This is especially relevant for us at Nuflow. As a local company supporting local jobs, industries and economies, we pride ourselves on our locally developed and manufactured products. These products are backed by an Australian-based team of scientific, engineering and technical experts, as well as testing, training, and production teams. This allows us to custom-design products for scenarios specific to our local climate and infrastructure. 

There has been a lot of hard work and development that has gotten us to this point. That is why we’re celebrating Australian Made Week by sharing the history of these products and looking back on the journey up till now.

Where it all began

The foundations of the Nuflow story begin in 1998 in Canada, where the company was founded. They had developed an epoxy lining of pipes within domestic, single-dwelling buildings. Then in 2000, the ‘sleeve-within-a-sleeve’ method using an inflatable bladder was patented. No sooner had Nuflow begun licencing his technology, than it caught the attention of Gold Coast businessman and plumber, Ed Ahern. 

Ed saw the vast potential of Nuflow’s solution and sought to develop and adapt it for Australia. In 2004, he launched Nuflow Australasia and entered markets across Australia, New Zealand and Thailand. A patent was granted the following year for a process that enabled lining around multiple bends, further expanding our capabilities. 

This led to Nuflow’s Australian operations receiving an AS/NZ 9001:2008 Quality Management Systems (QMS) accreditation. This is awarded to businesses whose QMS is able to meet customer and regulatory expectations at an exceedingly high standard. Receiving this accreditation empowered us with greater credibility within the market which inevitably led to an increased demand for our services. 

This set us toward the Nuflow you know today. Thanks to the growing demand, Ed was able to establish a research facility in 2012 where he appointed scientific and engineering experts to improve the technology and accompanying processes further. This made Nuflow the only Australian pipe relining company with the capacity to design, manufacture and install our own epoxies, lining materials and certain specialist installation equipment. With research, development, and manufacturing all under one roof, we could expand our offerings and create a more comprehensive product portfolio to meet a wider variety of needs.

Bringing innovative Australian-made products across the nation

At that point, Ed had been licensing the technology his team developed to various plumbing companies across the nation. However, he realised that Nuflow had the potential to deliver quality, no-dig relining solutions to more people if we operated under a franchise model. So, in 2018 he did just that. 

As a franchise, we flourished into a much larger team of committed and passionate professionals. We were able to extend our coverage and build confidence within water and council authorities, as well as hydraulic consultants and engineers. This growth led to the introduction of specialised technical, training and development courses, which has allowed our teams to grow and embrace more advanced installations. 

As capabilities increased, the research and development team were able to design more advanced materials and solutions for more complex problems. This began with Blueline as the core CIPP product and has since led to acid-resistant and underwater resins with a variety of curing times. Throughout our product expansion, Nuflow developed Water Mark approval for both Blueline and Redline products, while also working on the Australian standard committee to develop installation standards for AS3500. This demonstrates our evolution into trusted industry leaders.

Investing in innovation

Today, innovation is our guiding ethos. We heavily invest in ongoing research and product development, which has established us as market leaders in the pipe relining industry. The extensive training, education and ongoing support our franchisees receive allow us to deliver high-quality, tailored relining solutions that align with the requirements of local assets. 

We are proud to back our Australian-made products with a manufacturer guarantee of up to 50 years, and we are confident in the longevity of our innovative solutions.

What’s next

We will continue to push to new frontiers for what our products are capable of. We are always developing new application systems, curing methods and relining composites to improve our delivery and expand our capabilities. 

In fact, our research and development teams are currently tapping into UV-curing technology with the hope to roll it out soon. This will provide new, more streamlined solutions for complex issues and allow us to reach a solution faster. We are also beginning to roll out a new application process Nu Coat, which allows the resin to be sprayed onto the pipe as a great solution for smaller assets. 

As more pipe problems are solved with our products, we will continue to grow, evolve and expand into new markets.

Leverage these Australian-made products for yourself

Buying locally is always better. Our products are specifically manufactured and assembled for Australian climates and infrastructure, with the ability to be adapted to your specific needs locally. No matter if you’re a residential, commercial, or industrial client, we have the solutions to help. Reach out to us today. 

The post The history of Nuflow’s Australian-made products appeared first on Nuflow.

Discover how they used their shared expertise, knowledge, and drive to find a solution to this complex problem. 

Service line work uncovers structural damages

Large fruit and vegetable exporter, Enzafoods, is based on a lot of land located in Nelson, New Zealand. Recently, they decided to compress their operations by 50% and lease out the remaining space available on the property. Because of this, they needed their plumbing service lines split, including their stormwater, sewer, and potable water systems.

