AGRU America to extrude world’s largest HDPE pipe

In a press release dated Dec. 6, 2017, AGRU America said that half a century of experience in plastics processing and a $40 million investment is what it takes to manufacture the world’s largest high-density polyethylene (HDPE) pressure pipe. AGRU had to overcome major technical challenges to achieve perfect roundness, homogeneous wall thickness and completely smooth surfaces at the largest scales. Today, the company has the capability to extrude HDPE solid-walled pipe strings in continuous lengths between 16 feet (5 m) and 2,000 feet (610 m), with outside diameter ranges between 24 inches (630 mm) and 138 inches (3,500 mm). These XXL pipe strings are designed to be installed near- or offshore, but can also be used for onshore installations of process pipes or transition pipelines.

The state-of-the-art production facility for the huge HDPE pipes in Charleston, South Carolina, is in full compliance with the strictest quality criteria according to ISO 9000 and ISO 14001 standards. As a result, AGRU XXL pipes and fittings meet and exceed both EN 12201 and ISO 4427 requirements. The new production site causes minimal environmental impact and operates on a 24/7 basis, extruding directly into the Cooper River delta estuary for cost-efficient transportation.