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Customer Appreciation
PLCS would like to thank Meade Electric on their recent purchase of 3 ALH System-One Tapping Equipment Packages |
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Greetings!
PLCS, Inc. is dedicated to provide quality products that work to solve your problems from people who understand the gas industry. We like to keep you aware of any new developments or products PLCS, Inc. has to offer.
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Using Live Mains Insertion on Main Renewal Enhances Customer Focus | |
 Spring is just around the corner and it may be time to update sections of cast iron main with polyethylene pipe (PE). Traditionally, direct burial is the way most gas companies perform mains renewal. However, the high cost associated with this technique due to expensive excavation costs, traffic disruptions, public relation issues, permitting, scheduling conflicts and overtime costs make it a challenge to fit into project budgets. Gas distribution companies should have various construction renewal techniques at their disposal to ensure efficiency. A trenchless technique such as Live Mains Insertion (LMI) is a simple, alternative way to renew mains while enhancing customer service.
Live Mains Insertion is similar to dead insertion of PE into a cast iron main with one very beneficial difference. The old main is kept live throughout the PE insertion process using a special gland box, which allows the customer's gas supply to be fed via the annular space. Since the customer's service is kept live, service transfers can be performed when it is operationally convenient for both the gas  company and the customer, thereby enhancing customer service. The technique is like performing non-invasive surgery and is suitable for various PE sizes into 3" to 16" cast iron pipe operating up to 1 psi. Once insertion is complete the system pressure can be upgraded or remain the same.
Some extra benefits of LMI to consider:
- Strong Customer Focus - Customers are always "on". Crews can be pulled off the job if there is an emergency elsewhere. Service transfers are scheduled when it is convenient for the customer.
- Enhanced Project Flexibility - Calculated risks can be taken with projects. If teams are unable to push the PE through an unexpected obstruction, the project can be put on hold until this is cleared without interrupting the gas supply to customers.
- Excavation Savings - Trenchless technique with fewer excavations open at any one time. Multiple PE pushes are possible from one excavation providing less impact on traffic.
- Cost Savings can be substantial versus dead insertion. Consider the possible overtime costs when working against the deadlines inherent with dead insertion.
Given a project's budget, excavation requirements, gas feeds, pressures or number of services every new mains replacement program presents its own unique challenge. By adding the LMI technique to the gas engineer's toolbox, you may be pleasantly surprised at how easy it is to implement this technique.
>Click to learn more about Live Mains Insertion |
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Be Under Budget with the 2"-6" PLCS Coil Pipe Trailer | |
 Fighting to keep project labor and material costs under budget can be a daily battle for any gas utility. When it comes to installing new PE main, having an efficient work practice is vital to any project's success.
Traditionally PE pipe was installed using 40 ft. stick lengths. Although large diameter stick pipe typically cost less per foot than PE coil pipe, straight lengths consume a substantial amount of time and labor to assemble them on site. Today, more gas utilities are opting to use coil pipe to achieve project savings due to the significant decrease in fusion activity, labor, and transportation costs.
The most obvious advantage of coil pipe is the drastic reduction in fusions needed during installation. Stick pipe requires a fusion at least every 40 ft. and each fusion takes around 20 minutes to complete when considering the overall moving, fusing and cooling times. PE pipe coils of up to 1,000 ft. are commonly available now and most installation can be completed with only two fuses, one at each end. Add it up, the savings are significant.
Additional benefits using coil pipe vs. stick pipe:
- Coil pipe takes up much less storage space and a large coil length can be easily mobilized to the job site safely using only a medium size pick-up.
- On a small project the coil is never removed from the trailer and does not need to be stored on site. If it is stored on site, it takes up little room and does not obstruct traffic.
- No long lengths of fused pipe lying in the roadway, obstructing driveways and risking damage when being dragged into the ditch. Coil pipe is uncoiled straight from the trailer into the ditch.
- No need for multiple trailers, one trailer can be used for 2" to 6" pipe.
- Coil pipe is especially suited to directional boring. No waiting for each fuse, no removing of outer beads, no internal beads and no potential leaks. The pipe can run as fast as the borer.
A PLCS Coil Pipe Trailer is the perfect partner when installing 2"-6" PE coil pipe. The trailer is about the size of a pick-up truck making it invaluable in tight city streets, yet it can also lay high volumes of pipe at high speeds cross-country. The coil bay is equipped with a solar charged, battery/hydraulic power adjustment system for easy handling of every coil size for gas, water, conduit and telecom. The pipe is automatically re-rounded and straightened by an integral mechanical "set and forget" combination of rollers. There is no gas engine to start on a cold morning (or to be stolen). The robust trailer construction is designed to stand up to site conditions and provide ultra safe coil pipe dispensing while requiring very little maintenance. The PLCS Coil Pipe Trailer is the preferred choice for any coil pipe project. Just ask our many repeat customers.
>Click to learn more about the PLCS Coil Pipe Trailer
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Unique Products for the Gas Distribution Engineer
