Plastics in Underground Pipes 2009

The international business and technology conference on plastic pipe applications, manufacturing and materials

With underground pipes, installation time and costs are critical and plastics - by offering flexibility, durability and chemical resistance -are increasingly being used to overcome many of the issues with traditional materials. They are being utilized in new pipelines, and as liners and coatings for traditional materials.  Underground pipeline renewal costs can be greatly reduced by using thermoplastics.  Polyethylene and PVC dominate the market with variations between different countries and markets.  Higher performance materials have applications in high pressure and industrial pipe, including polyamide and cPVC.

There are particular issues for underground pipes – acid soil, impact resistance, load bearing (for example in road drainage) and the need for installation technology that minimizes the disruption above ground.  Pipe joining technology has developed in parallel.

Manufacturing and installation technology is keeping pace with the expanding pipe market in efforts to keep company capabilities flexible and to control costs. 

Plastics in Underground Pipes 2009 offers an opportunity to network with experts from across the pipe industry and debate the implications of the latest market trends and technical advances.