The process helps pipe makers compete with rivals in low wage cost countries

Three Austrian companies have devised a process to make multi-layer pipes in a single operation. Multi-layer PP and HDPE pipes are usually made by extruding separate inner and outer layers, then joining them with injection moulded separators in a hand welding process. The new technique reduces this to a single stage. Austrian pipe producer Agru Kunststofftechnik says this will allow it to compete with producers of multi-layer pipes from lower wage countries.

Agru has spent 10 months on the project with GS-Tech – an extrusion tooling consultancy – and toolmaker Puhl. The project partners – all members of the Kunststoff Cluster – say that the high degree of crystallinity of PP and HDPE compared with PVC meant that the calibration has to be optimised carefully in order to respect dimensional tolerance limits.