THE Machines SA, Yvonand Switzerland, has developed a series of Laser welding machines with which is possible to weld powder-, lack- or polymer coated thin wall metal stripes and foils. Prior welding the coating has not to be removed. The machines working fully automatic and can be delivered as stand alone units or they can be incorporated in continuous working production plants.

These machines can be used for welding of aluminium foils for Multilayer Pipes.

There are 4 sizes available for strip width starting at 8 mm up to 500 mm. Metal foils with thicknesses down to 0.08 mm can be safely welded. Special machines for wider products can be quoted according specification. With this welding process it is possible to weld almost all metals, the tensile strength is better than 90% compared to the unwelded material.

Highlights: Precise mechanical guiding and automatic aligning allow welding of tapes down to 0.08 mm thickness and laser technology allows welding of copolymer coated tapes without pre-cleaning.

Options: Multiplexed laser source for up to 3 welding units in parallel use.

Additionally to the above mentioned welding machines THE Machines SA is able to deliver the following equipments:

• Tape pay offs for up to 3000 Kg coil weight

• Tape accumulators for up to 200 m accumulating length

• Metal pipe forming equipment with high diameter/wall thickness radius (up to 500)

• Laser- and TIG welding plants for thin wall precision pipes

Contact: THE MACHINES SA, CH-Yvonand, info@the-machines.ch, www.the-machines.ch

KWD-globalpipe, 2009-11-21. (PEX, PE-RT and multilayer pipes) Rofix, an international group of companies, has set new standards for fastening technology in the plumbing and heating industry. The company was founded 25 years ago and has since emerged as a leader in radiator and pipe hangers and struts. The company employs 200 workers in 4 factories, two of which in Belgium, and one each in Poland and China. Located in Dilsen, Belgium, the sales headquarters serves their various sales organizations in Belgium, The Netherlands, Germany, Austria, France, Poland, Greece and the United States. This combination makes Rofix an international leader in fastening techniques.

Rofix subsequently started production of its heating, plumbing and air-conditioning accessories for the international market. Among other products Rofix offers multilayer PE-Xb pipes Rhino-pex and pipes for underfloor heating Rhino-pert (PE).

(Please see also KWD-globalpipe 2008-01-15, no.266: Rofix launches Rhino PEX; PEX / Al / PEX).

Rofix Rhino-pex pipe is a multilayer pipe (PE-Xb / Al / PE-Xb). The range contains rolls and pipe lengths. In addition, the pipe can be ordered standard, with a red or a blue conduit characteristics or pre-insulated. It is a system pipe for all applications. Rhino-pex pipe offers many advantages like limited expansion, 100% oxyge  n-proof, easy installation, no external corrosion, sanitary cold and hot water, less noise nuisance and durable/hard-wearing.

To connect Rhino-pex, several kinds of fittings are available. All fittings are manufactured according to the current ISO-standards. The standard range includes a number of clamp-connection fittings, which have a double O ring to guarantee the best use.

Contact: www.rofix.com, www.rhino-pex.com

Update 2009 now published. The current edition of the report is now available and encompasses two books:

Standard Version: Pipe Materials in figures 2006 – 2012, 4.190 companies, datas on CD + Print, 920,- €, Subscribers only pay 680,- €. Premium Version incl. Excel and PowerPoint Format costs 1.220,- € or 980,- € for Subscribers.

more Information orderform KWD-Shop

Volume I. Marketing:
Long-term charts from 2006 to 2012 illustrating how many pipes are sold in million meters, in tons, in million Euros and fittings sold in million units for 27 European countries and all Europe in total. Numbers for FH (under floor heating), RA (radiator connection) and SA (sanitary) pipes are shown separately and aggregated per country. In the text section, updated listings of inspection certificate holders granted by well-known institutes are provided (per August 2009). Also, detailed information on individual countries, market developments and pipe materials can be found. In addition, graphs illustrate Top Ten rankings of multi-layer, PE-X and PE-RT pipe processors for 2009.

Volume II. Addresses:
The updated list contains 4,190 company names of the European heating and sanitary industry. All companies are listed in alphabetical order and by products to make searching easy. In the detailed country-by-country address section, street address, E-mail and web addresses, a list of products and a brief company profile are provided.

