process feature | Pipe joining
expected to be finish in the autumn, with two other larger phases to be completed by 2018. At the same time, the company has launched a new machine in its flagship TracStar series that offers advanced emissions reduction and automation tech- nologies allowing users to meet tough regulations in air quality and data logging.
McElroy’s MegaMc 1600 was used to fuse pipe in a desert water line project
angling or bending stresses;
l A fusion voltage of 8-48V gives optimised fusion parameters in a processing range of -10 to +45°C; and,
l Temperature compensation of fusion energy leads to constantly good fusion quality, even under extreme conditions. Eckert gave advice on a range of issues, including
coiled pipe, large pipe, saddle clamping and repairs. He illustrated the importance of using vacuum clamping – for saddle clamping above D225mm – by citing the example of how the technique was used to rehabilitate a sewage pressure pipe for Berliner Wasserbetriebe, in which a steel DN1000 pipe was renovated by swagelining.
SmartFab 125 is McElroy’s
first benchtop machine
Joined in the desert McElroy says that its MegaMc 1600 fusion machine has been chosen to fuse pipe in a desert water line project near the US-Mexico border. The US Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Reclamation is updating ageing infrastructure, in order to achieve greater efficiency from its water delivery systems. HDPE pipes – which will replace concrete water pipes – were delivered to San Luis in Arizona in March. MegaMc 1600 wheeled fusion machines have been used on large-diameter pipe jobs in a variety of applica- tions. They feature four jaws with more than 80,000lbs of fusion force, allowing operators to overcome heavier drag forces and fuse thicker-wall pipes. When considering a suitable pipe material, a team of
engineers analyzed many types, including steel and reinforced concrete. It selected JM Eagle’s PE4710 SDR 17/IPS 125, which was recommended by local utility supply solutions company R&B for its strength, durability and flexibility. A crew will eventually perform about 600 pipe
fusions for the six-mile pipeline, at a rate of around 12 fusions per day. The first phase of the project is
38 PIPE & PROFILE EXTRUSION | June 2016
www.pipeandprofile.com
Benchtop scale The TracStar 900 Series 2 Automatic features a Cummins US EPA Tier 4/EU Stage IIIB engine that burns ultra-low sulphur diesel making it cleaner burning, quieter running and more efficient. Fusion functions are controlled automatically with The Coach pendant which also has the ability to upload joint reports to the McElroy DataLogger Vault for safe storage, analysis and validation of pipeline integrity. On a far smaller scale, McElroy’s SmartFab 125 is
the company’s first benchtop machine, which claims to offer a smarter way to socket fuse pipe and fittings for polypropylene piping systems. The machine is portable and can be positioned on any flat surface for precise prefabrication on large assemblies. “The SmartFab 125 expands our PP pipe fusion line, and will make it easier to operate and produce precise prefabrications every time,” said the company’s president, Chip McElroy. Features include its innovative inserts, which can
reduce ovality in pipe and fittings. It also has a pivoting heater so that it can easily accommodate fittings located on either side of the machine. This saves time as it eliminates having to reposition the entire machine. The drive handle is positioned so that the unit can also operate on the floor, making it ideal for use in the field or the shop.
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