The Viega Propress press fit joining system has gained wide acceptance by local councils and water authorities since its introduction to Australia in 2006 by Crane Copper Tube.
Users of the system are most impressed by the overall speed and ease of installation compared to brazed joints.
The largest benefit however is that oxy acetylene is not required meaning that installations and repairs of water pipes are so much safer as a flame isn’t required, and the maintenance crews don’t need to carry the gas bottles on their truck.
The other main benefit is being able to make joins when water is still in the pipelines.
“Although this system was introduced into Australia only four years ago, the majority of councils and water authorities are already using the system,” said Robert Hardgrove, Business Development Manager for Crane Copper Tube.
“This system may be relatively new to Australia but it has been around for over 20 years in Germany and enjoys over 75 per cent market share.
“You know that you have a truly incredible system when a very large organisation like Sydney Water’s maintenance department with all their internal processes and different department evaluations were able to within the space of seven months go from having no knowledge of the product to fully implementing the system with the purchase of over 100 tools.”
Scott Jackson, Coordinator Water Supply at Mid Western Regional Council in New South Wales said that the system is extremely fast, reliable and safe.
“There is no hot work required nor do you need to worry about secondary explosion from the gas bottles on the truck,” he said.
“We use it under mains pressure after covering the expensive tool in a plastic bag so it doesn’t get wet, which you can’t do with oxy.
“We did use kinko nuts and olives before for this type of work but Viega Propress is much more reliable.”
*Copy supplied by Crane Copper Tube
