PLASTIC PIPES XIX - More important developments previewed

'A Recent Survey of Water Main Failures in the US and Canada' is how Professor Steven Folkman from the Utah State University describes his paper. By all accounts, his description, data and deliberations will not be complimentary towards traditional materials. His survey is the most comprehensive of its kind and his results demonstrate that the break rate for PVC pipe remains the lowest break rate material when compared with asbestos cement, concrete, ductile iron, cast iron, and steel pipe materials.

This latest survey also shows that break rates of cast iron and asbestos cement pipes have significantly increased and Professor Folkman advises that utilities should increase replacement rates of those materials.

China is now the world's largest producer and consumer of plastic pipes. Zhanjie Wang, Secretary of the China Plastics Piping Association (CPPA) will deliver a paper entitled 'Technical Progress and Quality Improvement.' His association represents many large-scale plastic pipe makers and has actively promoted innovation and technical standards for many years. This in a market where CPPA members have focused on quality manufacturing for growth.

Reference case studies are keenly received by conference – particularly those projects carried out by water, gas or sewer utility companies. Given the location of this year's event, a highly appropriate paper delivered by Roger Jordan (and co-authored by Greg Kodweis) will outline a pipeline replacement scheme undertaken by the Las Vegas Water Department. The state of Nevada is one of the 'driest' geographical locations in the USA. Its modern water management and conservation measures are evoking global interest.

A case study from India also underscores the water distribution efficiency of plastic pipes. Given the open canal system in that country, it is no wonder that irrigation is the largest consumer of water. However, a new piped distribution network (PDN) is changing all that. B. Dandekar from Rex Polyextrusion will explain how the changes are reducing significant water loss.

The European Plastic Pipes and Fitting Association (TEPPFA) is undertaking a technical field project to measure the precise behavior of large diameter structured-wall pipes once they are buried in different installation conditions. The study is an extension of the Buried Pipe Project successfully carried out in 2000 on solid wall plastic pipes up to Ø315mm diameter. TEPPFA's Peter Sejersen will report on early results in his paper The Design of Large Diameter Buried Pipes. Conclusions are expected to endorse overwhelmingly the installation of large diameter PE pipes.

Aging human joints are a relentless phenomenon. Not so in the world of plastic pipes since Julian West from Trelleborg will deliver a brief history of elastomeric seals in water and sewer pipeline systems. He will then provide an overview of how existing materials and designs of joints have evolved. His paper is entitled: The Evolution of Elastomeric Joints in Plastic Pipeline Systems and the use of Long Term Stress Relaxation Testing to Predict Service life.

“Pace and progress”

Zoran Davidovski, Chair of the Conference Technical Program comments: “Every two years, our international conference reviews the latest advances in technology and the global industry that makes it all possible. Momentum for our Las Vegas conference is mounting and we expect well over 400 attendees (leaders and technical experts) from around 40 countries.”

“They will not only benefit from the information presented but also share in the communication process. Networking is a strong driver behind the pace and progress of our global industry.”

Sponsors for PLASTIC PIPE XIX in Las Vegas, USA are as follows:

• Main Corporate sponsors: Baerlocher and Rollepaal
• Gold level sponsors: McELROY, LyondellBasell, The Dow Chemical Company, S&B Technical Products Hultec USA and MOL
• Silver level sponsors: TRI Environmental, Rifeng Enterprise Group, SICA and Trelleborg
• Gala Dinner sponsor: The European Plastic Pipe and Fittings Association (TEPPFA)
• Welcome Reception sponsor: KraussMaffei Berstorff
• IPAD corners sponsors: PVC4Pipes Association and PE100+Association
• Coffee Break sponsors: battenfeld-cincinatti, Hamilton Kent, Milacron and NSF International

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