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For more than 20 years the ALH System-One tapping machine has proven itself to be a reliable, versatile and safe platform for Gas-Free* drilling and tapping. It is also used for tee insertion, bag deployment, plug installation/removal, live camera insertion and we haven't finished there. Recently, PLCS has added two enhancements; shell cutters for drilling steel main and the Gas-Free* Malleable Street Tee Renewal Tool Kit for street tees threaded directly into a gas main.
ALH System-One Shell Cutter for Steel Mains
 To drill and tap steel mains the system uses an extremely durable high speed steel shell cutter and NPT tap combination currently available in 1 ¼" through 2 ½" sizes (other sizes available upon request). The Shell Cutter is easily mounted together with the tap on the ALH System-One Drill Shaft so cutting and tapping is done consecutively without having to remove the drill head.
The Shell Cutter removes the periphery of the hole, so it cuts around 70% less metal than a typical twist drill. This decreases cutting times and drilling effort dramatically. A pilot drill is not needed, since the equipment is designed to ensure automatic alignment. Due to the cutter's specialized design and geometry, the cutting edges produce small chips rather than ribbons, eliminating binding during operation and creating a clean burr-free concentric hole. The small chips are collected by a rare-earth magnet inside the shell cutter so they do not drop into the pipe. The coupon is held inside the Shell Cutter and is removed afterwards. The cutters have exceptional wear resistance and can be re-sharpened by PLCS at low cost. Coupled with the high quality NPT tap the System-One drill head can quickly produce quality threads in the hardest of steel mains over and over again.
ALH Service Street Tee Renewal Tool Kit
Workplace safety is very important and will always lead to cost savings such as fewer accidents, less health insurance claims, worker longevity and improved morale. Yet it is often a challenge to apply enhanced safe practices given real life practicality and the added initial costs of safer equipment, tooling, and new procedures. However, delaying such an investment may leave workers and others on the job site exposed to risk.
 | | Stop Doing This! |
This issue can relate to renewing or abandoning service tees, which, traditionally, have been renewed under live blowing gas conditions. Even though advances in PPE over the years have greatly improved worker's safety in live conditions, plunging a wooden dowel through a tee into the main while under pressure still puts workers unnecessarily in harm's way. Current alternative Gas-Free* methods, such as isolating services by installing two stop-offs on either side of the service tee enhance worker safety but can substantially increase the overall cost of the renewal or abandonment project.
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Street Tee threaded into
the main |
PLCS now offers the ALH Service Street Tee Renewal System for Gas-Free* service tee renewal or abandonment of open gut standard malleable street tees threaded directly into the main. The operation is simple. An adapter disc with a replaceable rubber gasket is placed over the top of the tee. The ALH System-One Control Valve is secured on top
of the adapter disc and fastened with chains to create a seal. Then,  the ALH System-One Canopy fitted with the Magnetic Plug Removal Tool is placed over the valve to remove the plug Gas-Free*. Next, a special one piece rubber plug assembly is fitted into the throat of the tee stopping the flow of gas to the service branch. The component is tightened into the street tee threads locking in the rubber stopper. The branch is now cut using a manual or air powered hacksaw, then the System-One Valve is remounted over the tee and secured onto the main. The tee can now be removed using the Tee Insertion / Removal equipment and a new tee or plug can be installed. The whole process is completed in only 15-20 minutes. Currently, the tool kit can handle ¾", 1" and 1 ½" street tees operating at 10 psig. Plans are in the works to increase pressure rating and size ranges.
Call PLCS for more details...
* In a controlled gas environment | 
Unique Products for the Gas Distribution Engineer
Now is the time to modernize your large diameter tapping machine with a much lighter, user-friendly and safer machine. Many gas company tool rooms have the daunting task of locating replacement parts for a 50 year old machine. In some cases these machines are now so outdated that manufacturers have stopped making the parts. Waiting 6 or perhaps 12 months for replacement parts before making taps on a large diameter main can make it impractical for crews to respond to a dangerous emergency. 
The answer is a PLCS ALH System-Three Tapping Machine for live 12"- 48" steel or cast iron mains tapping of 3", 4" and 5" NPT holes at pressures up to 60 psig under Gas-Free* conditions in less than 20 minutes including set up time. The machine is the only 21st century design made for the gas distribution industry and features simple push button operation to drill and tap. Constructed of ultra-lightweight modular aluminum components, making it easy to be handled and mounted by one person without the need of lifting equipment and the inherent danger this involves. The control valve/ drilling platform mounts on the main and is secured with double chains and spreaders to ensure rock steady direct drilling and tapping. This avoids the need for expensive full encirclement fittings. The powerful air motor drives the shell cutter and NPT tap without a pilot drill; dramatically shortening the time to cut and tap. The operation is safely completed by installing a PLCS Low-Profile Plug for permanent leak-free seals. 