The team from Nuflow Tasman has an ongoing maintenance contract with Enzafoods, so they were enlisted for the task. An added bonus for Enzafoods – their base of operations was just down the road!

As the team was working on separating the services and conducting CCTV camera inspections for surveillance reasons, they noticed a structural issue with the 1050mm reinforced concrete stormwater drain pipe.

Asset locations make for big pipeline problems

The service lines of the Enzafoods property were all in one trench, and it appeared that 4m of the storm drain pipeline had been damaged during the installation of other assets. The contractor handling the installation likely struggled to get the depth they needed, and as a result, caused damages to the top of the stormwater system.

This damage had gone unnoticed until the team from Nuflow Tasman had come in to do their work. Had the damage continued to go undetected, the impacts would have been significant. The nature of the work on site meant there was a lot of traffic loading, with trucks constantly going in and out. This could have resulted in the pipe caving in, causing a slump, and putting pressure on the services above. The more the structural integrity was compromised, the more likely it could have caused the services to burst, which is a much bigger and more costly problem to fix.

This made finding a solution vital. Because there was live power, fire mains, and water mains over the damaged pipeline, things couldn’t be fixed from above without major works. Plus, the sheer size of the pipeline would have made for extensive excavations. Luckily, Nuflow’s pipe relining was able to save the day.

Informed assessments reveal Sumoline solution

First up, Nuflow Tasman requested details from the client around traffic loadings, soil density and other important data so they could be as well informed as possible in the creation of a custom, fit-for-purpose liner. Once this information was obtained, the team was able to leverage the expertise of Nuflow’s technical and installation support division.

Together, they decided that Sumoline would be the best solution to fit. This liner has been specifically designed to structurally repair infrastructure where load bearing capacity is critical, making it perfect for a storm drain in a high traffic area. The idea was proposed to the drainage engineer, who promptly approved it.

The large size of the pipe required the creation of a custom 6m vinyl bladder for curing purposes, so once this was done and all the relevant testing completed, Nuflow Tasman was able to get started.

An installation against the tide

In order to safely complete the work, traffic needed to be diverted around the two manholes Nuflow Tasman would be using as access points to complete the reline. This was done very easily, with little impact to the business. The reline itself however, posed a unique challenge.

Because of the location of the stormwater system, ground water infiltration could become a problem and affect the relining materials. This meant that the team had to work around the tides when installing and inflating the bladder for curing.

Of course, because the majority of the curing needed to happen overnight, ground water intrusion from high tide still posed an issue. This is where Nuflow Tasman’s close proximity to the site came in handy. Project lead, Mike, set up a water pump and checked it throughout the night until the tide went out. He didn’t want to risk any compromise to the reline and demonstrated Nuflow’s commitment to quality with his efforts.

After the curing was completed and the bladder removed, there was just one more thing to do. The damaged section contained a lateral, which is a section of pipe that branches away and feeds water from the downpipes of surrounding buildings into the stormwater system. This lateral was covered during the relining process, so that section needed to be removed in order to fully restore the system. Nuflow Tasman used a milling machine to drill this out and return things to better than new.

From there, they logged the job in the Nuflow app, recorded batch numbers and materials for quality control, and provided a GPS mark of the installation site.

Nuflow Tasman saves the day

Enzafoods was very happy with the end result. Not only did Nuflow Tasman save them from a big headache down the line if the problem hadn’t been detected, they were also spared from a full replacement. This would have been a massive excavation that majorly restricted operations. Plus, a range of professionals would have been required to look after the different service lines above the stormwater system. That made the relining work from the Nuflow team a big cost and time saver.

Talk to Nuflow today

If you need any kind of pipe repair, structural or otherwise, we can help. Nuflow offers a range of relining solutions to suit a range of plumbing and pipe problems, so give us a call and see what we could do for you.

The post Nuflow Tasman changes the tides for major exporter with stormwater system repair appeared first on Nuflow.

Pipe relining origins   

Just like any successful business in today’s world – innovation is a non-negotiable. Over the last couple of decades, breakthroughs in the science and engineering fields have resulted in advanced and environmentally-friendly pipe repair technologies that Nuflow is now renowned for. This technology has made it possible for broken pipes to be repaired from the inside, eliminating the need to dig up and completely replace the affected pipes.  

