New tape minimises disruption caused by pipe repairs

A leaking or damaged pipe can cause downtime, lost production, structural damage and health and safety risks, so a quick method to fix pipes will be highly beneficial in all industrial, food, pharmaceutical, commercial and manufacturing applications.

Leaks from pipes containing hazardous liquids can be even more serious, especially if the leaks drip onto workers or products, particularly in food processing plants, causing contamination. By using the Dyna Stretch and Seal tape, companies can instantly repair the pipes, avoiding the prolonged risk of contamination.

Traditionally, when a leak is found in a plant, there are two approaches, both of which have drawbacks. If companies choose to manage the leak, rather than repair it immediately they risk catastrophic failure. Alternatively, companies completely shut down production in order to repair the leak immediately. This requires a skilled engineer to completely replace the pipe but also means that the factory will suffer a loss of production, naturally having a negative financial impact.

Dyna Stretch and Seal tape allows plant operators to carry online repairs and companies don’t need to take their businesses offline to repair a small pipe, which may be one small component in a large factory. The tape is easy to use and is supplied with detailed guidelines, meaning that an engineer call-out is not required.

Peter Crossen, VP of the Maintenance and Partsmaster Innovation Platform at NCH Europe said: “This tape is one of the few on the market which has a contoured profile.”

Crossen continued: “This means that the tape is made stronger by using multiple layers. It is self-fusing, so makes one continuous solid block, creating no gaps for any leaks to get through.”

He said: “The tape’s properties make it one of the best on the market. It’s one of the thickest tapes at 1.1mm and has approval from the Water Regulations Advisory Scheme (WRAS) for contact with potable water. It also has excellent chemical resistance, so it won’t be etched away and has a high temperature resistance of up to 200°C, meaning it’s suitable for use in many different settings.”

Crossen concluded: “It’s also durable and long lasting and can resist pressures of up to 26 bar, twice as high as other available tapes. The tape is subsequently capable of resisting high pressure from water or other liquids running through the pipe.”