McWane Ductile offers multiple services for our customers extending far beyond manufacturing ductile iron pipe. From design to installation, we take great pride in providing education to water professionals throughout the water industry.
Foundry Tours:
Engineers, contractors, and municipality employees are welcome to take advantage of the educational foundry tours provided at the McWane Ductile manufacturing facilities in Phillipsburg, New Jersey; Coshocton, Ohio; and Provo, Utah. Customers have an opportunity to learn how millions of pounds of scrap metal are recycled daily to manufacture ductile iron pipe and the many ways our products are used.
Tours begin with a safety talk and proper safety accessories are provided to protect visitors. A qualified tour guide then leads the group to the melting department where the baseline for ductile iron begins.
You’ll see how magnesium is added to gray cast iron to change the micro-structure of the graphite from flakes (gray iron) to a spheroidal or nodular shape (ductile iron). Chemistry additions are made to enhance the iron for the casting process, which is defined in the ANSI/AWWA C151-A21 Ductile Iron Pipe Centrifugally Cast Standard.
Pipes are then centrifugally cast and transported to the annealing oven. Precise temperatures are set throughout the annealing oven to allow the transformation of “as-cast” ductile iron to true ductile iron of 60-42-10 grade, with those numbers representing 60,000 pounds tensile strength, 42,000 yield, and 10 percent elongation. Ductile iron is a flexible conduit that is designed with a 2 to 1 safety factor and a 100psi surge allowance – the most conservative design in the industry!
Jobsite Visits:
Our professional staff will conduct hands-on product training at the jobsite prior to installation to ensure a smooth project. Even the most experienced crews have an opportunity to learn new or improved installation techniques.
Engineers often require training in the project specifications, ensuring installation crews are trained by the manufacturer prior to the start of the project. McWane Ductile’s Tyton®, TR Flex®, River Crossing, Mechanical Joint, and Fabricated Pipe are all are used for different applications and include unique installation requirements. The ANSI/AWWA C600 Installation Guide for Ductile Iron Mains and Their Appurtenances standard is an excellent resource, providing sound installation instruction.
As I mentioned previously, the most conservative design in the industry is used for ductile iron pipe. The superior ring strength and flexibility translates to a reduction in trench support. A Type I trench may be used in some cases for ductile iron pipe versus a Type III or IV for alternate materials.
Lunch and Learns:
Lunch and Learn programs are typically 30- to 40-minute PowerPoint presentations provided at a designated location of the customer’s choice. Many municipalities require annual training for all employees. The Lunch and Learn programs are an excellent venue for in-house training. Presentations can be approved for CEU and PDH credits.
Presentations can be tailored to fit individual requests. Topics include but are not limited to:
- Bridges, Casings and Joints
- Ductile Iron Pipe Certifications
- Ductile 101 Introduction to Ductile Iron Pipe
- Ductile iron Pipe Design – Internal & External
- Ductile Iron Pipe Restrained Joints – Basics and
- Envision™ and Ductile Iron Pipe
- Generational Attitudes in the Utility Workplace
- Horizontal Directional Drilling
- Internal Corrosion Prevention for DIP pipelines
- Subaqueous Crossings with Ductile Iron Pipe
- Sustainable Pipeline Design / Life Cycle Cost Analysis
- Total Cost Equation of Pipeline Material Selection
- V-BIO Polyethylene Encasement
Lunch and Learn programs may also be extended to a Day of Water. These events are intended for a much larger audience than a Lunch and Learn, ranging from 70 to 120 attendees. Attendees often include everyone from design engineers, to inspectors, public officials, and contractors. Having a wide variety of professionals at the same venue creates an atmosphere for open communication.
Tools:
Tools such as the McWane Ductile’s Pocket Engineer or Pipe Economy are designed to assist professionals at all levels. The Pocket Engineer is a plug and play calculator that provides superior technical data within seconds.
For example, the amount of restraint required during an install may drastically change due to the location of an unknown utility and must now be adjusted for. Another example may be a contractor needs to fill 1000 feet of 30-inch Class 52 pipe. The volume of water is calculated at (38,730 gallons) in less than 30 seconds using the Volume Calculator.
The McWane Ductile Pocket Engineer can be easily accessed via a computer or mobile device. You can download the app at the App Store for iPhones or the Google Play for Android phones.
The Modern McWane magazine is another option for industry news. Included, are technical articles to provide insight and learning opportunities along with a special section dedicated to highlighting a variety of McWane Ductile projects. This is just another example of our commitment to “Building Iron Strong Utilities for Generations.” Don’t forget the ever popular “Ditch Doctor” section; you want the truth – Ditch Doctors have the truth!
Technical Support:
Our product engineers are highly skilled individuals with vast experience in the water and wastewater industry. These “Wizards of the Ductile World” can handle any question or circumstance thrown at them, from design questions, to hands-on installation requirements.
For example, an engineer may seek assistance determining the best means to cross a river or lake. This may be accomplished via Subaqueous means utilizing the River Crossing Joint or via HDD (Horizontal Directional Drilling) using the TR Flex Joint®. Envision® Rating System points may be achieved by directional drilling the pipe and reducing the environmental impact.
One of our product or sales engineers may also be spotted presenting at a national, state, or local show such as an AWWA event.
Iron Strong Blog, Facebook & LinkedIn :
Check out additional blogs and videos at the McWane Ductile Iron Strong Blog. We have taken a variety of questions from our valued customers and turned them into educational videos with a little personality. The Iron Strong Blog provides video and written instruction. You, the consumer, have the option to chose which form of media is best for you. You also find more informative and fun posts on our Facebook and LinkedIn page. Connect with us today!
Interested in scheduling product training with McWane Ductile? Get in touch with your local McWane Ductile sales representative by using our handy locator map or by contacting us. We look forward to helping you with your next project, from design to installation.