Nuflow’s pipe relining methods 

Pipe relining, or “trenchless repairs”, involves old pipes being left in place while new pipes made from tough, durable composite resin materials are formed inside or around the existing pipes. Mitigating the need to excavate, dig or destroy, trenchless repair strategies like cured-in-place pipe (CIPP) relining means more cost-effective and convenient solutions for broken pipes, resulting in significantly less environmental impacts.  

The CIPP relining process

CIPP relining is one of the most popular ways to repair or rehabilitate pipes without digging and replacing. Essentially, advanced composite resin materials are inserted into failing pipes to repair damage, improve flow and extend the life of the pipe. For pipes that need structural strength (i.e. beneath roads or driveways), a liner infused with the resin is pulled into place before being cured into a cement-like structure.  

For non-structural pipes like water pipes in ceilings or walls, the resin is blown into the pipe to cure, forming a new pipe lining that will keep it strong and functioning well for years.  

These structural and non-structural relining methods are suitable for pipes carrying drinking water, waste and storm water, chemical (trade) applications, and grain, feed or sludge (industrial) applications.

At Nuflow, we understand that not all pipes are the same, which is why our pipe relining methods are tailored to suit each unique repair. We take into consideration the type of pipe, the climate, other environmental conditions, the operational needs of the client, and the built structures or services in the immediate area.

We use CCTV camera equipment to locate the problem area and where future pipe repair problems are likely to occur, providing you with a full discovery of the state of your pipes. We then use a variety of methods like water jetting and specialised plumbing tools to ensure your pipe is cleared and cleaned quickly and safely. Once your pipes are prepped, they’re ready to be relined with one of our four relining solutions:

Blueline^®     

Our structural solution suited to non-pressure drainage applications like stormwater pipes, sewer pipes, trade waste pipes, and more. It’s super versatile, and allows for sectional relining of any pipe length. Learn more.

Ultraline^®     

Our latest offering is a strong and lightweight fibreglass liner with an epoxy resin that is cured by an ultraviolet light train. The result is faster fixes and less time on site. We are currently using this technology for short patches on pipes of up to 150mm diameter, but we hope to be doing much larger projects soon.

Greenline^®       

This is also a structural pipe restoration solution. It’s used for high pressure main pipes, asbestos cement, UPVC, copper pipes, steel pipes and potable water pipes. It complies to international standards for drinking water, with the ability to withstand long term pressure of up to 1800kpa. Learn more.

Sumoline^®  

Our strongest CIIP relining system. It’s used on non-pressurised, built infrastructure with critical load bearing capacity, like bore storm water and sewer pipes, road and rail infrastructure, box culverts, and manholes. It can cure underwater, and will not shrink. Learn more.

The benefits of pipe relining vs replacing

From fixing leaks and preventing tree root intrusion, to stopping lead and other contaminates from leaching into water systems – the list of benefits goes on.

Pipe relining has a number of great structural and functional advantages. It’s suitable for situations where pipes have junctions, bends and transitions in diameter, while also possessing a number of convenience and environmental benefits. This includes eliminating the need for excavation or destruction that can cause damages, saving you a lot of time and money as well as saving the surrounding environment from disruption.

Most impressively, the pipe relining process leaves behind a final pipe that independent tests have shown has a greater strength and flow rate than the original pipe, and any other materials that might have been used to replace it.     

Why you can rely on Nuflow relining 

We back our technology and our installers – that’s why our Nuflow relining products come with warranties of up to 50 years*. This tried and tested solution can be the difference between waiting weeks for your pipes to be fixed, versus mere days. So, if you’re looking for an efficient, cost effective and environmentally friendly alternative to completely replacing your pipes, you know who to call.

Click here for more information on Nuflow’s pipe relining solutions or get in touch with your local team today.

The post How pipe relining works: no dig, no mess, no fuss appeared first on Nuflow.

Backdropped by some impressive aircraft and armed with all the safety clearances they required, the team got to work and prevented some potentially disastrous results for the base project with their relining solution.

Arrival of new aircraft leaves little room for delays

In 2023, four Poseidon P-8As (P8s) will arrive at the Ohakea base to replace the current aircraft that have been in operation since the 1960s. To house these impressive machines, the construction of two massive 180m x 60m two-storey hangers is currently underway. This $250 million, 400-man project has been dubbed Te Whare Toroa, after the albatross on the crest of the No 5 Squadron who will operate the aircraft.

