Amiantit achieves technology breakthrough

"This is a really ground-breaking event. Passing this test proves the robustness of our flexible joint and demonstrates Amiantit's ability to design and manufacture GRP products for high pressure applications," said Eng. Fareed Al-Khalawi, Amiantit President & CEO. "This development now enables us to bring forward pending projects in the Middle East, North Africa and Latin America, and paves the way for further expansion of the Group."

The joint is qualified according to ASTM D4161 as well as to the more stringent requirements of ISO 8639 and EN 1119: angular deviation at 50 bar for 24 hours and sheer load at 50 bar for 24 hours, as well as cyclic loading and vacuum.

The demand for large diameter, high pressure, GRP (glass-reinforced plastic) products has been increasing steadily in recent years, partly because of the high price of steel, but also because of the merits of Amiantit's environment- friendly GRP products which are corrosion-resistant, strong yet lightweight and easy install, and offer a cost-efficient alternative to steel.

With six technology companies supporting more than 30 manufacturing facilities in various countries around the globe, the Amiantit Group is a world leader in research and development of pipe manufacturing technologies and is the exclusive owner of worldwide patents for Flowtite™, which is the foremost technological process used in the manufacture of fibreglass reinforced plastic pipe products. This latest success with the Flowtite joint is yet another demonstration of the importance of the work done by Amiantit's research scientists to further the pipe manufacturing industry's understanding of the behaviour of composite materials under the stresses and pressures involved in practical applications.