Pig launcher and receiver fabrication is a specialized capability at USA Weld Express. We build the launching and receiving traps that keep pipelines clean and inspected, fabricated and tested to code quality for safe field operation.
What Are Pig Launchers & Receivers?
Pig launchers and receivers, sometimes called pig traps, are the assemblies that insert and retrieve ‘pigs’ — devices sent through a pipeline to clean it or gather inspection data — without shutting the line down. A launcher loads a pig into the flowing pipeline; a receiver captures it downstream. Each is a pressure-containing assembly built from an oversized barrel, a reducer to the pipeline size, a quick-opening closure, and the associated piping and connections. Because they operate under pipeline pressure and are opened and closed by operators, they must be fabricated accurately and to code quality.
Engineered Pressure Assemblies
A launcher or receiver is more than a piece of pipe — it’s an engineered assembly that combines several components into a working trap. The barrel holds the pig, the reducer transitions to the pipeline diameter, the closure allows safe access for loading and unloading, and various nozzles connect for venting, draining, pressure equalizing, and pig signaling. Fabricating these accurately, with sound welds and correct connections, is essential to a trap that operates safely and reliably in the field.
Custom-Built to Your Pipeline
We fabricate launchers and receivers to match your specific pipeline — its diameter, pressure, pig type, and configuration. Working from your engineering and specifications, we build the trap with the correct barrel size, reducer, closure type, and nozzle arrangement for your operation. That custom fabrication ensures the launcher or receiver integrates properly with the pipeline and functions correctly for the pigging operations you run, rather than forcing a generic unit onto a specific application.
Code Welding, Testing & Documentation
Because launchers and receivers contain pipeline pressure, they demand code-quality fabrication and verification. We weld to certified procedures with qualified welders, examine welds with non-destructive testing, and prove the assembly with pressure testing. Material traceability and documentation complete the package. That means a trap leaves our shop not just built but verified and documented — critical for a pressure assembly that operators will open and close on a live pipeline.
Delivered Ready for the Field
We deliver launchers and receivers fabricated, tested, and ready for field installation, so the intricate pressure-boundary welding is done and proven in the shop rather than in the field. That’s essential for these assemblies, where weld quality directly affects operator safety. Arriving complete and tested, the trap can be installed and tied into the pipeline efficiently, with the assurance that its pressure boundary has been verified before it ever sees line pressure.
Why Choose USA Weld Express
With 17 years of fabrication experience and full in-house welding, testing, and documentation, USA Weld Express fabricates pig launchers and receivers built and verified to code quality. Building these specialized pressure assemblies in the shop means accurate configuration, proven welds, and a single point of accountability. When your pipeline operation needs custom launchers and receivers delivered on schedule and priced right, our fabrication delivers.