TPT July 2011

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July 2011 75 ›
Technology Update
MCELROY, the pipe fusion experts, recently
introduced the MegaMc® PolyHorse™. The
device is a pipe-handling system designed
to boost productivity on 20ft to 48ft IPS
(500mm to 1,200mm) diameter polyethylene
pipe jobsites.
The MegaMc PolyHorse consists of a
series of pipe racks and powered pipe
stands that hold enough pipe lengths
for a day’s worth of work. With the pipe
stored in a single location and ready for
use, the MegaMc PolyHorse allows heavy
machinery to work other places on-site. A
single operator can manoeuvre pipe onto
the pipe stands and into the pipe fusion
machine with the use of a remote control.
“Five years ago, we introduced the
PolyHorse for use on smaller diameter
jobsites,” said Chip McElroy, president and
chief executive officer of McElroy. “After
the success of the PolyHorse, it became
obvious that contractors wanted the same
efficiency boosts and to reduce the risk of
injury on larger diameter jobs.”
After setting up the MegaMc PolyHorse,
lengths of pipe are loaded onto the pipe
racks that are purposefully designed with an
incline, which lets gravity feed the pipes to the
dispenser. The dispenser, when activated by
remote control, gently drops a single length
of pipe into a tracked pipe stand and roller
pipe stand at the end of the racks. The user
then engages the tracked pipe stand and
roller pipe stand to move the pipe up to 24"
laterally and 34" vertically. The powered
tracks of the tracked pipe stand feed the pipe
into the fusion machine.
Instead of dedicating a piece of heavy
equipment to hold a length of pipe in place for
fusion operations, the MegaMc PolyHorse
does all of the work. Most jobsites would
use a piece of heavy machinery to hoist a
length of pipe from a single contact point.
This poses risks to the operators and to
the fusion equipment from the uncontrolled
movement of the pipe.
The MegaMc PolyHorse has a maximum
capacity of 70,000lb (154,324kg), with a
maximum pipe length weight of 10,500lb
(23,149kg). The new device can be paired
with any of McElroy’s MegaMc® line of
fusion machines, as well as the TracStar®
500, 630 and 900 fusion machines.
The MegaMc PolyHorse is available for
order from June 2011 through McElroy’s
international network of distributors.
Pipe fusion, also known as butt fusion,
is a widely accepted process that joins
two pieces of thermoplastic pipe together
with heat and pressure. Commonly
associated with high-density polyethylene
pipe (HDPE), the butt fusion process
starts by “facing” or shaving the pipe ends
simultaneously so that they can be joined
together with heat to create a continuous,
sealed pipeline. The welding of the pipes
is accomplished by using a hot plate in
contact with the pipe ends, which heats
the plastic to a molten state. Then, after
its removal, the ends are pressed together
under a controlled force to form a weld that
is stronger than the pipe itself. Third-party
industry research indicates that HDPE pipe
and joints can have a lifespan of more than
100 years.
McElroy – USA
Website:
McElroy introduces the MegaMc® PolyHorse