HDPE Pipe Expands In North America

HDPE pipe is a cost-effective solution for a broad range of applications in gas distribution, municipal, industrial, marine, mining, landfill, duct, drainage, plumbing and heating applications. It has been tested and proven effective for above ground, surface, buried, sliplined floating and sub-surface marine applications.

Gas distribution was among the first applications of medium density polyethylene (PE) pipe. In fact, many of the systems currently in use have been in continuous service since 1960 with great success. Today, over 90% of the pipe installed for the natural gas distribution industry in the U.S. and Canada is plastic and of that, 99% is polyethylene*.

HDPE pipe has been used in potable water applications since the 1960s and has been gaining approval and growth in municipalities ever since. HDPE Pipe is specified and/or approved in AWWA C901, AWWA C906, NSF 14, NSF 61 and ASTM D3035.

One of the main benefits and advantages of HDPE pipe is that it is a heated fusion joint; HDPE pipe can be heat fused together to form a joint that is as strong or stronger than the pipe itself and is leak free.

Main joining methods are through hot plate welding, such as butt-fusion, saddle fusion and socket fusion. Butt fusion machines are available from 1/2” to 54” for job-site and work-shop applications such as fabricated fittings productions. Socket fusion equipment is available up to 4” pipe sizes.

Since the 1960s, butt-fusion technology has seen a transformation and adaptation of the equipment to the market needs, moving from manual pump or mechanical equipment to high quality electro-hydraulics machines and from labor intensive equipment to one man operation.

Today’s challenge is to reply to higher quality standards, a user friendly design, lower cost and traceable results.

Today, equipment covering both HDPE pipeline fusion and segmented fittings fabrication, enable operators to carry out multiple task during production times, while leaving the duties of checking and certifying performance to the automated machines, software interfaces and GPS controls. This will result in reduced labor cost, lead time and quality fulfillment.

Examples of this new generation of equipment are the RAM 28 and the RAM 414 from Ritmo America, LLC, job site butt fusion machines.

The RAM 28 is an electro-hydraulic butt fusion machine with fusion capabilities ranging from 2” IPS to 8” DIPS pipe sizes, RAM 414 range from 4” IPS to 14” IPS.

Both machines are provided with a unique and innovative programming and control system. The system permits the operator to program and perform all of the fusion procedures quickly and easily. The program/control panel allows the operator to set the machine for heating temperature, facing pressure, heating time, soaking time, fusion pressure and cooling time. It incorporates a datalogging device to record all the fusion cycle information that can be downloaded to a PC or laptop.

In this way, customers can constantly be aware of any welding operation cost and certify the quality of their products.

The machine body and clamping system can be easily removed from the 4- wheeled frame and chassis for in-ditch use: the control panel can also be removed from the chassis to allow the operator to control the fusion procedures out of the ditch.

In addition, the RAM 414 features a Global Positioning System (GPS), self-contained generator and motorized wheels. GPS offers great advantages for tracking a fusion joint – giving a report with the coordinate of where the joint has been performed. A gasoline, self-contained generator mounted on the machine and the motorized wheels allow the operator to move the butt-fusion equipment faster and more safely on different and difficult job site terrain.

PE is the worldwide material of choice. High-density polyethylene pipe (HDPE) can carry potable water, wastewater, slurries, chemicals, hazardous wastes and compressed gases. In fact, polyethylene pipe has a long and distinguished history of service to the gas, oil, mining and other industries. It has the lowest repair frequency per mile of pipe per year compared with all other pressure pipe materials used for urban gas distribution.

*Source: Plastic Pipe Institute

Written by Andre Muraro, General Manager, Ritmo America, LLC, suppliers of a comprehensive line of fusion machines and accessories for pipe installation, dedicated exclusively to the North American Market of HDPE, PP, PVDF pipe, fittings and plastic thermo fusion.