Israeli multilayer piping
company SP Metzerplas visited the Plumbdrain
exhibition. Company managers Omry Lev, Yoav Ben
Naphtali and Ilan Mizrachi, took the time to
talk to Plumbing Africa on the development of a
new piping technology, the challenges of
accreditation, and the threat of inferior
products flooding the market.
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Yoav Ben Naphtali says that Metzerplas
was the first company to develop and patent the multilayer piping system.
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SP
Metzeeplas director Mario de Freitas, with SP
Metzeeplas international liaison to Israel Ilan
Mizrachi, Yoav Ben Naphtali and Omry Lev. |
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“Metzerplas wrote the patent on multilayer
piping in 1983, making it the very first
producer of multilayer piping in the
world,” he says. |
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Metzerplas also developed the first multilayer pipe
manufacturing machine, bringing a new product to
European markets. SP Metzerplas would wait twenty years
before introducing the piping system to South Africa in
2005.
“The South African market was known as a conservative
market- one not given to readily change to new products.
However, once multilayer piping took off in the country,
we have seen a marked growth in interest from the
plumbing industry,” Ben Naphtali says.
The biggest problem with multilayer piping, though, was
the absence of an industry standard to measure
multilayer piping against. After a two year period of
extensive lobbying through the newly established South
African Multilayer Piping Association (SAMPSA),
multilayer piping suppliers received the SANS 21003
standard. This standard, which is based on the
traditional ISO: 21003 standards, enabled the companies
to obtain accreditation for their products. SP
Metzeeplas was the first of the South African multilayer
piping companies to receive the SABS mark on their
products.
“By establishing the standard, the South African market
is now ensured of a quality product,” he points out.
Multilayer piping is used in Europe as underfloor
heating piping. Locally, Ben Naphtali foresees
multilayer piping being used to supply hot and cold
water to homes. Since multilayer piping is a plastic, it
cannot corrode, while the smooth inner-surface
eliminates calcium buildup in the pipes.
Ben Naphtali says that the combination of aluminum and
plastic gives the multilayer pipe strength, a longer
lifespan, and makes it bendable. The addition of
aluminum also negates thermal memory, which means that
the pipe will not unbend. Multilayer piping also needs
less components for installation and thus also less
labour.
“The main problem with multilayer piping systems is the
flooding of the market by inferior products. These
products are manufactured from cheaper raw materials,
but are not as strong as approved multilayer pipes. This
could potentially damage the image of multilayer pipes,
and it is therefore very important that suppliers choose
their products very carefully,” Naphtali says.
Metzerplas is currently involved in developing a
training program to show installers how to fit
multilayer piping systems.
“Our special range of products are made to last, but
needs to be fitted properly to be 100% effective,”
Naphtali says.
He concludes by saying that SP Metzerplas is convinced
that it can make a difference in the local market by
uplifting standards and supplying quality products. |