South Africa’s pipeline infrastructure is deteriorating rapidly with every passing year. While conventional methods of repair – involving digging up and replacing pipelines – can solve the problem, this is an almost impossible task in high-density industrial, urban and peri-urban areas, as it means major and costly disruption to other infrastructure along the route.
The international No-Dig South Africa 2018 conference and exhibition held in Cape Town in the last quarter of 2018 provided an excellent strategic opportunity for leading local pipeline rehabilitation technology provider, Aegion South Africa, to showcase its international trenchless technology – which addresses the ageing infrastructure repair challenge safely and successfully.
“Our tried and tested, proprietary technology – combined with excellent local experience and expertise – offers permanent, stronger and safer solutions for the rehabilitation of pipeline infrastructure. As such, our offering garnered much interest from municipalities across South Africa; and the water and sewer pipeline industry in particular,” says Johann Scholtz, General Manager of Aegion South Africa.
The No-Dig event offered Aegion South Africa a premier trenchless technology showcase – with the added benefit of a local and pan-African audience. This show was in effect a platform for the company to increase target market awareness of its brand; as well as its technology and ‘cradle-to-grave’ value proposition.
Engineers and municipal representatives, as well as companies in sectors such as water management, waste management, mining and agriculture from all over South Africa and the rest of Africa attended the No-Dig event, where the key interest areas were pipeline rehabilitation in sewer and water reticulation systems. Aegion South Africa also met with representatives of the petrochemical and mining industries.
Visitors at the Aegion South Africa stand wanted to gain a deeper understanding of the technologies used in this relatively new sector of the industry and the company was able to assist young engineers in particular to become more aware of the trenchless technologies which will assist in dealing with the pressing pipeline infrastructure rehabilitation backlog in South Africa.
As the Western Cape has been the site of much of Aegion South Africa’s Cured-in-place pipeline (CIPP) work, the exhibition in Cape Town was also an ideal opportunity to showcase the effectiveness of its CIPP technology and its associated brands.
“We have carried out a number of environmental pipeline rehabilitation projects in the Western Cape agricultural sector recently, not only restoring water reticulation quickly and effectively, but also saving many kilolitres of much-needed water,” says Craig Bennett, Aegion South Africa’s CIPP Manager.
Bennett presented a paper at the No-Dig conference on the benefits of this innovative brand and solution. The company uses iPlus® Glass, a glass-fibre reinforced liner, to rehabilitate damaged pipeline infrastructure. When compared to standard CIPP, this product requires less resin, provides higher mechanical properties (increasing flow capacity) and is also a more environmentally-friendly option.
New technology has always been important to Aegion South Africa and in the near future, the company will us these new technologies in a major new pipeline rehabilitation project in the North West province. “While we have access to the world’s best technology through our US-based principal Aegion, our experience in providing solutions to suit local conditions has had extensive benefits for our South African and pan-African clients,” Scholtz adds.
Aegion South Africa has also been selectively building its team with individuals who are known for their outstanding industry experience and expertise. “The business has been transformed over the last year. Increased resources, capacity and the best people in the business has seen a 38% increase in sales,” Scholtz concludes.
