PERFORMANCE FEATURES

Vitrified clay pipes – what else?!

With regard to a sustainable sewer system, the choice of the right pipe material is of the utmost importance. Its quality, origin, excellence and composition have a major influence on whether a sewer system is economically, ecologically and socially compatible.

For vitrified clay as a material, this is without question a very clear matter. The criteria for economical, environmentally friendly and socially compatible sewer systems are already fulfilled with the extraction of the raw materials, the transport of the raw materials, the pipe production in the factory, the logistics for delivery to the specialist trade or to the construction site, the installation in open or closed trenches, the recycling of the pipes and the reuse as secondary raw materials. Vitrified clay pipes epitomise durability in infrastructure: the resultant sewage systems last for generations, with a service life far superior to that of other materials (more than 100 years) – their advantages are technical, economic and ecological.

Sustainable solutions made of vitrified clay pipes

Vitrified clay pipes remain particularly eco-friendly, being made of the same natural raw materials as ever: clay, fireclay and water. In our part of the world, clay resources are almost unlimited (just like water); processing comprises a low-emission operation which takes place near the deposits using relatively little energy (primarily natural gas).

Pipes and fittings made of vitrified clay meet the high requirements of sewage systems – they are economic, ecological and socially compatible:

Economic: long service life; low maintenance and repair costs; low-cost maintenance of fixed assets

Ecological: resistant to all substances found in waste water and soil, even pollutants from waste water cannot escape into the environment; high resistance to ageing and corrosion; high hardness and density; almost completely recyclable to return to the production process as fireclay

Socially compatible: can be exchanged over many decades after use; resource-saving; useful life more than 100 years

Circular (recycling) economy

The circular economy is a model of production and consumption in which existing materials and products are shared, leased, reused, repaired, renovated and recycled for as long as possible. In this manner, the life cycle of the products will be prolonged. In practice, this means that waste is reduced to a minimum. Once a product has reached the end of its life, resources and materials remain in the economy as much as possible. They can be used productively again and again to continue generating added value.
The circular economy contrasts with the traditional, linear economic model („throwaway economy“).

Vitrified clay pipe systems also „move“ in a circular system: from the extraction and transport of raw materials, through the manufacturing process, logistics, installation and operation to recycling.