Having managed water and wastewater systems for most of my career, I have engaged with interest in the operations of specific water systems. Many times, those conversations have lead into areas beyond the engineering criteria for daily operations and into areas such as customer satisfaction. The great majority of these systems meet all required regulatory quality standards each day. Then why do customers become dissatisfied with the utility? One notable answer: SERVICE.
Is All Ductile Iron Pipe Created Equal?
All pipe manufactures essentially meet the same quality standards, conforming to AWWA/ANSI requirements, albeit McWane Ductile Iron Pipe exceeds these standards in certain categories.
Sound familiar? All standards are met by all ductile iron pipe manufacturers to assure proper performance of the pipe itself. So then, what makes a satisfied or dissatisfied customer and why should you choose McWane Ductile for your ductile iron pipe needs?
1. Providing Value-Engineering Services to Our Clients
Members of our team have experience in:
- Managing water & wastewater systems
- Working for consulting firms
- Pipe manufacturing
Members of our team’s credentials include:
- Registered Professional Engineers
- ENVISION Sustainability Professionals
- NACE Certified Corrosion Technicians
Our team is available to assist clients in special designs such as:
- Bridge crossings
- Long span pipe on supports
- HDD applications
- Pipe bursting
- Corrosion forensics and protective measures
- Pipe class design for internal and external pressures
2. Corrosion Control and Analysis
The NACE Certified Technicians of McWane Ductile work closely with consulting and utility engineers in recommending proven mitigation measures against corrosion of ductile iron pipe when conditions dictate. Our resources go as far as actual soil testing, and in some cases providing our clients with strategic research projects to achieve a long-term better understanding of corrosion activity in certain parts of the system.
3. Field Training and Assurance Measures
Our services include being on the job site at the beginning of a project and working with the contractor to assure all pipe installation methodologies are performed efficiently and correctly.
This could include simple items such as joint assembly procedures for push-on and restrained joint pipe or the proper installation of polyethylene (V-Bio®) encasement.
We also offer jobsite assistance on complex installations of TR Flex restrained joint pipe and fittings where a laying schedule or line drawings are paramount to the efficient assembly of the pipeline.
4. Training
The McWane Ductile team presents numerous training programs on a variety of topics such as:
- corrosion control
- ENVISION
- proper selection of pipeline materials
- proper installation methods for DIP
- and more…
The training sessions can be one-hour lunch & learn meetings or extend to a full day of water. Our team members are also active in making numerous conference presentations throughout the year at events sponsored by groups such as AWWA, ASCE and NRWA.
5. Assurance of Availability
The multiple plant locations of McWane Ductile in Phillipsburg, New Jersey, Coshocton, Ohio and Provo, Utah assure that most sizes of ductile iron pipe can still be manufactured even with the temporary loss of one location. We don’t foresee this happening, and we plan strategically for it not to happen.
However, when forces beyond our control come into play, our clients have the assurance of multiple locations of production.
6. Plant Tours
Many plant tours are conducted during the year to provide key insight to the manufacturing process and highlight our quality control procedures that guarantee those protocols. We also take pride in the overall integrity of our manufacturing facilities relating to safety, efficiency and product quality. These plant tours not only enhance the understanding of how our product is made, but confirms the resilient and sustainable attributes of ductile iron pipe.
7. The McWane Family of Companies
The McWane family of companies is made up of some of the most recognizable names in the industry including M&H Valve, CLOW Fire Hydrants and Valves, Kennedy, Tyler-Union just to name a few.
8. The Pocket Engineer
Designed to simplify the complex calculations needed to complete your project, the Pocket Engineer compiles decades of field experience into one pocket-sized tool. Visit pe.mcwane.com or download the Pocket Engineer from the App Store or Google Play Store.
PE Features:
- Sales Rep Contact Information
- Product Information
- Achieved Pipe Economy Catalogs
- Calculators
- HDD
- Thickness
- Restraint joint thrust design
- … and more
While the manufacturing standards for ductile iron pipe provide the minimum performance requirements for the product, the team at McWane Ductile takes it one step further. By offering a wide range of services and assistance to our customers, our “product” is not just the pipe we make. With our experienced personnel and tools like our Pocket Engineer, we are building relationships that make life a little easier for us all. Check out our Sales Team to find a sales representative in your area, together we’ll build Iron Strong Utilities for Generations.
Need Assistance With Your Waterworks Project?
McWane Ductile offers multiple services to our customers extending far beyond manufacturing Ductile iron pipe. From estimating to design, from production to installation, we take great pride in providing education and assistance to water professionals throughout the water industry.
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