I thought you or one of your colleagues might be interested in a recent application of our No Weld 316SS Press Fit Piping System.
A food processing plant in the Hunter Valley were experiencing problems with an existing Climatherm (polypropylene pressure) piping system. This system was being used to transfer potassium hydroxide, a high grade detergent, through a ceiling cavity to various areas within the plant. The system was operating at 700 kPa with ongoing pin holes and pipe bursts occurring.
Neil Brandt of Neil Brandt Plumbing was asked to review the situation with his customer and provide an alternative to the existing Climatherm piping. 316LSS was suggested as the material most suitable for the task.
Enter No Weld Press Fit Piping System. Neil had previously used Press Fit (in copper) on other tasks and had found the system provided significant benefits. As such he contacted MEI in relation to the 316SS No Weld Press Fit Piping System. Discussions included the plant engineer working with MEI to ensure that 316SS was suitable and that the correct O-ring was selected for the chemical solution. Resulting in the installation of the SS Press Fit piping system in the ceiling cavity.
The reported outcomes at the completion of the task, in comparison to the pre-existing Climatherm piping, were:
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Speed of installation. Press Fit was shown to be quicker to install than Climatherm. Job was completed 50% faster than initially expected.
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Safety. As the Press Fit tooling is cordless, there were no electrical leads running through cramped machinery space. Also the ceiling cavity can be very hot to work in. Hence, being able to get the job done quickly has OH&S, and other, benefits.
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Easy. Press Fit could be attached to existing wet lines. Climatherm requires a totally dry environment. This is also a benefit of easily using Press Fit piping for future upgrades.
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No Hot Work. Press Fit is installed with no hot work whilst Climatherm requires the application of heat to form the joints.
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Quality. Higher quality materials expected to reduce future maintenance costs due to the longer operational life expectancy of 316SS piping.
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Simple. All piping work was done on site in the roof space. No off site (workshop) preparation was required as would be expected if welded SS piping had been used.
Needless to say, the system passed all pre and post production testing. Operating pressures have been increased to 900 kPa (well within Press Fit piping’s pressure range). Due to the success of the installation, it has been decided that more of the existing piping infrastructure in the plant will be replaced with 316SS Press Fit piping in the future.
If you have a piping project or job coming up, could the benefits of the Press Fit piping system be of assistance to you and your team? If you think it might, then please email or call me today on (02) 9734 8771 to discuss your piping requirements.
Roof Space work area
Existing Climatherm and new 316SS Press Fit running side by side.
316SS Press joined to exisitng system
316SS Press Fit reducing Tees in Ring Main with smaller service lines
Press Fit has threaded adaptors and unions to permit joining onto valves, machinery, etc
