TPi September 2017

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business & market news
12 TUBE PRODUCTS INTERNATIONAL September 2017
New name for PPI division reflects
expanding use of HDPE conduit
The Conduit Division of the Plastics Pipe
Institute, Inc (PPI) has been renamed the
Power & Communications Division.
The change was prompted by growth
within the division, the uses of conduit
in rapidly developing applications,
and to reflect the types of solutions
that high-density polyethylene (HDPE)
conduit can provide.
Comprising conduit manufacturers,
equipment suppliers, accessory
producers and other companies, the
Power & Communications Division
(PCD) focuses on educating specifiers,
end users and installers by providing
expertise, technical reports, guides and
manuals.
PCD is also the industry liaison to
government agencies, and cooperates
closely with standards development
organisations such as AASHTO, ASTM,
NEMA and UL, to share information,
help develop product standards and
manuals, and broaden understanding
about the product and its capabilities for
various uses.
“This name transition was brought
forward by our members because
they felt it was a natural fit that is
more indicative of the role of the
division and the markets it serves,”
stated Tony Radoszewski, CAE, PPI
president.
“PCD’s mission is to expand knowledge
about uses and benefits of HDPE
conduit in all its forms of use. The
division has been extremely prolific
in the past couple of years in the
development of new products and
collateral that provides the industry a
single-source hub for information about
products, standards, regulations and
best management practices.”
Lance MacNevin, P Eng, director of
engineering for the PCD, explained,
“Our division continues growing, adding
new members and undertaking more
initiatives, such as research projects
and new publications to support the
industry. Sales of HDPE underground
conduit pipe increased in 2016. Fibre
optic networks continue to grow, and
more power cables are being placed
underground as utilities safeguard
their power lines. Plus there is rapid
expansion of HDPE conduit being used
in solar and wind farms. It is imperative
that the power and communications
industries have access to solid, vetted
and impartial facts and information,
which is the primary goal of PPI’s PCD.
The new division name exemplifies
our focus on the solutions that HDPE
conduit provides, and not just the
product itself.”
Plastics Pipe Institute, Inc – USA
Lance MacNevin, P Eng, director of
engineering, PCD, Plastics Pipe Institute
The PPI division’s name change was prompted by the growth of wind and solar power
installations, such as this solar farm in Missouri, USA, which used more than 19,000ft
of cable in conduit
Tony Radoszewski, CAE, president,
Plastics Pipe Institute