Kuwait International Advanced Industries (KAI), a leading regional producer of piping systems, sees brighter prospects for its offerings, particularly in high-density polyethylene (HDPE) pipes.

Production is targeted to reach 7,000 tonnes this year, against 5,900 tonnes in the previous year and 3,400 tonnes in 2004.  The company manufactures HDPE gravity pipes for storm and sanitary applications and also HDPE solid wall pipes for pressure applications.
“We are gaining market share with every year and prospects for the future look very promising,” said a company spokesman. The company’s products have applications in buildings, utilities and industrial sectors.
KAI’s HDPE pressure pipes are designed for water and drainage applications inside buildings and the gravity pipes for underground drainage and sewage systems. They conform to the German standards DIN 19535, DIN 19537, DIN 8074 and DIN 8075.
The company also makes polypropylene pipes for potable water as per DIN 8077 and DIN 8078, but the spokesman said the production of these would cease as their market was small. However, he added that the same product line would be utilised for the manufacture of cable ducts of small thickness.
KAI will also commence from June of this year the manufacture of bigger sizes of polyethylene pressure pipes. “We now make them in 200 to 250 mm outside dia, and we propose to produce sizes of up to 800 mm,” the spokesman said.
The company’s gravity pipes range in sizes from 200 mm up to 1,200 mm.
 “As a local manufacturer with global technology, we offer the most competitive prices,” said the spokesman. “Our products are approved by the Ministry of PublicWorks, the Ministry of Electricity and Water, the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Defence, Kuwait University and Kuwait Oil Company.”
The company has a storage space of 73,000 sq m, large enough for housing several months’ production at a time.  “This proves extremely useful when the facilities are shutdown for maintenance and we have to store large quantities for dispatch to customers over a period of several weeks,” said the spokesman. 
“HDPE is replacing other piping systems such as GRP, concrete and clay because it’s of light weight, easy to install and compatible with existing systems. HDPE is  environmentally friendly and resistant to chemicals, proving a good alternative to traditional pipe materials.
“The company’s gravity corrugated pipes have adaptability with existing concrete and vitrified clay pipe systems, are corrosion resistant and flexible, have high resistance to chemicals, abrasions and impact and are of light weight and easy to install,” said the spokesman
“They also have fewer joints for the same length (6 m or more), give optimal hydraulic performance, have low running and maintenance costs and excellent mechanical properties retained for over 100 years, making them durable.”
KAI was the first establishment in Kuwait to manufacture thermoplastic HDPE corrugated twin wall pipes.
Corrugated pipe raw materials are produced by Equate, the Kuwaiti petrochemical company.
KAI’s pressure polyethylene pipes can be joined together by butt welding, socket fusion welding and electro-fusion welding. For corrugated pipe the company offers integral cuff and spigot pipe-to-pipe joints for all the sizes.
 “As a specialised company in piping systems we can provide a complete solution for pipes, fittings and accessories,” the spokesman said.
“KAI is committed to the continued development of leading international technologies and products,” said the spokesman.
The company recently held a seminar in Kuwait with Borouge and George Fischer Piping Systems on HDPE solid wall pipes, fittings and applications.
The future of all pressure networks (gas and water) was discussed and practical solutions were on display. More than 200 delegates from leading construction companies, consulting and engineering firms and ministries attended the seminar held at the Courtyard, Marriott Hotel.
Borouge is a leading supplier of environmentally superior polyolefin plastics. Georg Fischer, a leading supplier of piping systems in plastics and metal, develops and manufactures application-oriented solutions with high-quality products for gas and water utilities and in building technology.
 The seminar emphasised the use of HDPE solid wall pipe and fittings for all water and gas networks. “The most important factor it emphasised was that an HDPE solid wall pressure network for water is 100 per cent leak-free. It was shown that water leakages from more traditional networks could be as much as 50 per cent of the water supply due to corrosion and weak joints,” the spokesman said.
“The direct cost of using HDPE pressure pipe and fittings was shown to be considerably less than others as the pipe comes in longer lengths (12 m and above), is quicker to lay in the trenches and fewer fittings are used. The pipe can bend to follow the contours of the landscape, which reduce the use of fittings as well.
“The other costs savings that could be made were in the maintenance of the network. With HDPE pressure pipe network there is practically no maintenance. On the other hand ductile iron networks need maintaining permanently.”