Durapipe celebrates 70 years of bringing innovative products to market

Fluid management solutions provider Durapipe has been providing the water and chemical industry with durable, reliable, quality piping products since 1954

THE CONSTRUCTION landscape has undergone tremendous transformation, but Durapipe has kept pace by harnessing innovation and technology.

Part of the Aliaxis UK portfolio, Durapipe provides solutions across building services and industrial applications.

Here, five colleagues, who have clocked up more than 150 years between them with Durapipe, give an insight into its history.

How has the industry changed?

Robert Matthews (head of health and safety for EMEA): I think the biggest shift for the industry has been automation, which has changed massively. Another, that I've obviously been heavily involved in, is in health and safety standards, which are now a lot stronger.

James Roper (head of product portfolio): Looking back to the early days of Durapipe, there was almost a plastic revolution, where plastic was the answer to everything. But it is a different world now and rather than saying, use it everywhere, it is more a case of making sure it’s the best choice for the application. So, we have become more specialists rather than generalists with our plastic systems.

Rob Millett (innovation manager): Today, it’s far more customer-focused during the development process to launch a new product. CAD and simulation software have transformed the way products are designed and evaluated before they are even a physical component, allowing us to see how different designs and materials could perform. Rapid prototyping also gives us the opportunity to put ideas into the customers’ hands quicker, which means so much more than just a 2D drawing.

Dawn Pearce (customer services manager – customer aftercare): The industry has become much more focused on sustainable and ethical practices, is more inclusive and health and safety orientated, including mental health, which is so important these days.

What has been the most significant shift in the Durapipe offering to meet changing industry needs?

James: One area where we saw tremendous innovation was PLX, a multi-layer dual contained pipe system, made to carry fuel. It went on to change the industry. If you go back 25 years, there was no plastic pipework in this sector. It has genuinely changed the health and safety of the environment of a forecourt. If the internal pipework leaks, the fuel stays inside the secondary pipework and does not leak into the surrounding area.

Which Durapipe product is your favourite?

James: My favourite would be PLX, which is now a global product shipped all over the world. It’s definitely a success story.

Dawn Jackson (customer services manager – customer aftercare): My favourite product range is ABS, which is currently used in SuperFlo, which is ideal for transporting cold and chilled water. When I first started, I was very conscious of customers asking me what it stood for – Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene. I repeated it over and over in my head to ensure I got it right.

Robert: Vulcathene – a complete laboratory drainage system manufactured from a unique material which provides excellent chemical resistance even at high temperatures. It’s a product that we acquired, and I was heavily involved in learning how it worked, how you assemble it, testing it, getting it certified, so to do all that work for such a great product is rewarding. Even though I work for Aliaxis UK, I say to people, if you cut me in half like a stick of rock, you’d see Durapipe going through the middle.

What does the future hold for Durapipe?

Dawn P: We’re looking forward to delivering sustainable and effective water management solutions, developing the industry’s best talent, and continuing to make life flow around the world. Thank you all; here’s to the next 70 years.

For more information, visit www.aliaxis.co.uk/70-years-of-durapipe