Iplex is backing the pipeline industry with high-quality polyethylene piping and the steady hand of its expert staff.
The industry is increasingly turning towards polyethylene (PE) piping to help deliver water and energy projects across the world. From chemical resistance to homogenous design to lower costs across service life, PE piping offers a range of benefits over traditional piping materials.
As PE piping increasingly finds its way into large-scale industrial applications, a demand for higher-capacity and larger piping has emerged. And with its expert staff and 85-year company history, who better to answer the call than Iplex?
Iplex can manufacture PE pipes with an outside diameter (OD) ranging from a precise 16mm all the way to an impressive 2m.
Iplex Product Manager for PE Pipe Systems Luke Kennedy said that the success of Iplex’s PE pipes was partly due to the extreme longevity of the material.
“Unlike other pipeline materials, which often contain rubber rings and other joining components, PE is a homogenous material, which significantly simplifies the process when it comes to chemical considerations,” he told The Australian Pipeliner.
“This simplifies the design stage and also means there are fewer components that can fail during operational life of the pipe.”
Unlike metal alternatives, PE piping has exceptional resistance towards corrosion both in the actual fluid being transferred, as well as external trench conditions such as acid sulphate rich soils.
When properly installed, Iplex PE pipes can last in the ground for significantly longer durations as compared to other materials.
Kennedy said that PE has a range of environmental benefits as the material doesn’t break down in the ground, significantly reducing the chances of contamination from spillage and the piping itself.
PE pipes are also resistant to scaling, helping keep friction within the pipe to a minimum.
With benefits like these, it’s little wonder that Kennedy has seen exceptional demand for PE piping from a range of industries.
“We see a big demand for PE, particularly in civil infrastructure water projects,” he said.
“Closed water distribution systems present massive economic and environmental benefits over open channels, as well as environmentally sensitive installations.
“With a changing climate, water distribution is difficult to predict, so there is a greater need to capture and distribute water in broader networks, requiring larger PE pipes at higher pressures.”
Another allure of PE is its inherent flexibility.
“As population exponentially grows in Australia, more infrastructure is required,” Kennedy said.
“This means we’ll need more sewerage, water, electrical and gas lines, all of which can be done in PE.”
The transition from metal to PE piping, for example, has its challenges, namely that it demands a different kind of technical knowledge. Fortunately, Iplex offers much more than just manufacturing.
“Using our suite of fittings and in-depth experience, we are also able to adapt our existing products to better suit our customer’s needs,” Kennedy said.
“When you are talking about transitioning to a different type of material, you need to know that you know you have the backing of a company confidently able to assist you from the design phase right through to project management and execution.
“We’re a very safe set of hands to deal with.”
From the lifespan of its piping to the company’s expert staff, longevity and experience are a part of Iplex’s DNA.
“Iplex has many long-term employees in its technical and engineering teams that are incredibly experienced,” Kennedy said.
“We have a large team of experts, and it’s not uncommon to find people with over 30 years of industry experience in the team.”
As a reliable and lower cost alternative to traditional piping material, it’s little wonder that many industries are turning to PE to see their pipeline projects to fruition. Though the transition can be complex, Iplex has the experience, reach, and technical know-how to guide customers through to successful delivery.
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This feature also appears in the September edition of The Australian Pipeliner.