Construction World June 2016

>

PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

When compared to its sewer pipe prede- cessor (the SANS 791 Durodrain pipe), Ultracor was a lighter, more cost-effec- tive andmaterial-efficient sewer pipe that quickly gained ground in the market. Over the years, extensive research and development by DPI Plastics and its ongoing commitment to increase its use of recycled PVC resulted in the development of Ultrapipe, which represented the ongoing evolution of Ultracor. Ultrapipe also utilises ‘skins’ manufactured from virgin PVC material. However, the foamed core is manufactured from recycled PVC. The skins cover the core and are in contact of three virgin or ‘first use’ layers: namely, an inner and outer PVC wall, together with a foamed inner core. > ULTRAPIPE PROMOTES PVC RECYCLING DPI Plastics introduced its Ultracor multi-layer SANS 1601 sewer pipe to the South African market in 2002. This consisted

LEFT: Renier Snyman, technical and product manager at DPI Plastics. RIGHT: PVC is the most popular material for sewer pipes due to its high strength and stiffness.

Ultrapipe complies with the minimum stiffness requirements of SANS 1601. It is manufactured in bothmedium-duty (200 KPa or SN 4) and heavy- duty (400 KPa or SN 8) versions.“Our full range of PVC sewer fittings are rated heavy-duty, and can therefore be used with any class of sewer pipe. In fact, the stiffness of our fittings far exceeds 400 KPa,” Snyman notes. DPI Plastics was also the first company in South Africa to introduce ribbed fittings, providing lower weight with increased perfor- mance. “The size and shape of the ribs on our fittings was optimised to provide high stiffness and maintain overall rigidity,” Snyman explains. Ultrapipe is available in the popular size range of 110 mm up to 250 mm. It is supplied with integral sockets and rubber seals, or can be joined by solvent welding, providing leak-free restrained joints. the design and manufacture of the various furniture elements. The two branches for which Vitrex supplied the table tops were the first to be completed in Nando's national revamp. Greg Dry, one of the founders of Egg Designs, says the Portuguese roots of Nando's influenced his decision to opt for a ‘kombuis tafel’ concept for the new restaurant tables. “We did some research and found that vitreous enamel steel had the hardwearing attributes we were looking for and that Vitrex could provide both limitless colour and print options. Vitreous enamel steel is also impervious and therefore the ideal mate- rial on which to serve food. We believe that the future design possibilities of vitreous enamel steel is limitless and are extremely excited about increasingly using it, not only in our designs for Nando's, but also in other interior designs as we continue our association with Vitrex.” Dry says he believes that as vitreous enamel steel is increasingly seen in Egg Designs interior landscapes in future, the product's relatively under-utilised capacity in this creative field in South Africa will be discovered and increasingly specified by the design fraternity. “Nando's are pushing the boundaries in every aspect of design and allowing Egg Designs to implement this innovative application of an established form of architectural cladding shows the restaurant chain's commitment to lead the field.” The interior designer says the “absolute passion, commitment and exceptional profes- sionalism” displayed by Vitrex in the execution of this order bore testimony to the company's success as a global player.

with the effluent and surrounding environment. While specifiers and contractors were initially hesitant to use this greener alternative, today Ultrapipe outsells Ultracor sewer pipe at a ratio of 4:1 as consumers choose more envi- ronment-friendly alternatives to traditional sewer products. “PVC is the most popular material for sewer pipes worldwide due to its high strength and stiffness, toughness, low cost, ease of installation, chemical resistance and full system availability of pipes and fittings,” Renier Snyman, technical and product manager, DPI Plastics, points out. “As per the SANS 1601 standard, we are only allowed to utilise recycled material from our own processes. We therefore have full history of the rawmaterial and its ingredients, providing greater confidence and peace of mind for our customers,” Snyman comments.

68

EXTRA DIMENSION TO VITREOUS ENAMEL STEEL Vitreous enamel steel, produced locally by Vitrex in Boksburg, has become synonymous with diverse architectural applications worldwide. Now the product has been specified for yet another innovative – and almost unexpected – application: as a new table top material for a global restaurant chain.

Durban-based interior designers, Egg Designs, discovered the unique durability and rugged nature of vitreous enamel steel and promptly decided that the product Vitreous enamel steel, produced by Vitrex in Boksburg and traditionally used in architectur- al applications, is now being used as table top material for Nando's restaurants. >

should be applied as bespoke table tops for two new outlets of the Nando's international restaurant chain. Nando's, established in South Africa in 1987, now has more than 1 000 outlets in more than 30 countries. Cristian Cottino, sales &marketing director of Vitrex in Boksburg, says Egg Designs approached Vitrex to provide the vitreous enamel steel table tops for Nando's O.R. Tambo International Airport and West Street, Durban, restaurants. “The table tops feature blue enamel graphics on a white background. The graphics were digi- tally printed prior to the final firing of the table tops. Special graphics, such as those designed by Egg Designs for Nando's tables, are no obstacle for our production line as Vitrex's vitreous enamel steel surfaces can incorporate virtually any graphics including the work of artists, or special effects such as metallic or wood grain finishes,” he states. Cottino says the 32 mm deep tops are 1 300 mm in diameter and factory-fitted with a core to receive a set of crafted metal legs. Egg Design has been contracted to design the interior of Nando's restaurants in South Africa in line with the new design philosophy, including

CONSTRUCTION WORLD JUNE 2016