TPi March 2019

Plastic & composite tubes

Advantages and technical characteristics of PVC-O fittings

need any kind of protection and are resistant to the attacks of micro and macro organisms present in nature. The PVC-O fittings are manufactured in DN110, DN160, DN200, DN250, DN315 and DN400 in PN16 bar. The available range of products will be progressively widened to cover all market demands, and currently includes 11.25°, 22.5° and 45° bends, as well as couplers, sliding couplers and reducers. Molecor Tecnologia SL – Spain

and fire protection nets, among other applications. The product, developed by Molecor, is claimed to offer greater technical performance with a lower environmental impact. All of the elements that form the network will present the same mechanical characteristics, guaranteeing the quality of the conveyed water and presenting an important reduction in the water hammer effect. The light, resistant and flexible ecoFITTOM fittings can be manually installed without the need to use heavy machinery. Chemically inert, immune to corrosion and 100 per cent recyclable, ecoFITTOM fittings do not

Improvements in the mechanical properties of PVC allow the manufacture of ecoFITTOM ® PVC-O fittings while consuming less raw material and less energy, obtaining a product with claimed higher hydrostatic resistance and higher resistance to impact than fittings of other materials. ecoFITTOM also offers enhanced behaviour against water hammer, while being completely watertight, with maximum chemical resistance and ductility. The fittings can be used in networks for the transportation of drinking water, irrigation systems, industrial applica- tions, sewage, infrastructure networks

info@molecor.com www.molecor.com

Construction recovery and metal replacement drive plastic pipe demand

that incorporate an aluminium layer are now the most popular choice, having overtaken the demand for cross-linked polyethylene (PEX) systems. Strongest growth has been in the use of raised temperature polyethylene pipe (PE-RT), thanks to the growing popularity of under-floor heating systems, although this only accounts for around 6 per cent of total demand. Unlike other types of plastic pipe, hot and cold water systems are suitable for export given the smaller diameter, and Europe is a large net exporter of such pipes, especially to Russia and the CIS, the Middle East and Africa. Production of plastic hot and cold water pipe is one- third higher than demand, and accounts for approximately 230,000 tonnes of polymer demand. Polyethylene is the most important material used, followed by polypropylene. PVC and polybutylene are also used in this sector, but they are generally losing market share to other materials on the grounds of raw material and/or installation costs. Applied Market Information Ltd – UK

market has been growing at nearly 3 per cent per year, and is expected to maintain this momentum over the next five years. In addition to the recovery in building activity, the market for plastic hot and cold water pipe systems continues to be driven by the opportunity to replace metal. While plastic piping has accounted for the majority of systems installed for several years, 40 per cent of installations are still metal-based, and copper piping remains the largest single material used in European plumbing. There are significant regional variations across Europe due to a mixture of historical practices, regulations and/ or local suppliers. The penetration of plastic hot and cold water pipe is highest in the Benelux region, where over three- quarters of the market is accounted for by plastic pipes, and Germany (two- thirds of demand); the UK has the lowest level of penetration, and copper piping is still preferred by large sections of the plumbing and building industries. A variety of plastic systems are used in this sector, and AMI’s research has found that multi-layer composite pipes

A decade on from the global financial crisis, the European construction industry appears to have shaken off its influence, and the building sector has recovered in most European countries. This pick-up in building activity is helping to drive accelerated growth for plastic pipe systems in hot and cold water installation, according to a report from AMI Consulting. The detailed study, ‘Plastic hot and cold water pipe systems in Europe 2018’, reported that the installation of plastic hot and cold water pipes was expected to top one million kilometres by the end of 2018. Since 2012 the

Demand for hot and cold water pipe systems in Europe – 2011 versus 2017

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TUBE PRODUCTS INTERNATIONAL March 2019

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