Construction company, Fulton Hogan, is taking charge of the project, where they will build a heavy-duty tarmac capable of handling four P8s, as well as the platform hanger and taxiway. There is a whole supply chain contributing to the process, with companies hired by Fulton Hogan to handle various elements of the build. One of these is Nuflow Manawatu, who for the past two years has been on site completing a variety of duties around drainage, utilities, and three waters infrastructure.

When undergoing a quality assurance inspection of the stormwater infrastructure before handing that section of the project over, Fulton Hogan noticed a large crack around a section of the 225ml concrete stormwater pipe. This was a huge problem, but luckily, they knew just the company to fix it.

New infrastructure makes relining the only option

The stormwater pipes in question were placed in between two 100,00L fire tanks that had been built for the new hangers. This meant digging up and replacing the pipes was an unviable option, at least without significant time, manpower, resources and cost involved. Plus, the new planes were expected within a specific timeframe and any delays could majorly impact the schedule. Leaving the pipes wasn’t an option either since, without repairs, the pipe would collapse and be potentially catastrophic for all the new infrastructure. 

Fulton Hogan needed an alternative that would be fast, effective, and non-intrusive. The team at Nuflow Manawatu were perfect for the job and a saving grace for a timely solution, since the only other option for the fix would have been an 8 hour drive away.

Sumoline structurally relines the stormwater pipe

When Nuflow Manawatu received the official job order, they sent it on to Head Office via the Nuflow Quality Assurance App. From there, Head Office engineers were able to assess the conditions of the job and find the best relining solution to fit the specifications – Sumoline.

Sumoline is Nuflow’s strongest CIPP relining system, and was specifically designed to structurally repair built infrastructure where load-bearing capacity is critical. This makes it ideal for relining stormwater pipes. Plus, the client needed a fully structured reliner, so this was perfect for the job at hand. With its ability to improve flow capacity and infrastructure strength, Fulton Hogan’s engineer was more than happy to approve its implementation.

The construction and general running of the base continued around the team as they completed the stormwater relining, which took three days in total. The first was spent conducting a visit to the site and sending a camera down the pipeline which was accessed through a manhole.

On the second day, a light clean of the pipeline was completed, and a 5m section of Sumoline was installed. After curing for 20hrs, the team came back on the third day to remove the relining equipment and send the camera back down for final checks.

“This was our first time using Sumoline,” says project lead and Nuflow Manawatu owner, Matt Nieper.“It’s always great to have the opportunity to increase the capability of our team, and their experience with Nuflow’s relining process means things went off without a hitch.”

Because of the nature of the job, a high level of safety was required, but every member of the Nuflow team always makes this a high priority. That made it easy to ensure that all appropriate safety measures were in place and the job went smoothly.

Nuflow’s quality assurance saves the day

Nuflow Manawatu’s fast and efficient relining of the storm drain pipe meant that the project could resume its planned schedule. Everyone involved was thrilled that they could avoid massive costs associated with replacing the pipe and that it could be completely structurally relined with no issue.

Plus, thanks to Nuflow’s quality assurance processes, the client can have peace of mind knowing that every part of the stormwater relining was done to the highest standard. They received both the before and after camera footage, as well as the GPS coordinates of the relined section’s exact location. This, combined with the 50 year warranty on the work, meant that they could rest easy – especially with the arrival of the P8 aircraft imminent. 

Contact Nuflow for help

Are you dealing with a similar issue and don’t want to worry about the expense or disruption of replacing your pipes? No matter if it’s a residential, commercial, or industrial issue, Nuflow has the means to fix things better than new. Get in touch with us today.

The post Nuflow’s stormwater relining at Base Ohakea appeared first on Nuflow.

On a remote 30,000 acre rural cattle farm in Rolleston, the property owner discovered a damaged and leaking concrete pipe. The big issue was that the pipe was crucial to the water supply on the farm, as it linked two dams together.

When it was found that the pipe was leaking seriously in multiple locations, the race was on to fix the problem. The farm couldn’t afford to be losing water, especially in a drought when thousands of cattle relied on the dams for survival.

The Problem: Traditional Dig and Replacement of the Pipe wasn’t an Option

The DN650mm pipe was 70 metres long, connecting the two essential water dams. If any damage was made to either dam, there was a possibility they’d be drained entirely. To make things worse, the ground was hard as rock across the whole 70 metre length. So, digging simply wasn’t an option.

Ben from Nuflow Central Queensland quickly responded to the call to get the pipe relined.

