TPi April 2012

plast ic pipes

Redefining installation of large diameter HDPE pipe

fewer joints maintenance costs of the pipeline are also reduced.

Even with pipe sizes that can already be coiled with standard coiling machinery, Low Ovality can make a difference to profit margins through its ability to supply longer lengths of coil within existing coil dimensions, increasing the pipe length per truck and so reducing overall transportation costs. Transporting thinner walled pipes in coil format also becomes a possibility with Low Ovality, as it is capable of coiling pipes with SDR up to 21 and 26 whilst maintaining coil and pipe stability. PCT Ltd is a privately owned company based in Newcastle, UK, with subsidiaries in the USA and China. The company designs and supplies coiling, handling and packaging solutions for flexible products such as plastic pipe, sub-sea umbilical, power cables, flow- lines and steel wire rope.

increases the integrity of the finished pipeline. For example, DN160 pipe can be coiled in 900m lengths, allowing for a quicker installation time by removing up to 73 butt welds per 900m coil, and with fewer joints the pipeline’s integrity is increased. For larger projects 4,600m of DN160 can be put on a reel, increasing the efficiency of modern ploughing technologies. With new ploughing technologies and the need for longer continuous lengths and larger diameters in coil form, Low Ovality is well positioned to remove the constraints of butt welding backlogs and joint failures during the installation and lifetime of the pipeline. Reels of this size would require an escort on highways, however, the cost savings made through a more efficient installation process far outweigh the additional transportation costs, and with

Low Ovality technology from Pipe Coil Technology Ltd (PCT) allows large diameter HDPE pipe up to DN315 to be coiled as free-standing coils or reeled onto drums. This innovative technology has been used in Europe for many years and is increasing in popularity worldwide due to the advantages it offers. There are still many pipe manufacturers who continue to manufacture large diameter HDPE in traditional 12m or 20m ‘stick’ lengths, regardless of its final use. This is not only inefficient to store and transport but also decreases the overall integrity of the installed pipeline, as butt welded and electro fusion joints are still the most common inherent failure in a pipe designed to last 100 years. Low Ovality technology not only reduces transport costs by maximising the amount of coiled pipe per load but also

PcT ltd – UK chris.spratt@pipecoil.co.uk www.pipecoil.co.uk

The Push-fit People

At John Guest, we strive to create an environment for invention. A space where innovators have the chance to push boundaries, break new ground and pioneer unique designs. Anyone can imitate, but it takes imagination and vision to craft an original and ensure that we are not just a brand, but the standard. We are proud to be the Push-fit People. INNOVATION IS INHERENT

INNOVATION

• TRUST • QUALITY • HERITAGE

EST. 1961 AS BRITISH AS THE DAY IT WAS BORN

www.speedfit.co.uk info@johnguest.com

60

Tube ProducTs InTernATIonAl April 2012

www.read-tpi.com