Multilayer  Pipe Market

During November 4th to 6th, 2008, Rifeng attended Plan Expo in Dublin, Ireland. To say that the show is synonymous with the construction sector would be an understatement. Endorsed by both the CIF and RIAI, it has been a highlight of the Irish construction calendar for 26 years, making it one of the longest established trade shows in Ireland. Everyone who is in the construction industry of Ireland takes this annual event as a must visit show.
Rifeng’s Multilayer Piping Systems and PEX Systems sparkled in the exhibition hall this time, (more…)

WRW, Westfäliche Rohrwerke Rohrwerke /Germany presents a brochure to its 25th anniversary of overlapped welded Multilayer Pipes. It can be downloaded either in german or english language: http://www.wrw-ahlen.com/en.innovation.html.

The History in brief: 1983: The development of the first multi-layer pipe ready to go into production in line with the Nadia technique.
The team got its baptism of fire with the first production stage of multi-layer pipes in line with the Nadia patent. In the following years the competences in production have been consistently developed.

1987: The development of the first lap-welded multi-layer pipe made of plastic material cross-linked by irradiation.
The production of a pipe made of PE-Xc, the first plastic material cross-linked by irradiation in lap-welded multi-layer pipes, began.

1997: The first use of PE-RT in the production of multi-layer pipes.
The material was changed to PE-RT, which today can be considered as the standard material for multi-layer pipes.

Different industrial sectors set high demands on multilayer products. As a consequence, the production process is complex. This applies e.g. to floor heating pipes. Frequently, extremely thin barrier and functional layers are demanded which give pipes and tubes their specific mechanical and chemical properties. Conventional ultrasonic measuring techniques have measuring limits at approx. 0,2 mm. iNOEX offers a new technology where the bottom measuring limit is 0,05 mm. (more…)

Established during 2008, it has been working since last December. On 9th January 2009 Emmeti opened the new factory for the production of multilayer pipe PE-Xb/Al/PE-Xb, it is located in Le Forcate di Fontanafredda (PN). Iin a built-up space of 10.000 m² we have the production line, the cross-linking tunnel, the coating line, the automatic packaging, the warehouse for raw materials and finished product, and the testing lab. The latter is fitted with the most modern equipment for analysing and testing the quality of the product, guarantees the utmost reliability and safety of the finished product, and its conformity with existing standards . Production capacity of the factory is set at 14m metres per annum.

This new site together with the existing plant for compression and press fittings at Ponte S. Marco (BS) makes Emmeti one of the few companies in the European market which are capable to offer a complete multilayer system from their own in-house production.
Contact: www.emmeti.com, giovanni.piazza@emmeti.com more: KWD-globalpipe , 2009-01-21, No. 309

The process is usually based on a silane cross-linking method invented by Dow Corning. PE-Xb pipes can be manufactured either in a two-step process (material compound and pipe manufactured separately) or in a single-step. It would be more precise to call the two-step a three-step process because the extruded pipe needs to be put in a hot water bath for final cross-linking. + + + In the German speaking countries, Wirsbo using the Engel PE-Xa process, and not much later Rehau, were leading the way for PE-Xa solid wall pipe, especially for under-floor heating applications. Later on, Hewing, followed by Acome of France, introduced a PE-Xc electron beam cross-linked pipe and captured a significant share of the market. Since electron beam cross-linking equipment is only available in Belgium, Germany, France, Israel and Switzerland, the supply of PE-Xc pipes (also as inliner in composite pipes) is limited.
More: KWD-globalpipe, 2008-12-09, No. 302.

Update 2008 now published. For the first time we also offer all figures in Excel-Format and an additional Presentation in PowerPoint Format.

Standard Version: Pipe Materials in figures 2004 – 2011, more than 5.500 companies, datas on CD + Print, 920,- €, Subscribers only pay 680,- €. Premium Version incl. Excel and PowerPoint Format costs 1.220,- € or 980,- € for Subscribers.

We had intended to publish our new market study in June but the market turned around almost completely (in a downward direction unfortunately). Some countries, such as Spain and Denmark in particular, saw a major collapse. Raw material and energy prices (especially oil) also seemed to be heading in only one direction.

more Information orderform KWD-Shop

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Multilayer pipe sales in Australia are about to receive a major boost in the Multi Storey Residential and Commercial markets. Snap Fire Systems has released a Fire Collar that closes the plastic/aluminum pipe up to the largest available size of 63mm. A 4 hour Fire Resistance Level (FRL) is now possible with a SNAP Gas Fire Collar, Composite pipe and a 4 hour concrete floor.
“The Residential & Commercial high-rise and Aged care facility market had been previously off limits to composite pipe, due to the pipe needing to pass through Fire Rated Walls or Floors. But architects, builders and contractors can now utilise the benefits of composite pipe in many more installations with the introduction of this Fire Collar.” SNAP Fire Systems managing director Brett Magnay said. (www.snapcollars.com).

Measurement of foam core pipes has so far been a special challenge. Control of the functional layers has due to the specific material properties not been possible with conventional measuring equipment. Now a digital ultrasonic system is available which provides accurate „inside information” also on foam pipes.

Raw material is foamed during processing which produces small air bubbles. They enlarge the material volume and as such the wall thickness size. This saves raw material and reduces costs in a particularly important segment. However, air bubbles cause measuring problems due to the fact that they reflect ultrasonic signals. Consequently, it has so far not been possible to measure interior layers. Foam pipes are normally co-extruded pipes and it is recommendable to control the geometry of all layers in order to minimize material consumption. INOEX has now found a solution for this technical challenge: a new AUREX digital ultrasonic measuring technique….. more: KWD-globalpipe, 2008-11-25, No. 300

Aleris Aluminum in Belgium is one of the leading suppliers of aluminium strip to the multilayer tube manufacturers in Europe. We offer the following technical advantages to our customers:

Special Multilayer tubing alloys

- a new generation of alloys especially designed for multilayer tubing
- especially fine-tuned and focussed on typical demands of our multilayer tubing customers giving them:

• higher creep resistance at elevated temperature
• much better sustained pressure test results
• better formability:
  - easier for welding,
  - higher flexibility & better bending properties of the tubes
• excellent adhesion properties due to special chemical degreasing process
• excellent corrosion properties due to special thermo-mechanical processing

- thanks to these special characteristics a lot of cost savings are possible! …more: KWD-globalpipe, 2008-11-25, No.300

In addition to the Silon main business – PE-Xb – SILON International GmbH offers further products for various applications, e.g. corrugated pipes, protection pipes, waste water pipes for inside and outside, drinking water pipes, gas pipes etc. PE-Xb specialties for shrinking tubes and profiles PE-Xb raw material for injection moulding of fittings and sockets Stabilizers for protection against UV-radiation, thermal degradation of the Polymer, flame retardant additives, processing aids, etc. Combinations of colours and stabilizers are possible. Tailor made special products are offered Adhesives for multilayer pipes with e.g. aluminium, oxygen barrier (EVOH), etc. …. More: KWD-globalpipe, 2008-11-25, No.300