“There were a few key challenges. During the day, the temperature was around 43 degrees Celsius. Also, the pipe was under load from the weight of the dam, soil and cattle,” Ben explained.

The Solution: Nuflow’s Structural Relining Solution Sumoline

The solution was to use Nuflow’s Sumoline System. This bigger and stronger relining solution is ideal for pipes under load of buildings, road, rail or even cattle.

Sumoline is the heavyweight in the relining industry and is constructed from a Nuflow patented composite hybrid liner and solid epoxy resins. The system is entirely Australian from the design, through to the engineering and manufacturing.

“Other imported products aren’t designed for our tough Aussie conditions like Nuflow’s are” stated Ben.

The Integrity of the Dams was Maintained

The cost of the job was substantially lower than traditional dig and replacement of the pipe, and there was no disturbance to the dams or the operation of the farm. The job was completed in days, not weeks as might be expected with a traditional pipe replacement of this size. Best of all, the environment was spared from tons of waste caused by disposing of the damaged pipe, not to mention the exhaust pollution from diesel excavators and trucks over weeks of works.

A few weeks after completion of the job, Ben was called by the farm owner. He explained that they had received substantial rain and it was enough to fill both dams. The good news was that since the Sumoline was installed, there was no loss of water and the dam was operating at full capacity.

If you’re looking for agricultural plumbing repairs that don’t cause damage to your property, talk to your local Nuflow pipe relining experts. We’ll get the problem sorted faster and with less disruption.

The post Structural Pipe Relining Solution for Rolleston Farm appeared first on Nuflow.

Often, councils choose to rehabilitate manholes progressively rather than all at once, because there are so many throughout most urban cities. This was the case in New South Wales’ Cabarita Beach, where earlier this year a new development of residential apartments was in the works.

They needed to connect the development to three manholes in the construction process. As part of their development application with the Tweed Shire Council, they were required to upgrade the existing manholes to prepare them for the additional load of the new homes.

THE PROBLEM: MANHOLES NEEDED TO BE REHABILITATED WITHOUT PUTTING CONSTRUCTION ON HOLD

The construction contractor was keen to find a solution for upgrading the manholes that didn’t mean putting the rest of the project on hold because of excavation. As well as delaying the construction time, excavating would have required a wide trench to be dug up, with shoring boxes, impotent water infiltration areas and a spear point to get rid of the excess water. These types of projects usually run into the tens of thousands of dollars to complete – not to mention the disruption to roads and pedestrians.

The construction contractor had previously heard of Nuflow’s manhole rehabilitation solution, and reached out to the Nuflow Gold Coast team to see if they could help. Nuflow Gold Coast and Nuflow’s Research and Development team joined forces on this project to assess the manholes and create a completely custom-made solution for structurally rehabilitating them.

THE SOLUTION: STRUCTURAL REHABILITATION WITH MINIMAL DISRUPTION

The three manholes were located in the nature strips on either side of the busy road, with two of the manholes at a depth of 3 metres and the other 1.2 metres. The team set up their perimeter and got to work.

“We didn’t need to disrupt traffic or use traffic control because of the small footprint we have on the ground when we rehabilitate manholes.” – Ben, Nuflow Technical Development Manager.

First up, there were about 20 metal ladder rungs that had to be removed – due to new regulations designed to prevent people from climbing down into manholes. To create a safe environment for grinding off the ladder rungs, the team first used a vacuum fan to draw out the H2S gases.

For the two deeper manholes, a structural liner – Nuflow’s Sumoline – was installed from the base of manhole right up to the manhole cover. For the third, shorter manhole, a trowel-able epoxy solution was used to provide a structural coating.

The solutions used across all three manholes provided a seal not just against leaks, but also against H2S gases.

“With the mixture of the water and the gases in manholes, it creates hydrogen sulphite which causes the concrete to break down, which we call concrete cancer. When we put a structural liner and coating over the top, this is impervious to the gas and can put a stop to this degradation.” – Ryan, Nuflow Team Leader Research and Development.

All up, the job took less than four days to complete, with minimal disruption.

“Because of our small footprint on site, and because we didn’t need to excavate, the construction team could keep working while we repaired the manholes. They were happy they didn’t need to delay the project.” – Jayden, Nuflow Gold Coast Reline Manager.

MANHOLE REPAIRS SORTED WITH NUFLOW

If your manholes are reaching the end of their lifespan, or you want to protect against future degradation, your local Nuflow team can help. Find your local pipe relining experts and chat with the team to learn more.

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