You may have come across the terms “weld overlay” and “cladding” at some point. While they are related to one another, they also have considerable differences.
Cladding is the wide term used to layer one substance over another in order to provide a covering or coat. When it comes to flow meters, it is the method of adding an improved metal surface over another surface to enhance the properties, typically resistance to corrosion. Usually, these metals are more costly than their corrosive counterparts, so cladding is a cost-effective way of offering corrosion resistance. McCrometer’s V-Cone® product suite, for example, offers deep customization including cladding so that it can be used in a broad array of applications.
Flow meters as well as pipes can be clad in multiple ways, with weld overlay remaining the most common as it allows the base material to be fully protected from any harsh chemicals or corrosion as a result of welded metallic alloy. Hard-facing is also popular. Because it hardens the surface, it’s particularly useful in scenarios where rock or sand in the flow may cause surface damage.
Industrial market customers often choose to clad their meter if they are dealing with media flows with corrosive fluids or debris. Operations managers working with steam flow or super-heated steam opt for a cladded meter so they don’t have to concern themselves with minimal carbon steel corrosion that may occur in the application.
The Avanti Company was founded in 1977 by Paul and Justine Devlin and is headquartered in Avon Park, FL. We provide water meters, metering systems, AMI support, on-site flow meter testing, sewer flow monitoring, inspection, and assessment services for the water, wastewater, agricultural, petroleum, and industrial marketplaces. Avanti represents products from McCrometer, Itron, Badger Industrial, Hach Flow, Honeywell/Elster, 64 seconds, Infosense, Nicor, Syrinix, and others. Please visit our website at www.avanticompany.com, email us at info@avanticompany.com, or call us at 863-453-5336 for assistance with all of your flow meter and metering system needs.