Jerry, Sept 24, 2022; I'm sitting on the beach near the northern tip of Captiva Island, Florida. I’m on vacation with my wife, enjoying the warm sun, dolphins playing, and birds feeding as if there was no care in the world. Admittedly, most people in the area were already aware of the tropical storm developing in the Caribbean Sea and wondered, will the storm become a hurricane?
Ergonomics is an applied science concerned with designing and arranging objects people use so that people and things interact most efficiently and safely. Reducing the risk of injury through proactive programs is one of the many ways we strive to enhance the ergonomics of our product production. At McWane Ductile and McWane corporate-wide, health and safety are the top priorities, hence the Ergo Cup.
Have you ever been in a situation where you needed the opinion of a trusted advisor or friend on an important decision? Perhaps you needed advice to help you navigate the steps required to reach a specific goal. In these situations, it is often advantageous to consult a knowledgeable person or a trusted third party to provide guidance and peace of mind that you have considered all variables and risks.
Preservation of life and property is the goal of engineers designing fire flow systems. The requirement of products bearing the UL (Underwriters Laboratories) and FM (Factory Mutual) insignia in fire protection systems has been an industry standard for nearly a century. This Iron Strong Blog will cover what UL and FM certifications are and why they’re important when manufacturing Ductile iron pipe.
For many people, including us, Fall and Winter are favorite times of the year. There are several things to look forward to, from football tailgates and holidays with family to sled riding with the kids. However, along with the fun can come treacherous weather conditions such as freezing temperatures, freezing rain, snow, sleet, and ice. In this Iron Strong Blog, we will discuss several topics related to cold-weather Ductile iron pipeline (DI pipe) installations and how to ensure your utility isn’t stranded out in the cold.
Material comparisons, in whatever format presented, are a common and useful tool for evaluating the advantages and disadvantages of one product versus another. These evaluations can assist engineers and specifiers with selecting the proper material, yet must contain relevant and factual details so as not to be vague or misleading. Otherwise, they are no more than bad marketing literature. Such is the case with a recent publication from a plastic pipe manufacturer and their most recent comparison of PVC pipe to Ductile iron pipe (DI pipe)1. In this #IronStrong Blog, we pointedly call out several erroneous claims by “writing the wrongs” contained in the published chart below.
Approximately 85% of a utility’s capital investment is underground. Since water and sewer infrastructure plays such a significant role in the total energy consumption of municipalities, more emphasis must be placed on energy savings when selecting pipe materials. This Iron Strong Blog will describe factors that affect energy cost at water utilities and how to save money.
Have you ever wondered what’s behind the AWWA standards? What do they mean? And why do we need them? They’re listed all the time in specifications, mysterious numbers on plans. Have you ever reviewed them to know why they are important for working with Ductile iron pipe (DI pipe)? In this Iron Strong Blog, we will briefly cover some of the applicable standards for DI pipe and how they help you complete your job safely, successfully, and on time.
Summer has come to an end. Schools are in session, fall sports are well underway, and we look forward to the coming cooler days filled with fall festivities. Unfortunately, some days are also filled with wildfires, hurricanes, flooding, and other disasters in some regions of the country. Luckily, we have an extraordinary group of emergency professionals that respond to these various disasters, referred to as “first responders.” First responders have been a prominent topic in the news lately, especially with Hurricane Ian bearing down on the state of Florida and projected to turn over the eastern coast of the US as we speak.
It's hard to believe summer is ending, especially because summertime is one of my favorite seasons of the year! I love floating in the water with the sun on my face, relaxing. However, for some, this brings anxiety. The same force that allows us to float in the water affects all materials, including pipe.
This physical force is called buoyancy. Buoyancy calculations are extremely important for those building ships and boats. We don’t really think about it when dealing with buried pipe, but those same principles and forces apply. Good for boats, but bad for buried pipe.
Hello! My name is Kemery Aichele, and I am the Sales Operations & Marketing Co-Op Intern at McWane Ductile in Coshocton, Ohio, this summer. I am an upcoming senior at Bowling Green State University, working towards a major in Visual Communication Technology, a fancy way of saying photography/videography/digital media, and a minor in Marketing. In this blog, I will talk about the beginning of my internship, what I have learned, what other interns' experiences have been, and if I would recommend this internship opportunity to other students.
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