries, but today they are increasingly being built in emerging countries in order to secure regional supplies. Fertiliser plants are also closely linked to global supply chains: they connect the mining industry for phosphates and potassium as well as the petrochemical industry with agriculture. This makes them a central hub in global trade.

As indispensable as fertilisers are, their production poses considerable challenges. Production is energy-intensive, especially ammonia synthesis, which often relies on fossil fuels. There are also environmental problems: over-fertilisation leads to excess nutrients in the soil and water, which has a negative impact on water quality and the climate. Corrosion is another major issue. Aggressive media such as ammonia, salts and acids are used in the plants, jeopardising the integrity of pipelines and components. This poses risks to the safety and availability of the systems.

Crevice corrosion is a particularly insidious form of corrosion. It occurs in narrow gaps, for example under pipe clamps, where moisture, chlorides and ammonium salts accumulate. Oxygen-depleted zones develop in these gaps, which accelerate the corrosion process. The consequences are serious: pipes can leak, unplanned downtimes occur and the safety of the entire system is jeopardised. Conventional pipe clamps do not offer sufficient protection here, as their design favours the formation of such gaps.

STAUFF has developed the ACT pipe clamps to minimise these risks. ACT stands for Anti-Corrosion Technology and describes a series of design improvements that significantly reduce crevice corrosion. The clamps have an open, self-draining geometry that prevents the accumulation of moisture. In addition, the clamps insulate the pipe electrically from the support, which reduces galvanic corrosion between different metals. High-alloy screws and metal parts such as cover plates and welding plates ensure maximum resistance to aggressive media.

The ACT pipe clamps are based on the proven DIN 3015 standard, but have been significantly enhanced. They are available in different versions - as single, double and multi-line clamps - and cover pipe diameters from 6 millimetres to 88.9 millimetres. They therefore offer solutions for a wide range of applications in fertiliser production.

The development of ACT pipe clamps is based on decades of experience in the offshore oil and gas industry. The conditions there are extreme: salt water, high humidity and aggressive chemicals place the highest demands on corrosion resistance. STAUFF has mastered these challenges and created a solution that has proven itself in practice. ACT pipe clamps reduce maintenance costs, extend the service life of pipework and increase operational safety. These advantages can be directly transferred to the fertiliser industry, which is confronted with similar corrosion risks.

Corrosion protection is not an optional extra, but a key requirement for the safety and efficiency of fertiliser plants. With the ACT pipe clamps, STAUFF offers a solution that has proven itself under extreme conditions and is now also setting new standards in fertiliser production. Operators who rely on this technology not only ensure the reliability of their plants, but also the security of supply for millions of people worldwide.

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