developments
products &
January 2011 Tube Products International
33
PIPE Ltd is a manufacturer and supplier
of specialist pipework fabrication
tools and handling equipment for
workshop or on-site environments. The
company’s range of portable precision
pipe preparation/bevelling machines
and portable pipe cutting equipment is
used in industries including chemical,
oil, gas and power generation.
The company also supplies an extensive
range of pipestands, pipe handling,
rapid pipe welding alignment clamps
and spider internal alignment clamps
used for set-up in all types of pipework
fabrication.
PIPE Ltd manufactures various models
of ID locking pipe bevelling machines
ranging from ½" to 20" ID, along with
various models of OD mounted split
frame clamshell pipe cutting and
bevelling machines ranging from 1" to
60" diameter pipe.
The bevelling and cutting machines
in PIPE Ltd’s range are capable of
UK water suppliers are facing strict
lead reduction guidelines in 2013, when
lead content in drinking water must be
reduced from its current 25µg/l to new
World Health Organization standards of
10µg/l.
The need to reduce lead in drinking
water services prompted US-based
Pipe Restoration Technologies, LLC
(PRT) and UK-based Morrison Utility
Services to team up in a joint venture,
Pipe Restoration Services (PRS), to
provide the technology to line service
pipes with a blown-in-place epoxy resin
(ePIPE) as an alternative to lead service
pipe replacement.
The ‘blown in place’ ePIPE system
means that nothing but air and resin
enters the service pipe in order to form
a barrier coating to prevent leaching of
lead.
Larry Gillanders, chief executive of PRT,
commented, “ePIPE isnot anewprocess;
we have over 12 years' experience of its
use in the US and across the world, in
potable water systems. ePIPE is a proven
Pipework fabrication tools and equipment
Solution for dissolved lead in drinking water
producing all of the standard weld
preparations required, ie V-preps,
J-preps and borematching on mild
steel, stainless steel, duplex, super
duplex and inconel wrapped pipes.
technology, and is used extensively for
small diameter internal and external
water supply pipe restoration.”
The system has been adapted for the
UK market and is currently seeking DWI
approval for the specific application
of lining lead services and internal
pipework. By using a simple adapter at
the stop tap, ePIPE can be applied to
the entire service pipe, from the main to
the kitchen tap, in one simple operation,
with only one excavation over the ferrule
connection to the water main.
ePIPE recently attracted the attention of
a number of water company executives
who had chance to see the technology
for themselves when a road show tour
was conducted across the UK. They
were shown the end-to-end process
of cleaning, drying and lining service
lines in-place using the ePIPE process,
clearly demonstrating a number of
benefits over traditional, more costly,
lead management solutions.
The system offers a complete solution
to service pipe lead problems in a cost
PIPE Ltd also manufactures a range
of pipe clamps, both ID and OD
mounted, with models dedicated
to reforming pipe to get the perfect
alignment.
The company has been supplying
equipment for the purging of stainless
steel pipe for many years, and has
recently introduced the latest ‘Triple
Seal’ purging systems, designed to
reduce both gas usage and purging
times. The range starts from 1" with
made-to-order special models available
for up to 40" ID.
Pipe Ltd has recently become the
UK’s distributor for the aquasol range
of purging equipment, including the
E-Z Purge water soluble dam system,
the E-Z zone and E-Z wipes industrial
cleaning wipes to remove dirt and dust
particles prior to application.
PIPE Ltd
– UK
effective manner, for both the water
company and private owner, including
private and social housing landlords.
It also helps water companies manage
risk in relation to pipework outside
their control, and complements water
metering and mains rehab activity, as
well as offering improved customer
experience with less disruption over
traditional techniques.
John Coyne, executive director of
Morrison Utility Services, said, “We
are excited by the prospect of bringing
this innovative technology to the UK,
as we believe it offers great scope
to assist water companies in dealing
with the key challenges of dissolved
lead and customer experience. We will
be offering this service through PRS
to the whole market as a specialist
service.”
Pipe Restoration Services
– UK
Morrison Utility Services
– UK
The E-Z Gold pipe welding clamp
