You Find Yourself With a Question You Can’t Answer
As a municipality, contractor, or an engineering firm, you may have found yourself with a question at your desk or on a jobsite that you simply cannot answer. Sure, we’ve all been there and we all usually find that answer by leaning on our network of resources who specialize in an area of expertise.
So, what happens when you have that technical question while drawing up a set of plans or while at a jobsite? Who are you going to call?
Well, here at McWane Ductile, we want you to know that we’re here to assist you with your water works projects and provide solutions in OUR area of expertise, Ductile Iron Pipe (DI pipe).
“Who Are You Going to Call?”
The first step in the process is to contact your local McWane Ductile sales representative. That sales professional can answer a wide variety of questions and help you work through issues you may be challenged with. That may mean having a conversation with you over the phone or visiting you at your office or jobsite. Either way, they will be able to steer you in the right direction.
If you don’t have your local McWane Ductile sales representative contact information handy, it can easily be located on the McWane Ductile Pocket Engineer app or website pe.mcwane.com.
Calling for Back-Up
Sometimes your jobsite-needs or questions about a project may be a little more technical and require the expertise of our engineers. At this time, your local sales rep may call in the “Big Guns.” At McWane Ductile, we have two National Product Engineers who are our go-to field experts, Ken Rickvalsky and Jerry Regula (JR).
Between the two them, they have over 60 years of experience in DI pipe production facilities and in the field. Ken and JR will tell you that they haven’t come close to seeing it all, but they’ve witnessed an awful lot and will be glad to assist you in any way.
For your technical and design needs, we also have three Regional Engineers: Roy Mundy, John Simpson, and John Johnson to assist with your projects. They can help review your specifications and make suggestions for the most cost effective and sustainable project design.
In addition, all of our engineers and sales staff are more than happy to provide training to you and your organization on a wide variety of topics.
Providing a Variety of Training and Education Opportunities
We offer “Lunch & Learns” where we focus on a specific topic with you and your staff over a lunch hour or we can provide an entire “Day of Water.” These events are geared toward larger audiences and cover multiple topics throughout the workday.
Here is a detailed list of topics we currently offer to our clients:
- Ductile 101 – Introduction to Ductile Iron Pipe (DI Pipe)
- conversational presentation covering DI Pipe manufacturing, design, installation, hydrostatic testing, and things you never thought you’d see when … you’re just building a pipeline.
- Ductile Iron Pipe Design – Internal & External
- A behind the scenes look inside the AWWA C150 DI Pipe design standard utilizing the power of the McWane Pocket Engineer. This brings the math alive permitting quick comparisons of your most efficient and effective pipeline materials selection.
- Basics of Pipe Corrosion & Protections for DI Pipe – Effective Use of the Updated DIPRA DDM (Design Decision Model) Check out our blog on Corrosion Protection Recommendations.
- Corrosion principles are simple. Yet the application of such is often confounded by rhetoric, nuanced agendas, or other influences outside the needs. We present the knowns, you decide how they work best for you.
- V-Bio Polyethylene Encasement – What, How, and Where? Check out our Blog on Eight Steps to Installing V-Bio.
- An interactive classroom approach towards proper and efficient installation of V-Bio® enhanced polyethylene encasement with hands-on installation training available.
- Internal Corrosion Prevention for DI Pipe Pipelines Check out our blog about Best Linings for Sewer Applications.
- Corrosion has many contributors. Today’s DI Pipe offers many preventive options. Sources of internal corrosion and the proven resolve for each are detailed in this presentation.
- Ductile Iron Restrained Joints – Basics and Design Check out our blog about How Many Restraining Joints to Use for Your Project.
- How much restraint joint DI Pipe to use and where it can become complicated. Not so if you follow the procedures outlined in the DIPRA Design Guide using the McWane Pocket Engineer.
- Bridges, Casings and Joints…Oh My!
- A comprehensive review and experienced suggestions for using DI Pipe in non-buried installations such as bridges, casings, on-piers, and/or temporary bypass lines. An engineering perspective of common-sense solutions.
