This year has proved to be a busy year for kwik-ZIP with the global manufacturer opening a new head office in Australia and getting involved in projects Down Under and internationally.
Manufactured from high grade thermoplastic, kwik-ZIP products are used and recommended by pipeline contractors, water and gas utilities, drilling companies and international engineering firms.
The use of kwik-ZIP products helps contractors to comply with the numerous regulations that require casing centralisers or pipe spacers (slippers or spiders), including wastewater and sewerage codes and well construction standards.
Since its inception in 2000, the company has been designing centralisers and spacers systems for a wide range of applications across many different industry sectors.
With warehouse facilities in Perth, Sydney, the UK and Texas, the company has also established stockists in Australia, the US, the UK and New Zealand markets. kwik-ZIP products are recommended, specified and used by pipeline and civil contractors, water and gas utilities, drilling companies and international engineering firms across the world.
kwik-ZIP’s HD and HDX/HDXT spacer system series are providing the pipeline sector with simple, cost-effective, and high-quality solutions.
The HD and HDX/HDXT spacer system series are lead and metal-free, non-corrosive, chemical and oil resistant, and suitable for use on all pipe materials, including steel, ductile iron (DICL), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), concrete and mild steel cement lined (MSCL).
They also have a quick and easy installation process, reduce point loading via a unique load sharing runner system, and minimise damaging vibration and movement transfer from outer casing to carrier pipe via suspension and dampening effect. All kwik-ZIP spacers are designed to meet the requirements of Water Services Association of Australia (WSAA) product specification 324 (casing spacers).
kwik-ZIP products are also approved for use within many utilities’ infrastructure, including Melbourne Retail Water Association, South-East Queensland’s Infrastructure and Materials (IPAM) list, Sydney Water and the WA Water Corporation.
All products are certified by the Australian Water Quality Centre (AWQC) for use in contact with drinking water.
As a member of the Australian Water Association, kwik-ZIP is affiliated with Water Industries Operators of Australia (WIOA), American Water Works Association, US National Ground Water Association, the ASTT and the Australasian Corrosion Association.
On the move
In early 2024, kwik-ZIP relocated its WA head office to new premises in Bayswater.
The company said the move ensures it is strategically positioned to service its customers.
The move has enabled kwik-ZIP to service WA clients more efficiently, while also allowing for increased inventory to be held on the west coast of Australia.
Existing or prospective customers are always welcome to drop in and say hello at kwik-ZIP’s new facility, General Manager Paul Jeffreys said.
On the ground
This year again saw kwik-ZIP products used on a range of projects across Australia and around the globe. Utilities infrastructure experts Rob Carr turned to kwik-ZIP for its project in Gosnells, Western Australia.
kwik-ZIP HDXT-103 spacers were installed to facilitate the slip-lining of a mild steel cement mortar lined (MSCL) wastewater pressure main into a RC Jacking pipe, running under a rail line for the Gosnells Main Pumping Station Wastewater Pressure Main Realignment project.
Rob Carr Project Manager Marie Piette saluted kwik-ZIP’s and its innovative spacers.
“The MSCL pipes insertion is making good progress despite a challenging environment, with production efficiency notably enhanced by the simplicity of installation of the Kwik-Zip spacers,” she said.
The simple and efficient installation process did not require any special tools or any requirement to pre-wrap the pipe.
Pezzimenti Trenchless were also among those praising kwik-ZIP’s products.
“Pezzimenti Trenchless has been using kwik-ZIP spacers for slip lining installations for many years,” Managing Director Joe Pezzimenti said.
In one project instance, kwik-ZIP HDX-90 spacers were installed to facilitate the slip-lining of an 813mm cement lined steel water main into a steel encasing pipe by Pezzimenti Trenchless.
“Whether the carrier pipe is plastic, GRP or heavy weight steel, kwik-ZIP has a spacer to do the job,” Pezzimenti said.
“Their technical support and excellent customer service make using kwik-ZIP spacers an easy decision.”
In August, it was announced that kwik-ZIP’s HD series has been successfully appraised against the Water Services Association of Australia’s (WSAA) product specification for casing spacers (WSA PS-324).
kwik-ZIP also made an impact on the global stage this year.
The company’s spacers were recently utilised on a specific section of the Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion Project in Canada to assist one of the contractors working on the project.
The contractor needed to complete an HDD component where two HDD pull-back casing sections needed to be protected at the entry and exit points of the run.
The Trans Mountain Pipeline System (TMPL) is a multiple product pipeline system that carries both crude and refined products from Edmonton in Alberta Canada across to the Coast of British Columbia.
The initial pipeline system was completed in 1953, and then in 2013 a project commenced to build a second duplicate pipeline system, running parallel to the existing pipeline.
On show
As well as seeing its products involved on projects in Australia and around the globe, kwik-ZIP also showcased its range at a number of events in 2024. In Australia, the company exhibited its products at OzWater24 in Melbourne, and followed that up with a booth at the Australian Drilling Industry Association showcase in Perth.
As a WIOA member kwik-ZIP also exhibited at the 2024 Water Industry Operations Association (WIOA) of Australia conference in both Bendigo and Tamworth.
kwik-ZIP also exhibited at the 2024 No-Dig Live, which took place in Kenilworth, Warwickshire, UK from 1–3 October.
The company was on the ground at the the three-day event, showcasing its range of innovative and patented spacer and centraliser systems.
For more information, visit kwikzip.com.
This article featured in the October edition of Trenchless Australasia.
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