IMB Heat Exchangers: LABLEX, SPINTUBE and Hairpin

IMB heat exchangers for refining, petrochemicals and fertilizer production: LABLEX high pressure exchangers, SPINTUBE replacement bundles and hairpin units, engineered to the duty.

IMB: specialty heat exchangers for refining and petrochemicals since 1961

Industrie Meccaniche di Bagnolo (IMB) was established in 1961 to design and manufacture specialty heat exchangers for refining and petrochemicals: high pressures and temperatures, complex fabrication, critical welding and specialist metallurgy. Since 2018 IMB has been part of Chart Industries.

Established in 1961, manufacturing in Bagnolo, Italy
Part of Chart Industries since 2018
Profile: high pressures and temperatures, specialty metallurgy
Manufacturer contact: +39 0373 237611

LABLEX: high pressure exchangers for hydrocracking and hydrogen services

LABLEX® (Lummus Advanced Breech-Lock Exchanger) serves hydrocracking, hydro-treating, gas compression, ammonia/urea synthesis and methanol production in hydrogen-rich streams. More than 700 IMB-built LABLEX units are in service, over half of the world's installed database.

More than 700 units in service
Over 50% of the installed LABLEX database
Shell ID up to 1981 mm, weight up to 180 t (example)
Design pressures 179 and 200 bar (example)

SPINTUBE: replacement bundles for shell and tube heat exchangers

SPINTUBE™ bundles replace tube bundles in TEMA shell and tube exchangers: the swirl flow improves heat transfer and reduces pressure drop. Throughput rises by up to 40% while the same inspection and cleaning methods apply, and flow induced vibrations are eliminated.

Throughput up to 40% higher than a conventional bundle
Tube diameters from 3/8 to 1 1/4 inches
No limits on tube material and thickness
Cleaned by conventional water jet

Hairpin heat exchangers: counter-current flow and temperature cross

Hairpin units use true counter-current flow and are the most efficient design when the process requires a temperature cross: high tube-side pressure, cyclic service, thermal shock and complete vaporization. Shell diameters run from 2 to 30 inches with surface areas above 10,000 ft2 per section.

True counter-current flow, no correction factors
Temperature cross above 300°F (149°C)
Double pipe shells 2–6 inches
Multi-tube shells up to 30 inches

IMB materials and specialty metallurgy

IMB engineers routinely work with exotic metals for high pressure and high temperature duty: super austenitic, duplex and superduplex stainless steels, all grades of titanium, Inconel, Incoloy and Hastelloy, low alloy and low temperature steels, Monel and Cu-Ni alloys.

Super austenitic, duplex and superduplex steels
All grades of titanium
Inconel, Incoloy, Hastelloy
Low alloy and low temperature steels, Monel, Cu-Ni

IMB heat exchanger spare parts and service

IMB service covers the full lifecycle: engineering consultancy, thermal and mechanical design optimization, operator training, installation and commissioning, site assistance and spare parts. Send the unit number and a description of the component and we will prepare a quotation.

Engineering consultancy and design optimization
Operator training: virtual, classroom or site based
Installation and commissioning
Spare parts and site assistance

IMB engineering heritage within Chart Industries

Industrie Meccaniche di Bagnolo (IMB) was established in 1961 in Bagnolo, Italy, as a manufacturer of specialty heat exchangers for the refining, chemicals and petrochemical sectors.

Since 2018 IMB has been part of Chart Industries, and the group portfolio, aftersales network and global presence continue to develop the brand.

Thousands of units carrying the IMB name operate in the most demanding services worldwide: hydrocracking and hydro-treating, ammonia and urea synthesis, methanol production, petrochemicals and offshore projects.

The engineering focus is high pressures and temperatures, complex fabrication, critical welding and specialist metallurgy.

How LABLEX works and why it is more compact than conventional high pressure exchangers

LABLEX® uses a breech-lock closure: internal bolts are not prone to deformation or overstressing, tolerances on the channel and lock ring threads are minimal, and the gasket design keeps a leak tight seal during transient conditions and differential thermal expansion.

The design eliminates the large channel cover flange and bolting of conventional high pressure exchangers, reducing size and weight.

Maintenance uses hydraulic tooling and a lock breaking kit: opening the channels, removing and replacing internals and reclosing become one operation. One of the largest units built has a 1981 mm shell ID, weighs 180 tons and is designed for 179 bar on the shell side and 200 bar on the tube side.

Where IMB heat exchangers are used

LABLEX serves hydrocracking, hydro-treating, gas compression, ammonia/urea synthesis, methanol production and other hydrogen-rich high temperature, high pressure services.

Hairpin exchangers are the most efficient design when a process requires a temperature cross, high tube-side pressure, cyclic service or complete vaporization.

SPINTUBE bundles replace tube bundles in crude pre-heat trains, amine cooler trains, condensers, reboilers and vaporizers, feed-effluent exchangers, hydrocracker units, vertical Texas Towers and compressor gas coolers.

Selection, quotation and delivery of IMB heat exchanger components

We select parts and components for IMB heat exchangers by unit type, unit number, drawing, nameplate or photos: SPINTUBE tube bundles, LABLEX internals and seals, hairpin closures and gaskets, components in stainless and nickel alloys.

Payment by bank transfer, export documentation and delivery to the destination port or terminal.

For pressure components we confirm the process medium, design pressure and temperature from the unit passport and documentation. Lead time, price and scope of supply are stated in the quotation after verification against the specific unit.

Repair and replacement of IMB heat exchanger components

We select and deliver components for the repair of IMB heat exchangers: replacement tube bundles, LABLEX closure elements, gaskets, fasteners and hairpin internals, parts in duplex stainless, titanium and nickel alloys.

The unit number and part photos identify the replacement item, materials and configuration.

Compatibility is verified against the unit passport: process medium, pressure and temperature, tube and shell materials, closure type and connecting dimensions. Engineering consultancy and thermal design optimization support the selection of parts for changed operating modes.

IMB and model names are trademarks of their respective owners and are used only to identify the equipment for which we source parts. SpareX is not an official dealer, distributor or representative of IMB and is not affiliated with the trademark owner. Origin, documents and warranty are stated for each item in the quotation.