• Combining forces brings state-of-the-art pipeline renovation expertise to a worldwide audience
GATESHEAD, UK, July 6, 2007 -- In December 2006, Trelleborg AB, based in the town of Trelleborg in Sweden, announced that it had acquired specialist pipeline and ducting renovation systems and resins manufacturer epros GmbH of Duisburg, Germany, including its associated worldwide operations through UK-based epros international Ltd.
Established in 1905, Trelleborg is now a global industrial group holding a leading position and experience in the production of advanced polymer technologies which have application in demanding industrial environments where damping, sealing and protection systems are required. The range of industries in which the company operates is vast and includes: Aerospace, Automotive, Construction, Industrial Supply Products, Infrastructure, Machine Tools, Marine, Offshore, Precision Seals, Tyres and Wheels, Transportation Equipment and others.
In the infrastructure construction sectors, the company has product lines which offer engineered seals for structures such as tunnels, sluices, aqueducts, dry docks and basements; inflatable pipe plugs and pipe stoppers that are used to seal off sections of pipes during maintenance or new pipe systems operations; polymer-based pipe seals for water, drainage and sewerage pipeline systems; and tunnel seals for immersed tube and bored tunnels.
It was no surprise therefore that the company would look to broaden its influence in the increasingly important pipeline renovation and repair sector through an organization with experience in the field and recognized product lines such as those produced by epros. With the epros product range covering everything from full manhole-to-manhole lining systems, patch repair systems, Top Hat lateral connection seals, lateral linings and specialist resin design and production, the two companies target markets were very much aligned.
Not only was the acquisition seen as beneficial for Trelleborg but it also gave epros the opportunity to reshape its operations, expand its potential for developing new products in its specialist areas and look to the future with a significant potential for further growth across the globe, all of which would be backed by the international Trelleborg distribution network and the solid financial position for operations within an organization of this size.
Expanding Facilities
As part of the expansion process within the new epros division of Trelleborg, the company has invested in a major new 800 m2 facility located in Gateshead in the North East of England. Not only does the new facility offer, and hold significant stocks of, the epros lining, patching and sealing systems, materials and resins but it also now houses a major new training school for these techniques. The company is also currently working very closely with the United Kingdom Society for Trenchless Technology (UKSTT) to set up training schools that will offer recognized industry qualifications.
Within the Trelleborg-epros organization the new UK facility will also play a very significant role in the international marketing of the whole product range. All non-European business will be handled through the UK offices. In support of this, and in recognition of the company's significant growth in Asia, epros is currently establishing a technical support office in Singapore, which will have responsibility for the company's product range in this part of the world.
epros has long recognized the need for on-going research and development (R&D) of products to meet the ever changing needs of the modern infrastructure construction industries. To this end and within the new company structure, the main R&D operations will remain at the epros facility in Germany with two new certified engineers being employed to support the various new development programs. epros will also be taking on a new building, near the original one in Duisburg, to handle this increase in work.
In order to ensure the continued quality of its customer after-sales care and support, epros has also employed a new field support technician in addition to the existing team. The company has always put a great deal of emphasis on customer support and training and has become well-known for its ability to provide effective renovation solutions alongside its customers in the field should the need arise.
Expanding Product Range
As well as the expansion of facilities, the company has also developed a number of new and innovative products that are also currently being rolled out into the market place. Recently launched products offer support in the lateral, manhole and mainline rehabilitation sectors.
Key products within the range now include:
• Patch Lining systems
• Lining systems using with air inversion and ambient cure resins
• Lining systems with Steam curing
• Lining vehicle manufacture and supply (to customer specifications)
• Manhole Rehabilitation products and application systems
• Main to lateral lining systems with an extended range of top hat lateral connection sealing systems.
• Pipeline plugs and stoppers
The production of fully fitted lining system vehicles is one of the latest areas of expansion for epros. Vehicles can be fitted out for mainline, lateral or sealing system works or any combination of these systems as required by the client. The design and layout of these vehicles is also supported by many years experience with contractors in the field. This enables epros to design vehicles that minimize contractor effort and downtime during rehabilitation operations. The company is currently fulfilling several orders for vehicles with lining and patching systems, to be delivered in the near future to countries in Eastern Europe and to operations in France.
The liner and sealing systems currently on offer from epros include:
• DrainPacker® -- A Short liner, Sectional Repair, Spot Repair, CIPP Spot repair system
• DrainMe-Sleeve® -- An Internal Sealing Sleeve, Reconstruction and Sealing System for accessible Pipelines
• DrainLiner® -- A Lateral Lining, Main Pipe Lining, CIPP (Cured in Place) Lining, trenchless sewer rehabilitation system
• DrainLCR® -- A Lateral Connection Repair and Main to Lateral Repair system, and
• DrainStopper® -- A Pipe Stopper, Plug, Sealing bag, Test Sealing bag system
As well as the lining materials and resins themselves, epros has also developed a range of lining inversion drums which eliminate the need for often cumbersome and high (therefore increased personnel risk) scaffold towers. The range includes the Mini-type inversion drum, a light-weight, high-grade stainless steel construction for broader application in poor accessibility locations. The 13 m liner capacity, with the DrainPlus (3 mm liner thickness) system, is suited to operations such as such the relining of down pipes from a roof or from a basement, or short house drains. A new wheel holding system makes transport easier and typical epros ergonomic shapes have been maintained, as well as a window for easy and safe drum loading operations with the hot water connections.
For larger diameter or greater liner wall thickness operations, epros has more recently developed the Inversion Drum Type V which can handle up to 100 m long runs of DN 500 liners with a wall thickness of 10.5 mm. This 2 person-operated drum can be easily pushed and moved allowing the entire system to be used effectively on any level surface, or the inversion drum can be mounted onto a trailer if required.
Even now further inversion drums are already being designed for various liner diameters and lengths. The company also offers all the associated hot water systems and vehicle equipment with resin mixing units that are required for such works.
The Trelleborg/epros operation now exports systems and products to over 40 countries worldwide and with the new Trelleborg connection, the epros division will be well placed to encourage growth both in the overall renovation market and in its renovation product range to meet the increasing demands of the worldwide rehabilitation market.
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