Consulting engineers and their clients should focus on long-term sustainabi- lity rather than short-term profit- ability, says high-density polyethylene (HDPE) pipe manufacturer Sinvac Piping MD Kobus van Dyk.

“In South Africa, traditional concrete piping systems and manholes are being prescribed by consulting engineers for gravity and large-diameter, low-pressure applications, while, in European countries, concrete piping systems and manholes have almost been completely replaced by HDPE spiral piping systems and manholes, while in dolomitic areas in South Africa, HDPE manholes are now mandatory.”

Unsurprisingly, HDPE is now the frontrunner in replacing traditional piping systems, Van Dyk states.

Although concrete pipe is almost 20% to 25% cheaper than HDPE spiral pipe, he highlights that, when comparing the cost of installation and service life in rands per meter, concrete is very expensive. The service life of HDPE spiral pipe is at least 50% longer than that of concrete.

Compared with concrete pipes, HDPE pipes offer lower maintenance costs and the reduction of replacement capital and, when used in infrastructure projects, decrease government spend and, subsequently, improve the use of tax revenue, he adds.

Plastic also weighs about 20 times less than concrete and no heavy equipment is needed to move plastic pipe around during installation, with only two to three people required for installation. Using HDPE for piping shortens installation time by 90%, with the light weight of the plastic allowing for longer sections to be used and the pipes to be cut to length on site.

For the past three years, original-equipment manufacturer Sinvac Mining & Engineering and Sinvac Piping have been focusing on providing a one-stop shop for all HDPE piping solutions, providing Sinvac Piping with a “competitive advantage” over other manufacturers in the industry and a “unique profile”.

Van Dyk points out that the HDPE spiral pipe and manholes represent the latest advancements in materials and manu- facturing technology. The raw material properties and product technology used to produce the spiral pipe have been combined to provide a lightweight product for various gravity and low-pressure applications.

In recognising clients’ needs for large-diameter, lightweight, low-pressure pipes and fittings, the applications of the pipe include pipe rehabilitation, stormwater management, culverts and manholes, as well as sewerage, drainage and marine pipelines, Van Dyk highlights.

“Sinvac manufactures and supplies spiral pipe with an inside diameter ranging from 300 mm to 1 200 mm, with a ring stiffness of between 4 000 N/m2 and 8 000 N/m2 at very competitive prices. We also have a fully equipped plastics fabrication workshop that specialises in the manufacturing of HDPE manholes of any type.

The company’s strategy going forward is to continue servicing the mining, industrial and infrastructure markets in South Africa and the rest of Africa by offering comprehensive support services for its piping solutions, concludes Van Dyk.