Australian firm secures $4m GRP contracts

Australian firm secures $4m GRP contracts

Australian firm secures $4m GRP contracts David Floyd Australian I of IPS Composites projects describes the company’s and its plans for expa...

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Australian

firm secures $4m GRP contracts

David

Floyd

Australian

I

of IPS Composites

projects

describes

the company’s

and its plans for expansion

on two major

internationally.

(formerly Industrial

The ribbed version of FibrefloTM GRP

Plastics Services Pty Ltd) of Adelaide, South Australia, has secured $4 mil-

pipe will be supplied for the Bolivar

PS Composites

lion in contracts

Odour Control Project. This pipe will be filament wound at a 60” wind angle with

to supply glass rein-

the

forced plastic (GRP) pipe and covers to both the Pelican Point Power Station and ects during 2000. The contracts are a major boost for the composites industry in South Australia. The five separate contracts will see IPS working closely with United Water and major contractors like Stockport (Civil), ABB Engineering and O’Donnell Griffin. Both projects will make extensive use of IPS’ new GRP pipe product called FibrefloTM, which has been specifically designed for buried applications and, because of its excellent properties, is now replacing coated steels, thermoplastic and concrete pipe

The Bolivar project will use CRP pipe of various diameters and composite covers for the sewerage tanks and treatment ponds.

Unidirectional glass was incorporated to give the pipe high axial strength because of the thermal loads being applied to the pipeline. All spools were delivered to site subassembled, then joined on site using field butt and strap joins, and flange

materials.

Pelican Point The Pelican Point Power Station project in south Australia (completed in May) entailed the manufacture of large diameter pipes (up to 2.3 m) for both the intake and outflow of water to the site. Using filament wound FibrefloTM GRP pipe utilising a 70” wind angle and vinyl ester resin, IPS Composites supplied ABB Alstom Power (the builder of the station) with one of the power station’s most critical supply lines - seawater for cooling the gas fired station. The FibrefloTM pipe used was solid 30 mm wall thickness pipe at 2.3 m and 1.4 m diameters, with stiffness (SN wheel loads. handle 5000) to REiNFDRCEDplastics

July/August

addition

of

trapezoidal

ribs.

A

terephthalic polyester resin will be used throughout to provide high temperature and cost and corrosion resistance,

Bolivar Sewerage Works expansion proj-

38

work

2000

attachments for pumps etc. Completely designed and engineered by Al Newberry of US based composites consultant FEMech Engineering, this FibrefloTM pipeline underwent complete finite element analysis (FEA) to ensure the best design and service life was achieved.

effectiveness. Diameters supplied for this project range from 300 mm to 1600 mm. High ring stiffness (SNlOOOO) is required for heavy wheel loads, along with high tensile strength which is gained through the incorporation of unidirectional glass layers in the winding process.

Both projects extensive

will make

use of IPS’

new GRP pipe product called

FibrefloTM,

which

has been

specifically

designed

for buried

applications.

Bolivar project The Bolivar project (an extensive upgrade of the sewerage works located at Bolivar just outside Adelaide) will be completed by January 2001 and will see the manufacture of GRP pipe in various diameters up to 1.6 m together with a vast array of composite covers for the sewerage tanks and treatment ponds. These will achieve the project’s goal of controlling the odour emanating from the Bolivar site.

The FibrefloTM pipelines are used to pump sewage at 400 kPa pressure. Both 6 m and 12 m lengths are being supplied, along with many fittings, all of which incorporate a bell and spigot (0 ring) joining system. All certified design and engineering is being undertaken by IPS Composites and Dennis Southam of Dennis Southam and Associates, an Australian composites consultant. 0034.3617/00/$ - see front matter 0 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd A// rights reserved.

Australian

Pipe products

saw a number

Until recently IPS’ core product had been GRP pipe (especially Permaglass Bore

both

Casing and Pump Column) and associated products for the water, chemical and

broad experience in composite manufacture and location close to site, IPS

industrial

was able to secure all $4 million

icing

markets

clients

Santos

across Australia,

such

and Penrice

as WMC,

serv-

SA Water,

Soda Products.

The

company operates four computer controlled filament winders which accommodate

a variety

of mandrel

sizes giving

it the capacity

to manufacture

ducting

from 20 mm to in excess

ranging

pipe or

bids

of other

interstate for the

and work.

firm secures $4m

GRP contracts

manufacturers,

overseas,

submit

However,

with

work proving

that South Australia

thriving and ing sector.

competitive

its

of the has a

manufactur-

The Pelican Point Power Station project.

The aim of this unique programme

is to bring

of 4 m in diameter, The

company’s

complements

fabrication

division

its pipe winding

operation

through the manufacture of bends, tees and flanges etc. II’S also imports a range of quality fittings manufactured in South East Asia and is the national distributor for GridwalkTM composite walkway grating.

Diversification In 1997 the company diversified its operations when it opened a second facility at Lonsdale to manufacture GRP bus panels for Austral Pacific Group, a national bus manufacturer located at Royal Park in South Australia. It has further expanded this operation to include pattern and mould production and specialised composite panels for the truck, rail and aquaculture industries. The collapse of the Austral Pacific Group at the end of 1998 together with a market slowdown during 1999 did not dampen IPS’s plans for further expansion. 1999 saw the company’s trading name change from Industrial Plastics Services to IPS Composites to better reflect its capabilities in composite products. FibrefloTM, an important new GRP pipe product, was developed with the assistance of the South Australian Centre for Manufacturing and the SA Department of Industry and Trade. IPS’ sales manager Martyn Manuel worked closely with several contractors in advancing the Pelican Point Power Station and Bolivar expansion projects from planning to tender stage which

together

local,

complementary companies

that are

internationally

competitive

and are able to undertake large

overseas

manufacturing installation within

The Pelican Point project entailed the manufacture of large diameter pipes for both the intake and outflow of water to the site.

design, and

projects

the water

based

industry.

IPS Composites prides itself on being an industry leader both in terms of organisational development and in the innovative use of technology and other resources. The company recently invested a substantial amount of money in securing a licence for the CCBM vacuum infusion process and will utilise this technology in its recently won contract with Razorback Vehicles of Victoria. Over the next nine months IPS will supply reinforced plastic panels for the canopy of Razorback’s new Australian-designed light commercial vehicle which will be exported to Europe.

Development IPS Composites has experienced significant growth over the past three years due in no small part to its introduction of quality assurance systems throughout all facets of its operation, with all systems complying with the standards set down in IS0 9001. Third party accreditation

has been initiated and should be completed in the coming months. IPS Composites is one of only 40 companies the South Australian Water Industry Alliance has grouped together under their Best Practice Programme. The aim of this unique programme is to bring together local, complementary companies that are internationally competitive and are able to undertake large overseas design, manufacturing and installation projects based within the water industry. Some recent examples include large water delivery projects based in the Philippines and Indonesia. In addition to the opportunities this programme provides for sale of IPS’ products overseas, the company sees the ability to access the latest in technological developments through key, joint venture associations as being of major importance in its plans for continued expansion. David Floyd, managing director, IPS Composites, 22 Heath Street, Lonsdale,

July/August

2000

REINFORCEDplastics

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