TPi July 2009

Connectors Fi t t ings , Flanges &

Vitrified clay pipe and fittings Steinzeug/Keramo specialises in the production and development of vitrified clay pipes and fittings. Three production units in Hasselt (Belgium), Cologne and Bad Schmiedeberg (both in Germany) manufacture sewerage products for sewer systems and industrial applications. The company offers a complete range of pipes and fittings in diameters from DN 100 to 1,400mm. Along with the traditional pipes and fittings with spigot and socket joints, micro-tunnelling pipes, inliner pipes, drainage pipes, inspection manholes and cladding sheets are all part of the product range. Vitrified clay is a material that arises after firing high quality clay in controlled circumstances at a temperature of around 1,200°C. In contrast to many other materials used in the sewerage industry, vitrified clay is chemically and mechanically resistant and ensures a long lifespan. Steinzeug/Keramo’s main markets are found in Europe, the Middle East, the Far East and Oceania. Sales are conducted locally either via a network of permanent staff or via local market partners. Keramo Steinzeug nv – Belgium info@keramo-steinzeug.be www.steinzeug-keramo.com

GRP fittings Fittings and connection parts have always been a critical issue for pipe manufacturers, for various reasons. In most cases custom designed fittings are needed due to the pipeline route and project specifications. This increases the need for qualified labour involvement in production, which in return results in higher manufacturing costs.

Superlit’s GRP pipes and fittings can be designed according to the characteristics of S S the fluid to be transferred

From an engineering stand point, direction, volume and flow rate change of fluid in pipelines create forces and pressures to be taken into consideration while designing fittings and connection parts. Handling and transportation of fittings are more difficult than for pipes, due to their mass and custom design shapes. Superlit GRP fittings are composite products designed to resolve most of these issues. A major advantage of composite materials is the possibility to structurally design pipes and fittings according to the characteristics of the fluid to be transferred, without the need for an additional protection layer. Superlit GRP fittings are produced from pipe pieces attached to each other with glass fibre and polyester resin by hand lamination (hand lay-up) technique. Since the pipes and fittings are made of exactly same material, engineering of the fluid flow is relatively easy. In some other pipe materials, such as concrete or cement pipes using steel fittings, a change of material in the pipeline creates complex problems for design engineers. Fittings are the pipeline sections most exposed to water hammer resulting from a change in the flow speed with increasing or decreasing sectional diameter. This is not considered an issue with Superlit GRP fittings, since the pipes and fittings can absorb up to 40% of sudden pressure changes, making them more resistant to water hammer. The weight of Superlit GRP pipes and fittings are a quarter that of steel pipes and a tenth that of concrete pipes, making handling and transportation easier. GRP fittings can be delivered in pieces (eg branches of a tee part can be delivered separately), and pieces can be mounted on-site. The mounting process does not require complex tools, and materials can easily be cut or modified and mounted to each other by hand lamination technique. Hand lamination does not necessarily have to be performed by Superlit site teams, as the company provides theoretical and operational technical training programmes at ‘Superlit Academy’ for customers and infrastructure contractor teams. This training programme provides ‘hands-on’ lamination training in actual jobsite conditions, where candidates are trained in the cutting, modifying, mounting and lamination of pipe pieces for fitting mounting or crack (damage) fixing.

PPR, PVC & HDPE fittings

ZMC, China, specialises in the manufacture of multi-layer composite pipes and pipe fittings. The company’s products are widely used in Europe, Russia, the Middle East and South America. The company can supply overlap and butt-welded composite pipe, including PEX-AL-PEX, PERT-AL- PERT, PPR-AL-PPR, PEX-B and PE-RT. ZMC also supplies PP-R pipes, PE-RT pipes, PB pipes, PE-X pipes and PVC hose, in addition to fittings such as elbows, tees, reducers and flanges from PPR, PVC and HDPE.

Superlit Boru San A Ş – Turkey bsirin@superlit.com • www.superlit.com

ZMC – China zhejiangdavid@hotmail.com

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Tube Products International July 2009

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