The Standard Version contains the two books and a CD with the pdf file for 680,- Euro plus VAT for subscribers in Germany. Shipping within Germany is free of charge.

In addition to that, the Premium Version includes the long-term charts from 2006 to 2012 for all 27 European countries covered and for all Europe in total in an editable Excel spreadsheet format. Here also, pipe lengths in million meters are shown for FH, RA and SA and aggregated for all three types. Default graphs for all major pipe materials are provided for each country but these graphs can easily be adapted to individual requirements. They are also included in the Powerpoint presentation of the Premium Version. Moreover, other useful information for each country is presented, e.g. number of inhabitants, largest cities, pipe manufacturers and new housing completion numbers. The Premium Version is available at 980,- Euro plus VAT for subscribers in Germany. Shipping within Germany is free of charge.

Rifeng launches its new generation manifold kit for heat regulation center–FN5C. The manifold kit has inlets and outlets from 2 to 12 ways for various choic es. Polished by advanced techniques, FN5C is of shining appearance with splendid colors: original and nickeld for different preferences. Furthermore, its flow gauge is colored in red and switch knob in blue to indicate delivery and return side, on top of indication arrows on the manifold bodies.

From technical perspective, FN5C is suitable for mediums of hot and cold water, and water and anti-freeze additive mixture from 0oC to 85oC. The normal pressure it stands is 1.0Mpa, i.e. 145 Psi. And flow adjust range is 0-5 L/min, Kvs=1.10. The manifold has passed air-permeability test of pressure 2 bar and 8 bar respectively for 60 seconds. And air vents and valves have passed torque tests of 67 newton. To complete the whole thermal control system, components such as electro-thermal actuator, basis box and room thermostat are also provided.

Equipped with a whole Rifeng Heat Regulation System will surely add to your home more coziness. And good news comes that customers purchasing the whole FN5C manifold kit will also enjoy a favorable price discount in Multilayer Pipes and PEX Pipes.

Contact:   overseas@rifeng.com, www.rifeng.com.

Maillefer is a well known provider of multi-layer composite pipe manufacturing systems for PEX-AL-PEX pipes. The Swiss company has recently introduced new aluminum forming and welding bench components into its PCL lines. In comparison with what’s available in the market, shorter setups, improved weld control and reduced maintenance qualify the Maillefer equipment. All new PCL lines offered include the latest technology. Plus, the equipment is also available as an upgrade to existing lines
Source: www.mailleferextrusion.com

Automatically pressing push fit fittings – what sounds like a contradiction is the new patented technology from Zewotherm for metal composite pipe for under-floor and general heating as well as sanitary applications. While pushing the pipe into the fitting a metallic press ring inside the push fit fitting jumps out and presses the pipe completely tight and inseparable onto the supporting shell of the fitting. The family-run company provides a 25 year warranty for the system.
Quick, safe and clean: To work the new connector system from Zewotherm neither a compression tool nor time-consuming training is required. Clean installation for heating or potable water pipe and easy handling enable plumbers to save time and money, and for the complete piping system a 25 year warranty is provided.

How does the system work?

Core of the patented push technology is a metallic compression ring inside the push fit fittings. The ring is made of a special steel material which develops an enormous press capacity through a particular heat treatment. During the insertion the pipe into the push fit fitting a safety catch automatically jumps out and the enlarged compression ring contracts to its regular size. The compression ring presses the pipe clearly audible and extremely close onto the supporting shell of the fittings so that it even absorbs the dimensional changes that could occur in the pipe. A spring effect balances the wall thickness variations of the pipes through the permanent press capacity executed onto the pipe and, thus, guarantees for long-term tightness. Moreover, the fitting incorporates a biconical safety ring that keys onto the pipe surface and prevents the system from unlocking. An inseparably close and absolutely tight connection has been formed.

Easy and quick handling

Overall handling is quick and simple. The cut to length Zewotherm metal composite PE-Xb/Al/PE-Xb pipe is calibrated under light pressure. Afterwards the pipe is inserted into the fitting as far as possible until a clearly audible click sound can be heard. Directly after that the compression ring automatically presses itself with very high pressure onto the supporting shell of the fittings. Additional wedging is not needed. A durable and tight connection has been formed which securely withstands tension forces, temperature variations and pressure loads. This type of handling is not only simple and quick but also proves value in difficult or hard to reach working environments.

