19 Jan 2025
OF Bell professionally designs, manufactures and tests complex, miniature MFL sensor components for use in pigging and pipeline integrity technologies worldwide.
MFL (magnetic flux leakage) sensors by OF Bell keep critical oil and gas utilities flowing through pipelines worldwide. Manufactured in the UK, fully-assembled and tested in-house, MFL sensors are utilised in pigging and pipeline integrity technologies to protect infrastructure that serves millions of people around the clock.
OF Bell's reliable MFL sensor manufacture from our self-contained facility in Bishop Auckland, Co. Durham, is an essential part of pigging technology supply chains that keep production lines operational, delivered by a specialist electronic engineering team to confidential, ISO-certified standards that protect your organisation's commercial interests throughout.
MFL sensors used by the intelligent pigging and pipeline integrity industry in pigging tool technologies form part of a suite of electro-magnetic wound coil components, transformers and solenoids produced by OF Bell's electronic engineering team.
Supplied to manufacturers of onshore oil and gas technologies and assemblies, OF Bell's highly sensitive MFL sensors are relied upon for accurate fault detection worldwide, designed and manufactured entirely in-house by specialists with over 50 years' experience in electronics, component engineering and moulded plastics and exceptional insight and experience in producing MFL sensors for the intelligent pigging sector.
"Pigging" sends a pig - or tool - along a gas or oil pipeline for the purposes of cleaning and inspection. This "in-line inspection" is critical to protecting the integrity and continued operation of the pipeline, whether a pipeline is at risk of corrosion, damage or wall loss, or at risk of interference by tapping and theft of resources, particularly affecting overground pipelines.
Intelligent pigging uses technology to keep a pipeline operational and safe, in line with environmental, health and safety compliance requirements of many jurisdictions.
Magnetic flux leakage is an electro-magnetic testing technique that detects corrosion, pitting and other pipeline infrastructure damage. Non-destructive and highly accurate, MFL testing is primarily used in the in-line inspection of onshore pipelines due to their more rigid structure which enables the pipeline to be magnetised.
Offshore pipelines are often inspected using ultrasound due to materials used for these lines.
Intelligent pigging tools used for MFL testing must withstand the challenging environments of the pipeline, remaining accurate and fully operational when working amongst harsh gases and high pressures of 40-50 bar.
The pipeline is magnetised by the pig, using brushes for example, and MFL sensors detect changes in the magnetic field which indicate damage to the pipeline's integrity. This accurate data is fed back to operators in real time, supporting the efficient maintenance, repair and replacement of essential infrastructure.
Forming part of a train of technology, this latest generation of intelligent pigging tools generally incorporates MFL sensors, a data recording element and a power pack.
MFL sensors manufactured by OF Bell commonly comprise miniature wound coils, although hall effect sensors - using semiconductors such as silicon, and also produced by OF Bell for a number of pigging sector customers - may also be used.
OF Bell manufactures MFL sensors to suit a range of intelligent pigging tool sizes, from 8-inch pipes up to some of the largest 36-inch pipelines.
OF Bell's fully in-house manufacturing processes support the confidential manufacture of MFL sensors in order to protect your organisation's commercial interests and intelligent property.
Consultancy with our electronic engineering experts develops neat product designs for your MFL sensors, components and assemblies which are capable of scalable production. Tooling in our own workshop, injection moulding of plastics and MFL sensor component assembly then delivers complete components Made in Britain under one roof, before thorough testing and dispatch to MFL and pigging technology production lines both within the UK and worldwide.
MFL sensor manufacture with OF Bell starts with specialist, hands-on product design and consultancy to develop an MFL sensor design that's not only consistently effective and reliable in the field, but which can be manufactured cost-effectively and efficiently to maximise productivity on your production line.
Materials consultancy, including metal replacement, helps to lower production costs whilst developing an MFL sensor design capable of excellent performance.
OF Bell's state-of-the-art tooling workshop doesn't make tools for anyone else, only for our clients' projects. This commitment to confidentiality aids efficiency as your MFL sensor product moves through development, prototyping and into production, avoiding the need to rely on external tooling suppliers.
Experienced tooling engineers design single or multi-cavity tools for use in our plastic injection moulding technologies, maximising value from every injection.
OF Bell is a miniature and complex component specialist, manufacturing moulded plastics such as MFL sensor bobbins using technologies that deliver shot weights from just 0.3g for excellent in accuracy, consistency and quality of mould.
Preventing degradation and wastage of plastics, miniature moulded plastics for MFL sensors by OF Bell are a critical part of our in-house manufacturing processes that deliver supply chain reliability without the need for expensive overseas imports.
MFL sensors for intelligent pigging are fully assembled in-house by OF Bell's electronics experts at our facility in Bishop Auckland, Co. Durham. MFL sensors are manufactured and tested to strict quality standards, with wire sizes down to just 0.01mm for some of the smallest MFL sensors in use in the field.
Clients rely on MFL sensors from OF Bell to get to work immediately. Our team comprehensively tests each sensor according to its application, using in-situ testing processes developed in partnership with our clients, before dispatching with test data for reassurance that your MFL sensors are manufactured and supplied to the unbeatable standards we're known for.
With every MFL sensor by OF Bell manufactured here in the UK, your intelligent pigging production lines are consistently well-stocked with no long lead times, delays or expensive shipping costs.
Since 1973, OF Bell has worked alongside clients in countless sectors, from oil, gas and utilities to medical, construction, consumer goods and household products, as a trusted manufacturing partner based wholly in the UK to deliver fully-assembled, tested and quality-assured complex electronic components, assemblies and moulded plastics that form a vital part of supply chains across the UK and worldwide.
ISO-certified, Bishop Auckland-based in Co. Durham, UK, and with over 50 years' experience, from confidential in-house product design and development to injection moulding, assembly and testing of precision electronic, electrical and plastic parts, miniature and complex components, including wound coil components, by OF Bell enable client businesses to achieve their full potential through reliable, confidential and complete complex component engineering.
OF Bell's expert MFL sensor and electronic component engineering team in Bishop Auckland, County Durham, delivers reliable, consistent and highly-accurate MFL sensors for the intelligent pigging sector. Get in touch to find out more about our manufacturing processes and book a meeting with our team.
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