25 years of trenchless technology success with kwik-ZIP

This year, kwik-ZIP will celebrate its 25th anniversary. From humble beginnings in 2000, the company's centraliser and spacer systems have grown to dominate a wide range of applications across many different industries, both in Australia and Internationally.

This year, kwik-ZIP will celebrate its 25th anniversary. From humble beginnings in 2000, the company’s centraliser and spacer systems have grown to dominate a wide range of applications across many different industries, both in Australia and Internationally.

While the future is exciting, with all its possibilities, it’s also worth celebrating the past. Last year, kwik-ZIP made significant strides in strengthening its business globally.

The company kicked off 2024 with confidence, relocating its WA headquarters to a new Bayswater location just outside of Perth’s CBD. This move positions the company strategically to serve its customers while enabling a greater range of inventory items on the West Coast of Australia. kwik-ZIP General Manager Paul Jeffreys stated that the company maintains an ‘open door’ policy at its office.

“Existing or prospective customers are always welcome to drop in and say hello at our new facility,” he said.

It’s the latest marker on the map for kwik-ZIP, which also boasts warehouse facilities in Sydney, the UK, and Texas and stockists throughout Australia, the US, the UK, and New Zealand.

Last year, kwik-ZIP products were used on a range of projects across Australia and around the globe. A fantastic example is when utility infrastructure expert Rob Carr turned to kwik-ZIP for its project in Gosnells, Western Australia.

The installation of kwik-ZIP HDXT-103 spacers was to aid in the slip-lining process of a mild steel, cement mortar-lined (MSCL) wastewater pressure main. This operation involved inserting the MSCL pipe into a robust reinforced concrete jacking pipe to realign the wastewater pressure main system as part of a larger project. Notably, this particular section of the pipeline was situated beneath an active rail line, presenting unique challenges that required innovative solutions.

Project Manager Marie Piette acknowledged the significant contribution of kwik-ZIP’s advanced spacers, praising their role in facilitating this complex installation process. Piette emphasised the effectiveness and reliability of the spacers in ensuring a smooth operation.

“The insertion of the MSCL pipes is progressing well despite a challenging environment. The production efficiency has been notably enhanced by the ease of installing 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 was 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, Pezzimenti Trenchless installed kwik-ZIP HDX-90 spacers to facilitate the slip-lining of an 813mm cement-lined steel water main into a steel encasing pipe.

“Whether the carrier pipe is plastic, glass reinforced pipe (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 easy.”

Expanded approval

In August, it was announced that kwik-ZIP’s HD series had successfully been appraised against the Water Services Association of Australia‘s (WSAA) product specification for casing spacers (WSA PS-324). With this latest approval, the HD joined the HDX and HDXT as kwik-ZIP products certified to this standard.

kwik-ZIP products are also approved for use in many utilities’ infrastructure, including the Melbourne Retail Water Association, South-East Queensland’s Infrastructure Products and Materials (IPAM) list, and Sydney Water and Water Corporation in Western Australia. The Australian Water Quality Centre (AWQC) certifies all products for use in contact with drinking water.

kwik-ZIP also contributed to delivering a major global project. Its spacers were used to assist one of the contractors working on a specific section of the Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion Project in Canada. The contractor needed to complete a horizontal directional drilling component where two pull-back casing sections needed to be protected at the entry and exit points of the run.

“Due to the slope angle, the contractor was concerned about potential damage to the casing and engaged kwik-ZIP to provide a specific solution to the scenario they were dealing with,” kwik-ZIP Managing Director Jason Linaker said.

The solution was to use multiple instances of kwik-ZIP’s HDXT-58W spacers and HDXT load inserts, which safely spread the pipe’s load and resulted in a successful installation.

“With the help of our products, the contractor completing the installation of this particular section of the pipeline was able to overcome their challenges and complete the section without any issues,” Linaker said.

In addition to featuring its products in major projects worldwide, kwik-ZIP showcased its range at various events throughout 2024.

The company exhibited at OzWater24 in Melbourne and followed up with a booth at the Australian Drilling Industry Association showcase in Perth. As a Water Industry Operations Association of Australia (WIOA) member, kwik-ZIP also exhibited at the 2024 WIOA conferences in Bendigo and Tamworth.

Most recently, kwik-ZIP exhibited its products at the 2024 No-Dig Live, which took place at NAEC Stoneleigh Park in Kenilworth, Warwickshire, UK.

Forging ahead

Following a successful year, kwik-ZIP is preparing for 2025. Jeffreys stated that the company will keep supporting its dedicated customers by delivering products that provide considerable cost, time, and operational benefits. This approach will help kwik-ZIP uphold its position as the preferred spacer and centraliser brand in Australian and global markets.

For more information, visit kwikzip.com

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