REHAU is now able to supply a polymer-based district heating solution for larger projects in the UK, thanks to an exclusive deal signed with polypropylene (PP-R) pipe manufacturer, Aquatherm Sales UK.
The deal will result in Aquatherm PP-R pipes of 200-315mm diameter being supplied exclusively in the UK through REHAU. This allows REHAU to meet increased market demand for significantly larger sizes of district heating schemes.
The REHAU RAUTHERMEX and RAUVITHERM PE-Xa ranges are available up to 160mm for district heating applications. In the past, this meant that any projects requiring pipes larger than 160mm were offered a steel – polymer hybrid solution, whereby the larger spine pipe would be supplied in steel and the smaller pipes coming off it would be produced in PE-Xa.
As a result of the agreement with Aquatherm Sales UK, REHAU can now offer PP-R spine pipes which can be used with its PE-Xa pipework. This fully polymer solution has many advantages for the customer as polymer pipes are very durable, require no expansion bends and do not corrode.
Steve Richmond, head of marketing and technical at REHAU, said: “Our sales team is being approached by customers who wanted a polymer solution for larger district heating installations. With the current size limit of PE-Xa pipes, REHAU and Aquatherm Sales UK reached an agreement to work together to provide a solution combining our expertise in this field. It has agreed to exclusively supply the larger diameter pipes to us, and now we can offer more choice and tailored options to our district heating customers.”
Like REHAU, Aquatherm GmbH is a German company with a UK operation. Murdo MacDonald, managing director of Aquatherm Sales UK, said: “We are delighted to sign this agreement with REHAU in the UK. We feel the two companies‘ strengths complement each other well with the many years experience we have of PP-R district heating pipes, and we look forward to a successful partnership with it.“
Currently only around two per cent of the UK’s heat is supplied via heat networks. Last year the government announced £320 million of capital funding over the next five years to stimulate growth in the heat networks market. The first round of successful local authorities was announced in April 2017 when £24 million was allocated to nine projects.
For further information, visit: www.rehau.co.uk/districtheating.