After marking 25 years in business during 2025, kwik-ZIP enters 2026 with momentum built on global project delivery, manufacturing scale and growing engagement with the water sector. What began as a niche solution for vertical pipe centralisation has matured into a product portfolio increasingly embedded in complex water and wastewater infrastructure across a wide range of industries.
Over the past year, kwik-ZIP systems were deployed across a diverse set of projects, including the Alkimos seawater desalination plant in Western Australia, a $2.1 billion motorway upgrade in New South Wales and major pipeline works in the United Kingdom. For water utilities, these projects highlight how spacer and centraliser systems, though often unseen, play a defining role in protecting assets, improving installation efficiency, and supporting long-term performance.
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Why spacers matter in modern water networks
kwik-ZIP’s thermoplastic spacer and centraliser systems are designed to support carrier pipes during slip-lining, casing and trenchless installations. Their non-metallic construction reduces the risk of corrosion, an issue that continues to concern utilities managing ageing assets in aggressive environments.
Low-friction surfaces and abrasion resistance enable longer insertion lengths and lower installation forces, easing construction constraints in tight corridors and urban sites. Integrated rubber grip pads eliminate the need for pipe pre-wrapping, reducing labour and installation variability.
The systems are also designed for ease of assembly, enabling faster on-site installation without specialised equipment. For water utilities and contractors, this simplicity translates to reduced construction time, lower energy use and fewer safety risks during installation.
Standards, certification and utility acceptance
kwik-ZIP’s HD, HDX and HDXT spacer ranges have been appraised against the Water Services Association of Australia specification WSA PS-324 for casing spacers. The products are also certified by the Australian Water Quality Centre for use in contact with drinking water.
Beyond formal certification, the systems are approved on multiple utility infrastructure lists, including Sydney Water, Water Corporation in Western Australia, the Melbourne Retail Water Association, and South-East Queensland’s IPAM framework. This breadth of acceptance reflects the growing emphasis utilities place on materials durability, compliance and whole-of-life performance.
Expanding engagement across the water sector
Industry engagement has become a key pillar of kwik-ZIP’s strategy. In 2025, the company maintained a strong presence at Ozwater in Adelaide, at Queensland’s Water Industry Operations Conference, and at No-Dig Down Under, using these forums to discuss how centraliser systems contribute to regulatory compliance and asset longevity.
Looking ahead, 2026 will see kwik-ZIP return to Ozwater in Brisbane, extending a run of continuous participation since 2015. The company will also exhibit at International No-Dig Auckland, ADIA’s national exhibition, No-Dig Live in the United Kingdom and the National Ground Water Association Conference in Las Vegas.
For the water industry, this international footprint reflects a broader trend. As utilities invest in trenchless methods, desalination, reuse and network renewal, enabling technologies such as spacers and centralisers are becoming integral to reliable project delivery rather than peripheral accessories.
With more than three million units produced in the past five years and order books extending well into 2026, kwik-ZIP’s next phase appears closely tied to the evolving demands of global water infrastructure.