machinery | Joining
socket heaters and fusion outlet adapters for PP pipe from 20 to 63mm on mains up to 630mm. Each socket adapter is Teflon-coated for durability and long life. McElroy has also introduced the Acrobat 180 – a
hydraulic butt fusion machine for the underground and construction market.
Above: MSA has won an award for its SWL system that simplifies electrofusion
The SWL is a horizontal format, five-axis CNC
controlled electrofusion wire laying machine, designed for machining and wire laying the curved profile of saddle fittings. It can produce fittings of 500 x 500mm maximum, with a branch size up to 315mm and saddle diameter from 90mm to infinity. For fitting producers this has resulted in a higher
quality product, lower manufacturing costs and the ability to make special parts that were previously not possible. Downstream pipeline installers can benefit from reduced installation time leading to improved continuity of gas and water supply for end users. MSA says that its turnover has almost doubled in the last two years – due almost entirely to sales of the new device. The award, a Queens Award for Innovation, will be presented to the company in July.
All-in-one fusion McElroy of the US says it has designed the first all-in-one fusion tool for outlet fusion of polypropylene (PP) pipe. Its patent-pending Hornet machine helps installers
maintain alignment of the pipe and fitting for more efficient and accurate fusions with less time and strain compared to manual methods, it says. “It’s exciting to offer a machine that did not exist in
this marketplace until now,” said Jason Lawrence, director of product development for McElroy. “In the past, outlet fusion was a painstaking process done by hand – so this is a huge leap forward.” Its unique ‘V-base’ design allows it to self-align on
the centre of the main pipe. A slide-mounted precision carriage guides the drilling of the outlet hole and fusion of the fitting, keeping everything aligned to produce consistent, accurate fusions. With a small footprint, it can perform outlet fusions in any orientation – making it ideal for overhead and vertical fusions in tight spaces. It works with all McElroy
36 PIPE & PROFILE EXTRUSION | June 2017
The machine butt fuses 63mm to 180mm (2in IPS to 6in DIPS) HDPE pipe and fittings with a variety of pressure ratings. With its light weight, it can be carried from joint to joint yet is still highly rugged. The Acrobat 180 is ideal for in-ditch work and tie-in fusions and provides a cost-effective alternative to electrofusion – which requires the purchase of addi- tional fittings. It works in tight work spaces by removing the base and converting the carriage from four to three jaws. The top jaws can be removed for easier manipula- tion around pipe and fittings.
IR and vibration Researchers at Chemnitz University of Technology in Germany have studied the suitability of infrared and vibration welding for use in joining plastic pipes. The techniques cannot currently be applied to pipe joining, due in part to a lack of knowledge and proof in relation to Environmental Stress Cracking (ESC). The project set out to assess the suitability of the techniques for long-term applications. The project used mainly PE63 grades of material. Results showed that minimum tensile creep welding factors of 0.8 are achieved by using the infrared (short-wave radiation emitter) and vibration welding processes – values that corresponded to those attain- able by heated tool butt welding. “The knowledge base of the mechanism of failure behaviour of welded joints between plastics undergoing ESC has been extended,” said Ronald Dietz of TU Chemnitz, in a presentation at last year’s Antec conference in the USA. The researchers said that future investigations would
need to verify and validate the database obtained for the joining processes studied. As a consequence, other typical pipe and tank materials – such as PE100, PP-R and PVC – should also be added to the experimental design.
Click on the links for more information: ❙
www.ritmo.it ❙
www.twi-global.com ❙
www.teaminc.com ❙
www.impact-solutions.co.uk ❙
www.sica-italy.com ❙
www.msa-engineering.co.uk ❙
www.mcelroy.com ❙
www.tu-chemnitz.de
www.pipeandprofile.com
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