For the past 37 years, Sekisui Rib Loc Australia has been developing trenchless technologies for the rehabilitation of damaged pipe infrastructure around the world. Despite having undergone several changes over the years, the company’s core vision is still the same: to work together with willing partners to provide innovative solutions to deteriorated pipe networks.
The spiral wound liner system was first conceived in 1978 and patented in 1983 as the brainchild of South Australia inventor Bill Menzel AO OBE. He officially founded what was then known as Rib Loc Australia in June 1984.
While the spiral system was put to use in many countries around the world for the purposes of column formwork and new pipe fabrication, Bill – an entrepreneurial spirit and global traveller – saw the growing need for a reliable, high-quality method of lining aging and failing pipes. Setting his mind to finding a solution, Expanda™ was born.
A history of innovation
The core principle behind each of Sekisui Rib Loc Australia’s technologies is the in situ forming of a standalone structural liner through the helical winding of a factory extruded profile. Sekisui’s first pipe rehabilitation technology was Expanda, developed in 1983 for the close fit lining of small to medium diameter pipes.
Other technologies were developed over time, as the need for more innovative approaches in large diameter pipe rehabilitation became apparent. Ribsteel™ followed in 1996, as a large diameter, high stiffness liner.
Rotaloc™ was developed in 2001, initially in order to line conduits that weren’t directly adjacent to access chambers. Rotaloc is still used in structural lining for deteriorated circular pipes and culverts. It consists of a single, continuous PCV strip, which is progressively wound into the existing pipeline by a winding machine – no excavation required.
Ribline™ was developed in 2005, providing a more cost-efficient means of large diameter rehabilitation. After acquisition by Sekisui Chemical Co. in 2009, Sekisui Rib Loc Australia gained access to Sekisui’s SPR™ technology for the rehabilitation of non-circular conduits.
Award winning technologies
Sekisui Rib Loc Australia was proud to have had two of its technologies recognised by industry, when the company was awarded the International Society for Trenchless Technology No-Dig award for product of the year (Ribsteel, in 1997, and Rotaloc, in 2001) and to go on to have its other technologies used in ISTT No-Dig award winning projects.
Interflow and Sekisui Rib Loc Australia won the 2010 ISTT No-Dig award for the use of Ribline in the rehabilitation of the North Georges River Submain in Sydney. This project went on to be the world’s longest and largest continuous spirally wound pipe liner from a fixed winding machine. In 2012, Trenchless Technologies CC won the award for rehabilitating sewers in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, using Expanda, among other technologies.
New challenges require new solutions
While the present climate poses some challenges for Australian manufacturing, Sekisui Rib Loc Australia proudly continues to design, develop and manufacture the current and next generation of Australian spiral wound pipe rehabilitation technologies here in Australia.
While others seek to imitate, Sekisui Rib Loc Australia continues to innovate, expanding and improving the capability of its product offerings to meet the needs of both its installer partners and asset owners around the world.
Sekisui Rib Loc Australia continues to work with Interflow and similar likeminded organisations, seeking to contribute to improving the lives of communities. The company looks forward to the opportunities and challenges that the next 30 years and beyond will bring.
For more information visit the Sekisui website.
This article appeared in the ASTT 30th Anniversary Edition.