One of the most eye-catching items in the exhibit hall at Geotechnical Frontiers 2017 (March, Orlando) was a large diameter pipe section. The product was stationed at Agru America’s booth. Now, the company has released details on its new manufacturing center in Charleston, South Carolina. The site is serving the growing international demand for next-generation large diameter pipe products, with a focus on high-density polyethylene materials.
Production at the site began in early April 2017.
The Charleston Harbor plant is producing AGRULINE pipes with dimensions of up to OD 2500 mm (98.4 in.). These materials are engineered for high-volume flow applications, such as for use in on- and offshore gas, potable water, and wastewater infrastructure.
The largest diameter pipes can be manufactured in lengths up to 600 m (1,968 ft.) in length. The facility’s harbor location enables pipe to be extruded directly into the harbor, for towing by ocean-going vessel. While standard truck and rail delivery is possible, the waterfront production takes full advantage of the cost-savings enabled by the lightweight, buoyant nature of the the large diameter pipe materials. (Ends are sealed for ocean towing.)
LARGE DIAMETER PIPE APPLICATIONS
Combined with associated fittings, AGRULINE piping systems can manage high-volume flow applications (e.g., power plant cooling water intake, large sewage systems, sea water desalination, mining).
“Agru produces the large diameter piping systems from PE100, PE100-RC, or PE4710 resins allowing for better long-term hydraulic properties, which save operation costs and provide high resistance to corrosion, wear and tear, and UV radiation,” the company writes. “The ductility of PE withstands water hammers and pressure surges, where other materials would crack or burst. [Our large diameter pipe products] are available in a wide range of SDRs, in accordance with recognized ISO or ASTM International pressure rating procedures.”
The extruded polyethylene has been selected to create corrosion-resistant, maintenance-free designs and to offer high abrasion and UV resistance.
“The most important part of a piping system is the internal surface, which is responsible for a smooth hydraulic flow,” the company writes.
And in that one finds the strong connection to the geosynthetics. Agru is well-known not just for piping solutions but geomembranes. The lightweight, highly durable AGRULINE large diameter pipe products coming out of Charleston continue that tradition for long-term hydraulic performance.
Learn more at www.agruamerica.com.
