PHAM NEWS | OCTOBER 2025 30 Tools & Workwear


Reducing risk while cutting cost and carbon


In the race to deliver buildings that are safer, more efficient and compliant with tightening regulations, the smallest details often make the biggest difference. Here, Grant Phipps from Rapid Locking System Europe highlights the benefits of flame-free pressing technology.


F


or decades, brazing has been the trusted method of joining copper pipework. It’s reliable, but it


comes with costs - not just financial, but environmental and regulatory. Hot works require permits, fire watches, and extensive oversight. Nitrogen purging is often necessary to prevent oxidation, adding to site emissions and labour time. And with the arrival of mildly flammable A2L refrigerants such as R-32 and R-454B, the risks associated with open flames have become even harder to justify.


Industry pressure The industry is under pressure from every angle. Deadlines are shortening. Compliance requirements are intensifying. Carbon reduction targets are non-negotiable. Contractors, engineers, and clients need practical solutions that enable them to deliver efficient building services without adding unnecessary risk or waste. One answer gaining traction is


flame-free pressing technology. Instead of relying on flames and filler metals, press systems use a battery powered press tool to create a secure, high-pressure seal in seconds. With no flames,


no gas bottles, and no cooling time required, installation becomes faster, significantly safer, and far more consistent. Crucially, this change also


Grant Phipps MD of Rapid Locking System Europe


supports broader energy and carbon goals. Eliminating nitrogen purging alone reduces both cost and emissions. On large-scale commercial projects, the cumulative impact can be significant. Press joints are also highly repeatable, reducing the risk of rework and wastage on site. Over the lifecycle of an installation, these efficiencies compound into measurable savings – financial, environmental, and operational.


Press systems can be taught in hours, making it easier to bring new engineers into the fold and scale teams for larger projects


30 years of developing pressing technology


Back in 1995 REMS developed the first universal, system- independent electric radial press – REMS Power-Press – as well as the corresponding pressing tongs M and SV (later V). The decisive advantage for the user was that just one universal drive unit could be used for all the different press fitting systems. Over the following years,


many other milestones followed, including the independent radial REMS Akku-Press, the ultra compact REMS Mini-Press, the powerful Li-Ion 22V battery system as well as the REMS Akku-Press 22 V Connected with Wi-Fi functionality and OLED display. The REMS product portfolio


currently embraces 12 universal, hand-held, cordless and electric radial presses – the right tool for every application area.


Expanded range Starting with 12 pressing tongs and two pressing contours, REMS has continuously expanded the product range over the last three decades. The company currently offers about 600 different, system-specific pressing tongs, mini pressing tongs and pressing rings with 42 pressing contours for more than 470 different press fitting systems. To date, REMS has produced more than 6.5 million pressing tongs/pressing rings. Prioritising the safety of users,


Project reassurance For clients, this matters. Hospitals, data centres, and critical infrastructure cannot afford disruption or extended downtime. Press technology allows contractors to work safely in live environments without the heightened risks of open flames, giving reassurance that projects can be delivered quickly and without compromise. There are also workforce


implications. Training engineers in brazing is a time-intensive process that can take years to master safely. By contrast, press systems can be taught in hours, making it easier to bring new


engineers into the fold and scale teams for larger projects. In an industry facing a skills shortage, this is not a small advantage.


Faster delivery As Ryan Conley, president of Copasetic Mechanical, puts it: “The team was able to finish the project up to 75% faster than brazing.” That speed translates not just into reduced labour costs, but into faster delivery of energy-efficient HVAC systems that are urgently needed in today’s buildings. Of course, brazing still has its


place. No technology completely replaces another. But for the majority of building services


projects, flame-free installation is emerging as the new standard. It reduces risk, accelerates delivery, and aligns perfectly with the industry’s push toward low-carbon, high-performance outcomes. In a sector where regulation,


safety, and efficiency will only become more demanding, innovations at the installation level are vital. Flame-free pipework may not grab headlines like smart meters or AI-driven analytics, but it represents a tangible, practical step forward for anyone tasked with delivering modern, sustainable buildings. ◼ phamnews.co.uk/1025/57


Made to last The pressing tongs, pressing rings and adapter tongs are likely to be used thousands of times in the course of their life cycle and are exposed to forces of several tons in every pressing process. All REMS pressing tools have therefore been designed and manufactured so that they can be controlled safely by the user and can also be disposed of at the end of their life cycle – without having to be concerned with dangerous fragments. “The 30-year anniversary of


all REMS pressing tools comply with the applicable safety and accident prevention regulations and satisfy the respective relevant European standards in accordance with the provisions of the EC directives. All electric and cordless radial presses


perform the pressing process in inching mode or in inching mode with automatic circuit control (ACC). The pressing process can be interrupted at any time by releasing the switch. This ensures maximum work, functional and operational safety for the user.


our radial presses is a special moment which we would like to share with our customers,” says Christoph Föll-Laubengeiger, MD of REMS GmbH & Co KG. “Your confidence and your practical experience have made our products what they are today – admired and successful world- wide.” ◼ phamnews.co.uk/1025/58


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40