A new range of collapsible pipe stoppers is being introduced by Air Springs Supply that can compactly fit around obstacles, corners and into previously inaccessible areas of surface, underground and underwater pipelines.
The custom-fabricated and stock ranges of Pronal Uni-Plug stoppers especially recommended for low-pressure applications are water tight and easy to install for maintenance, testing and emergency tasks.
These include pipe repair, insulation of areas for welding, sealing of mine levels and isolation of risers in factories, power plants, water utilities and other industrial infrastructure.
Produced in stock diameters from 50-3000mm with larger custom-fabricated sizes available for particular applications, Uni-Plugs are a tough advanced technology product from the internationally respected Pronal organisation, which produced the enormously strong inflatable bags used to lift sections of the liner Titanic from nearly four kilometres deep in the Atlantic.
Pronal also manufactures inflatable emergency, rescue and maintenance equipment used by industrial, Military and civil defence organisations worldwide, including transportable water and fuel tanks and lifting cushions used to raise equipment ranging from crashed aircraft to mining plant needing maintenance.
The easily transported and reusable Uni-Plug range is made from reinforced fabric coated with synthetic elastomer, says Simon Agar, National Sales Manager for pneumatic actuation and isolations specialists Air Springs Supply, which is the national distributor for the Pronal range.
“Space is often at a premium in pipelines serving complex industrial structures such as power plants, mines and offshore rigs, and spaces available can be awkward for conventional stoppers to reach,” said Agar.
“One of the beauties of the Uni-Plug system is that it can be collapsed into confined spaces then inflated at the place where it is needed. The quality of the product provides top levels of safety and reassurance, with Pronal products having been proven worldwide in both military and civil applications,” said Agar.
Uni-Plug ranges are complemented by optional accessories including inflation lines, flexible bypass hoses, vacuum indicator, thermal protection, control valves and gauges.
There are even different types of Pronal stoppers available for high pressure applications.