CONTECH Rolls out Pipe MPV; New Mobile Production Vehicle Manufactures Steel Pipe On-Site.

MIDDLETOWN, Ohio -- CONTECH CONSTRUCTION PRODUCTS INC.(R), a leader in the civil engineering site solutions market, introduces the PIPE MPV (Mobile Production Vehicle). The two-truck operation provides fast and cost effective on-site steel pipe manufacturing at remote locations, and can provide unparalleled on-site production quality, flexibility and process speed.

"The PIPE MPV is built to be a self-supporting factory unto itself, like a military battleship," says CONTECH Vice President of Operations, Mark Kornhauser. "We spent a number of years looking at making this strategic, unique and technologically advanced move to better serve our customers in the marketplace.

"Once the order is placed and the MPV deployed, we can begin helping customers with their pipe requirements within four hours! That level of efficiency and service from the MPV is simply going to change the playing field and the game for the construction industry."

MPV TECHNOLOGY

The two PIPE MPV trucks can drive to an area, and be set up for complete operation in four hours. Once a location is established to allow for adequate manufacturing and handling space on the job site, the operational MPV can receive trucks with coiled steel and begin manufacturing corrugated steel pipe right on site.

"One truck trailer contains a mobile mill, with a cut-off saw capable of handling pipe diameters up to 16 feet " says Bill Zepp, manager of manufacturing engineering for CONTECH. "The other contains a generator, storage space for tools and spare parts, and other support equipment.

"Both units are designed so that no special transportation permits or processes are required. The units are totally self-contained, with a diesel storage tank that will run the units for a 24-hour period. And, the unit has water tanks for fresh, reusable and solid-based water in order to ensure and protect the environmental character of the job site."

Corrugated dies on the mill of the trucks shape the coil steel, which is produced to spec, and cut right on site via a programmable logic computer. This steel pipe meets the same levels of quality construction as does all CONTECH manufactured pipe, with high coil feedrate speeds and the same lock-seam edge process used in conventional pipe manufacturing.

CUSTOMER FLEXIBILITY

Andy Sabados, Vice President of CMP Products for CONTECH, notes that one of the advantages for PIPE MPV in remote areas is the logistical flexibility it provides to customers. "Large diameter steel pipes often have to be trucked in one or two pieces at a time. Coordinating shipments, timing and project changes can be a logistical nightmare.

"As an example, a 2,000 lineal foot project of 96-inch diameter corrugated steel pipe would require about 50 separate truck loads of shipment. With the PIPE MPV material fabricated on-site, we can eliminate these logistical headaches."

The PIPE MPV and a couple of trucks of raw materials are all that is necessary to initiate production. The 2 to 3 person MPV operation is also intermodal and can be moved via train or even via ship to extremely remote locations such as islands.

Because it can be manufactured quickly, and adjusted to developing challenges or site conditions, the speed and flexibility of the MPV process can eliminate potential delays or field engineering problems. Less handling procedures also gets the pipe into the ground quicker, making any project move along smoother.

"Delays in receiving pipe to remote sites are eliminated, and the PIPE MPV can be removed from a site within one day of completion in order to avoid any additional construction delays," says Sabados. "No one else in the industry is able to provide the complete package of engineering support and cost-effective manufacturing to the marketplace, making remote construction more cost efficient."

HITTING THE ROAD

The PIPE MPV is currently on the road, and additions to the fleet will be considered for the future. Not only will the MPV be used for remote deployment or for urban use where traffic patterns may make standard shipments problematic, but it also is intended to assist in reaching emergency locations for immediate installation needs and/or major public improvement corrections after weather-related or natural catastrophes.

"It provides us with portable, incremental or surge capacity to serve our customers with flexible, fast reaction times to their construction needs," says Kornhauser. "The pipe manufactured on site meets the same strength characteristics as factory made pipe in addition to meeting ASTM and AASHTO specifications.

About CONTECH

CONTECH is a leading civil engineering site solutions products and services company. Privately owned and headquartered in Middletown, Ohio, CONTECH is the only nationwide provider of corrugated metal and plastic pipe, detention/retention systems, geogrid and geotextile materials, erosion control products, concrete arch systems, retaining wall systems and bridge structures. Its product portfolio is based on more than a century of research and practical field experience serving the highway, drainage, sewage and site-improvement markets. More information on CONTECH is available at www.contech-cpi.com or telephone [phone].