KCR Series & K-CLP technology debuted at AIS Tech in May

Pipe wear is more than a maintenance issue in harsh industrial environments. For facilities handling highly abrasive materials such as slag, ash, limestone, and similar bulk materials, internal pipe abrasion can severely reduce service life, leading to unplanned downtime, and higher replacement costs.

Kimura’s K-CLP technology was developed to address this challenge by lining traditional steel pipes with high-chromium cast iron. The result is a lined pipe solution designed to extend service life in severe wear applications where conventional pipe materials may degrade quickly, and ceramic pipes are cost prohibitive.

Engineered for Abrasion Resistance

K-CLP is part of Kimura’s broader KCR Series of high-chromium cast iron wear-resistant technologies. By applying high-chrome cast iron to the inner surface of the pipe, K-CLP focuses protection where abrasion is most concentrated.

This approach combines the structural function of the pipe with a highly wear-resistant lining material engineered for harsh industrial use. It is especially relevant for operations where abrasive particles continuously impact, slide, or flow through piping systems.

Validated Through Comparative Testing

Kimura has evaluated K-CLP performance through multiple abrasion testing methods, including blasting tests using steel grit at both 90-degree and 60-degree impact angles. These tests were designed to compare wear behavior under different abrasion conditions.

Additional testing compared K-CLP against basalt and ceramic-lined pipes by rotating 3,000 grams of sand with 900 grams of water for 96 hours at 300 rpm. In Kimura’s testing, K-CLP demonstrated at least 10 times better abrasion resistance than basalt-lined pipes and abrasion resistance comparable to ceramic-lined pipes.

These results support K-CLP as a strong option for applications requiring extended service life in abrasive environments.

Applications in Heavy Industry

K-CLP is designed for pipe systems used to transport abrasive industrial materials, including:

• Granulated blast furnace slag
• Fly ash
• Clinker ash
• Limestone
• Similar bulk materials used in steelmaking, power generation, cement production, and industrial processing

Kimura’s broader KCR Series has also demonstrated service-life improvements in harsh applications such as slurry transport, limestone conveying, and other abrasive material-handling systems.

Innovation from Kimura Japan

K-CLP reflects Kimura’s continued investment in materials engineering and casting innovation. The technology has already received patent approval in Japan and was recently introduced to the North American market at AISTech 2026 in Pittsburgh.

As Kimura approaches its 100th anniversary, developments such as K-CLP show how decades of casting expertise continue to support new solutions for modern industrial challenges.

For companies seeking to reduce pipe wear, extend maintenance intervals, and improve reliability in abrasive environments, K-CLP offers a new option backed by Kimura’s experience in high-performance cast materials.