- Sustainable Pipeline Design/Life Cycle Cost Analysis Check out our blog on Why to Use Ductile Iron Pipe.
- Simply call it a DI Pipe vs. ALL costs & concerns engineering comparison of pertinent factors towards selecting your proper pipeline material.
- ENVSION™ and Ductile Iron Pipe
- Some call this the ASCE version of LEEDS. Yet ENVISION digs deeper into a sustainable and overall environmental-friendly focus for planning, design, construction, and the lasting operation of all types of utility systems.
- The Total Cost Equation of Pipeline Material Selection
- A real-world analysis of a model pipeline project comparing the actual costs of using DI Pipe vs. PVC from a contractor’s perspective. It’s more than just pipe costs.
- DIP, PCCP, HDPE, PVC & FRP – A Comparative Narrative
- Factual analysis of true differentials when selecting pipeline materials in utility systems. Internal and external design parameters, energy savings, construction variables, and service lives are examined in appraisal of these alternates.
- Horizontal Directional Drilling Using Ductile Iron Pipe Principals
- Practices and problems to avoid when designing or constructing trenchless installations of DI Pipe. Highlighted with videos of actual HDD installations across the United States. The McWane PE HDD Variable Profile Calculator is also featured.
- Subaqueous Crossings with Ductile Iron Pipe
- Discussion of the challenges involved with pipelines across rivers and streams, along with outlining the materials and specialized joints best suited for such installations.
- Ductile Iron Pipe Certifications – What They Provide Check out our blog on What Are Mill Certs and Why are They Needed.
- Examining the rigorous and certified product evaluations that are in place to ensure the use of high-quality, low-risk products in utility systems. AWWA, NSF, FM, ISO, and UL are among the certifications presented and discussed.
- Generational Attitudes in the Utility Workplace
- Presented from the perspective of a prestigious university faculty member, this case-study based presentation explores the effective management of differing generational attitudes and values in today’s workplace.
Need more water industry education or hands-on jobsite training? Check out this list of virtual or in-person presentations offered for free by McWane Ductile.
To learn more about product training provided by McWane Ductile, check out another informative Iron Strong Blog by Sales Representative, Kevin Ratcliffe.
Another convenient way that you can reach out to us if you encounter an issue in the field is through our previously mentioned McWane Pocket Engineer app.
Simply follow these steps:
- Select Field Support
- Enter your location
- Choose the sales representative associated with your location
- Enter your information
- Describe the issue you are having
- Attach photos to the report, if applicable
- Click submit
DIPRA Delivers Too
Another valuable option to answer your questions about DI Pipe would be through the Ductile Iron Pipe Research Association (DIPRA). Founded in 1915, DIPRA provides more than 100 years of experience in the waterworks industry and is made up all the iron pipe member companies from across North America including McWane Ductile, American Ductile Iron Pipe Co, and US Pipe and Foundry. DIPRA’s website offers a wide variety of information for you, many of which are provided in English, Spanish, and French languages, such as:
- Technical Publications
- Features of DIP
- Applications of DIP
- Design
- Corrosion Control
- Hydraulics
- Tapping
- Guidelines
- Material Comparisons
- Calculators – very similar to the ones offered on McWane Ductile’s Pocket Engineer
- Downloadable Brochures
- Benefits of DIP
- Inside Pipe Diameter
- Sustainable Infrastructure
- Life Cycle Cost Analysis
- Century Club Members – 534 in total
- News, Opinions, and Commentary
Another benefit DIPRA provides is their own group of regional engineers that can assist with answering your questions as well as offer presentations about DI Pipe. DIPRA is also very focused in conducting specific DI Pipe research projects that involve installing polyethylene encasement at corrosion test sites, monitoring, and studying the cause and effects of corrosion to iron pipe.
Providing Solutions to You
As you can see, there is a lot of available support to professionals throughout the water and wastewater industry. From design to installation, we want you to know that not only are we here to provide solutions, but we enjoy doing so! Therefore, to answer the question of, “Who Are You Going to Call?” It’s simple, always start with your local McWane Ductile Sales Representative.
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