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Using the hydraulic power of the excavator, the upper jaw clamps the PE pipe and pushes it into the old main at speeds of up to 10 metres per minute. The one-stage set up is extremely quick and the pushing action can be reversed if necessary without any need to dismantle or remove the Handler from the excavator.  Suitable for dual-fed excavators, the Handler is fitted with a double ram for extra...

First pipe coil trailer of its kind The 90/500 (now Hexi Pipe Coil Trailer) is the first pipe coil trailer of its type capable of transporting and dispensing a 500 metre coil of up to 90mm diameter PE. It is a completely new design from the company which began manufacturing trailers in the 1980s. With a hexagonal drum frame, the central drum is moved from loading/dispensing position to the...

The unique ‘J-shape’ design of the jaw allows the pipe to be side-loaded, eliminating the need for operatives to work in the trench. Pipe manoeuvring and insertion operations are controlled entirely from the safety of the cab. The lightweight tool attaches to a typical 1.5 to 3 tonne hydraulic excavator fitted with 25mm or 30mm bucket pins.The PE is side-loaded into the fixed J-shape lower...

Essentially, the major advantage of keeping the old cast iron main live whilst inserting it with a new PE pipe, is that customers are off gas for much shorter periods and, being a trenchless technology, it results in far less disruption to road users. Customers remain on gas for longer Once the main has been inserted with the new PE, customers remain on gas until individual services are...

Steve Vick International was set up in 1981 when Steve Vick, a Chartered Engineer who had worked for Scottish Gas, saw a gap in the market for supplying innovative sealant products to be used in the newly introduced pipe renovation techniques being adopted techniques such as Live Gas Mains Insertion. Live Gas Mains Insertion When British Gas brought the idea of live inserting gas mains from...

Since Steve Vick International acquired South + West Pipe Tools in early 2010, extensive testing work has been carried out to find a blade that cuts through polyethylene pipe in a safe and controlled manner. In the gas distribution sector, for example, when introducing a new connection and dealing with large diameter PE pipe it is customary to carry out a flowstopping operation so that a...