New bore casing technology developed by the water corporation

8/11/96

Technology developed by the Water Corporation has a created a new and potentially lucrative market in Australia and overseas for the crackly plastic used in Coca Cola bottles.

New bore casing technology developed by the corporation uses the same stiff, strong resin (terapthalic) as the latest disposable soft drink bottles.

The casing is essentially fibreglass, or glass-reinforced plastic and replaces the traditional steel lining.

Water Resources Minister Roger Nicholls said today that the corporation was using the new material to replace steel in all its new large diameter and deep bores, and expected to save about 15 per cent on bore casing costs this year compared to last year.

The main advantage of the new casing was its durability. While corrosion often reduced the life of steel casings to between 10 and 20 years, glass-reinforced plastic could last indefinitely.

With the added benefits of a 20 per cent reduction in pipe thickness and greater strength, the development had the potential to achieve significant savings for Australian and overseas industries.

The Water Corporation was recognised as leading the nation in this technology.

"The corporation staff who developed it have steadily built an international reputation and are called on to provide design and consulting services world-wide," he said.

"It is another way the corporation's inventiveness is paying dividends."

Faults in earlier fibreglass bore casings had been the impetus for the initial research in the early 1980s.

The corporation's engineers developed the current design in a joint venture with an Adelaide company, Industrial Plastics Services, which now manufactures the casings and markets them in Australia and overseas.

Under special contractual arrangements, the corporation benefited from a reduced rate for the product.

"In spite of its higher capital costs, the glass-reinforced plastic casing will lead to substantial longer-term savings," Mr Nicholls said.

"It also eradicates the other big problems in steel casings, staining and bacterial build-up, which are both caused by the presence of iron.

"In the past, both problems have added to treatment and maintenance costs."

Media contact: Hugh Ryan 322 6529