Project news: Large diameter PP system - July 2006

This above ground piping project involved the design and installation of a polypropylene pipeline to transfer CO2 at very low pressures. The difficult pipe route ran for over 2km and incorporated more than 2000 pipe welds.

The project involved the installation of 560mm diameter SDR 28 polypropylene pipe, together with a large quantity of fabricated bends, flanges and numerous specially manufactured parts. IPS also supplied the CNC controlled WIDOS 6100 welding machines that were used to carry out the site installation.

A unique challenge for the project was to devise a method to control the expansion and contraction of this single complex pipe run over such a long length. Installed outdoors, the wide ambient temperature conditions accompanied by the heating effects of UV created difficult conditions.
Using specially designed anchor fittings installed at pre-determined points, the forces caused by the expansion and contraction were effectively dissipated into the anchor mountings. As a result the entire system was installed without the need to use traditional expansion loops to control the thermal movements.

Project news: Valve export contract - July 2006

IPS has supplied more than 640 manual and actuated valves for a major water treatment project in the Middle East.

The PVC-U and PVC-C valves were in a wide range of sizes and included ball valves, check valves, butterfly valves, solenoid valves and pressure relief valves.

Part of the supply package included specially actuated valves incorporating a twin pack epoxy coated pneumatic actuator, switchboxes and a manual over-ride. Other valves included ball valves with directly mounted switchboxes and electrically operated valves with 4-20Ma positioners.

As an added benefit, IPS was able to produce customised individual valve tags for all the valves using our in-house engraving equipment.

All of the valves were individually tested prior to shipment, and backed by a comprehensive documentation package including operating and maintenance instructions.

Expansion Complete - May 2006
During the past year we have been busy creating what we believe to be the U.K.'s largest single stock facility for plastic piping products. Our building has doubled in size providing over 50,000 square feet of warehouse and offices in addition to a large secure outdoor compound.

The effect on our stockholding capability is dramatic. Before expansion we held over 74,000 metres (46 miles) of pipe in stock in our daily picking area. Our new facility increases this by 14%, but in addition we have created a high-bay store for bulk quantities of pipe that more than doubles our overall capacity.

Fittings and valves racking has been increased by over 50%. Together with new mezzanine floors to hold bulk storage, our new storage, our overall stock facility has been massively improved.

During 2006 we will be working through an inventory programme that will make yet further improvements to ex-stock availability for our products. It will deliver even better service to our customers.

We are very proud of our facility. If you would like to visit us to see it first-hand, please contact us now on freephone 0800 975 79 71.