Piping, fittings, and their installation are often standardised but this is not always the case. As South Africa grapples with its water infrastructure the need for customised parts becomes more apparent.
To help meet this growing requirement, AGRU, a plastic parts manufacturer, has a new range of completely customised parts in various materials. The range includes PE 100-RC, PP, PVDF, and high-performance plastics like ECTFE.
AGRU’s customised parts range extends into specialised use. They employ electrically conductive materials and advanced fluoropolymers for when chemical resistance and purity affect a project. Their PE 100-RC pipe is ideal for trenchless gas and water pipelines, while PVDF-UHP and ECTFE are used in the semiconductor and pharmaceutical industries.
All products are subject to strict quality assurance in accordance with ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and ISO 45001. This meets the global demand for cleanroom-compatible solutions, AGRU collaborates with fabrication shops in Austria, Dubai, Korea, China, Singapore, and the USA. These facilities produce, among other things, ultra-pure pipe isometry for applications with the highest purity requirements. AGRU is responding to growing markets in the high-tech industry, where high-purity piping systems enable semiconductor production.
Digital design and state-of-the-art manufacturing
Customised parts enable significantly faster installation due to their precise fit
Technologically, AGRU relies on CAD and BIM-based design, followed by precise CNC machining and welding techniques such as infrared welding, butt welding, electrofusion welding, and extrusion welding.
Finite element analysis and hydrostatic performance tests ensure that every component is perfectly matched to its application. The company’s in-house manufacturing capacities allow AGRU to produce fittings and special components up to 3,500 mm in diameter – even when dealing with particularly complex geometry or cleanroom requirements.
Versatile fields of application
The practicality of their customised parts range is exemplified by a wastewater treatment plant modernisation project, where machined electrofusion couplers made of PE 100-RC ensures a homogeneous, leak-free piping system with minimal installation effort – even in confined spaces and under high groundwater conditions. However, the range of applications extends far beyond showcase projects: pressure piping for horizontal directional drilling, ultra-pure process piping in cleanrooms, and chemical applications with aggressive media are also part of the portfolio.
Looking ahead to 2025, AGRU plans to expand its technological lead. “Our fittings combine the expertise from thousands of projects with innovative technology,” emphasizes Ing. Albert Lueghamer, Head of Application Engineering. “This ensures safe solutions tailored precisely to our customers’ needs – in terms of size, purity, and precision.”
