Media Release
WeldFit Awarded U.S. Patent for SureLaunch® Pig Standoff Design
Houston, Texas [September 1, 2026]
Patented design enables reliable separation of stacked pigs in multi-launching systems.
WeldFit has received U.S. Patent No. 12,723,698 for the innovative standoff design incorporated into the company’s SureLaunch® Pig (SLp). The design helps stacked pigs separate reliably, improving the dependability of automated multi-pig launching operations.
Multi-pig launching systems allow several pigs to be stacked inside a single launcher barrel and introduced into the pipeline at predetermined intervals. However, cup-type pigs positioned nose to tail can become lodged together, while differential pressure between adjacent pigs can create a vacuum that makes separation difficult. The SureLaunch Pig was engineered to address both challenges.
The SureLaunch Pig incorporates front and rear standoffs molded directly into its one-piece urethane body. The standoffs maintain clearance between adjacent pigs and prevent interference between their sealing cups. A vented rear standoff also equalizes pressure between the pigs, helping prevent vacuum locking and promoting reliable separation during launch.
These features allow multiple pigs to be staged and launched without repeatedly opening the launcher to access the pipeline. This can reduce personnel exposure, environmental risk and time spent at the launch site. The standoffs also help facilitate pig separation and handling at the receiver.
“This innovation grew directly from what our field experts observed during stacked-pig operations,” said Jeff Lehr, vice president of product innovation and execution at WeldFit. “Operators need confidence that each pig will separate and launch as intended. Our team developed a simple, effective solution that makes multi-pig launching more dependable while also improving the pig’s performance in conventional systems.”
Because the standoffs are integral to the pig body, the design eliminates the backing plates, nuts and bolts commonly used with conventional cup pigs, components that can loosen or become separated inside a pipeline.
Although developed for the SureLaunch® Automated Pig Launcher, the SLp is equally well suited for traditional single-pig launching systems. This versatility allows operators to use the same durable, one-piece pig design across both automated multi-pig and conventional pigging applications.
Manufactured from 80-durometer urethane and featuring an adaptive three-cup sealing design, the SureLaunch Pig is available in nominal pipeline diameters from 6 to 24 inches. Applications include liquid removal, paraffin and debris mitigation, batching, commissioning, product evacuation and hydrostatic testing.
Corporate Communications
WeldFit
5650 Brittmoore Road
Houston, TX 77041 USA
713-460-3700
