UK-based pipe manufacturer Polypipe has supplied over 4 000 m of 300 mm perforated twinwall pipes for the construction of a drainage system at African Minerals’ Tonkolili iron-ore mine, in Sierra Leone.

The mine presents one of the largest iron-ore resources in the world and contributes substantially to economic development in Sierra Leone, as it provides the most employ-ment opportunities in the county.

Tonkolili mine extends over a combined strike length of 30 km and includes a substan-tial direct shipping ore and saprolite mineral resource overlying a large magnetite orebody, say African Minerals.

The iron-ore is shipped to China, where Sierra Leone has competitive seaborne export routes to European and Chinese steel markets.

Polypipe says that its Ridgidrain system, which was installed at the mine, has been tried and tested as it is designed to satisfy both the strict demands of UK planning regulations and UK and European legislation. The system is suitable for use in civil engineering and infrastructure projects, including highway, rail and airport infractructure, adds the company.

Further, the Ridgidrain system features a proven structured wall construction with a reduced virgin plastic content. It was the first product in the UK to achieve the Highways Authority Product Approved Scheme certification, and is British Board of Agrément-certified as suitable for surface water drainage in commercial and industrial applications, says the company.

Additionally, Polypipe highlights that the structured wall design of Ridgidrain gives high ring stiffness and strength and has a lower weight, compared with clay or concrete products, which means reduced transport and installation costs and improved health and safety benefits for installers.

ompany export sales manager Philip Wood says the sytem is specifically efficient as it uses high-density polyethylene (HDPE).

“HDPE is the material of choice in many mining infrastructure applications currently. In this case, African Minerals has specified HDPE for the rail marshalling yard as it is capable of delivering many years of reliable service in a very demanding environment,” he explains.

The drainage system is projected to have a life span of over 60 years. Wood adds that HDPE provides excellent resistance to abra-sion and chemical attack and withstands ground movement and differential settlement.

“The longer pipe lengths available reduce the number of joints required, significantly reducing the risk of leakage, while its extremely smooth bore resists blockage and makes the pipework system more easy to maintain.

“The product supplied for the Tonkolili project was fully perforated to allow effective subsoil drainage,” he concludes

About Polypipe

The company designs, develops and manu-factures a wide range of plastic piping prod-ucts with over 20 000 product lines available.

“Our primary focus is on developing and supporting pragmatic product systems through specific knowledge and under-standing of the residential, commercial, civils and infrastructure market sectors,” the com-pany states.

Polypipe was established in 1980 in Doncaster, Yorkshire, in the UK. It now has 17 facilities across the UK, Ireland, Europe and the Middle East. Its main clientele are from the construction industry.

The company adds that it strives to produce the best-quality products.

“We ensure that customers can trust our unrivalled expertise to provide value engi-neered, fit-for-purpose piping solutions for the growing diversity and complexity of construc-tion and building technology challenges they face,” explains the company.

Product Timeline

In 1988, Polypipe’s first full range of plastic drainage products, designed for the residential construction market, was unveiled.

Over a decade later, in 1996, the company expanded into the mainland European con- struction market, with manufacturing facili-ties in France. A year later, in 1997, Polypipe entered into the civil engineering and infra-structure market.

The following year, the company launched plastic hot- and cold-water plumbing and heat- ing systems as a direct alternative to copper. In the same year, the company branched into the domestic ventilation systems market.

In 2000, Polypipe’s underfloor heating systems for the house builder market entered the market as an alternative to wall-hung radiators and the company expanded into Italy.

Further, in response to legislation on flooding and surface water management, Polypipe launched the new Polystorm range of sustainable drainage systems products and solutions in 2004 and expanded into the Middle East market in 2007.