New range of products
The push fit fittings are packaged separately and thus protected against dirt. The base body of the Zewotherm fittings is made of certified brass; the outer caps are composed of a special blend of the engineering polymer material Polysulfon. Polysulfon is used in medical and food applications since many years. It is well suited to be used for potable water transport, completely odor- and tasteless and absolutely safe from a hygienic standpoint. Push fit fittings are thus suitable for any water quality. The broad range of products with standard dimensions of 16 mm, 20 mm and 26 mm can be used for heating and potable water installations in new buildings or for retrofitting and remodeling purposes. The entire product range encompasses all required fittings, e.g. connectors with two identical outlets, inner and outer screw joints, euro conus, elbows and T-pieces with crossings with 4 to 5 outlets as well as press junctions. The PE-Xb/Al/PE-Xb metal composite pipe can be bent by hand and remains bend-stable.
The Remagen system manufacturer provides a 25 year warranty for the entire system of pipe and push fit fittings. The connection technique is certified by the Germany industry association DVGW for general and under-floor heating and also plumbing piping systems. The 25 year warranty applies to the correct function of the system based on an operating pressure of 10 bar at 70°C and 50 years as well as a maximum operating temperature of 95°C resp. 110°C in case of a breakdown.

The system manufacturer based in Remagen
Zewotherm is an upcoming system manufacturer in the under-floor heating business. Core of Zewotherm’s work is a systems approach. About 100 employees in the office and in the field, among those are engineers, designers and mechanical drawers, provide for technical consulting, adequate project planning and management at good quality and fair prices. The product range stretches from thermal and subsonic noise insulation, heating pipe, tacker, mats, naps, dry lining and panel heating systems, manifolds, connections and control stations to thermo active building and industrial floor heating systems. Carefully matched control components and auxiliary equipment for under-floor heating complement the respective systems.
The company’s headquarters in Germany, Remagen near Bonn, extends over 8,000 sqm and houses one of the most up-to-date production lines for standardized insulation material. Approximately 2.5 million sqm of under-floor heating systems are shipped annually.

Contact:   ZEWOTHERM GmbH, 53424 Remagen, Germany, www.zewotherm.de, info@zewotherm.de, PR: Richard.Boehland@shk-agentur.de.

Paving the way to ultimate globalization, and also combining multiple applications(drinking water,heating,gas,etc) in one pipe, the KIWA & KOMO certificates we just obtained for our PEX/AL/PEX multilayer pipes and press fittings are among the almost 50 overseas certificates we have obtained so far. Our newly obtained KIWA & KOMO certificates currently cover both drinking water (with KIWA mark) and heating application(with KOMO mark), with certified dimensions including 16 X 2mm, 20 X 2mm, 25 X 2,5mm and 32 X 3mm, our KIWA-approved press fitting is made of hygiene-approved De-Zincification Resistant brass. For details on our overseas certificates please visit the following weblink: http://www.rifeng.com/certificates.asp

At the ISH 2009 Uponor has introduced the new generation of the multi layer composite pipe system for tap water installation and radiator heating. The important innovation of the system for the outer dimensions from 14 up to 32 mm: No more calibration and bevelling is needed. For the plumber that means less tools and to save one entire working step which leads to a time reduction of about 30% for the press connection. After cutting, the pipe can immediately be inserted into the fitting and afterwards has only to be pressed with the respective tool. The further advantages of the innovative system are still valid.

The fittings have been designed so that water discharges when the fitting has not been pressed or screwed. This pressing indication together with the colour coded fittings and pressing jaws for fast and safe allocation of each dimension from 14 to 32 mm reliably prevents any kind of mix-up. These unique advantages together with the world-wide certified quality ensure a permanently tight connection combined with easy and efficient installation. Since the introduction of the first overlapped welded multi layer composite pipe in 1990, Uponor has further developed its multi layer composite pipe system permanently. The focus of development and production have always been the certified quality, ease of installation and the longevity of the system.
Contact: www.uponor.de, info@uponor.com

The multilayer pipe PE-Xb/AL/PE-Xb, called MULTIPLEX is manufactured and distributed by Industrial Blansol S.A. The composite tubes are used for drinking water installations. The DVGW type examination certificate has the registration number: DW-8231BU0089. The date of expiry is the 10th of March, 2014.