GlobalSpec has asked its users about the latest design trends and features related to Pipe Fittings. They have also shared their product applications and tips on how to buy and use these products.
See the entire survey
What new technologies are influencing pipe fitting design?
31 answers
Energy Conservation in the process and creature comfort piping applications. Spirax/Sarco in the steam industry.
~Himself Anonymous M, Application Engineer, Cappagh Castlebar, FM
Most hydraulic applications in the US use mainly NPT, SAE, and flanged fittings. When dealing with international customers, it is very important to have a wide range of fitting adapters on hand or readily available.
~Mechanical/manufacturing engineer, Milwaukee, WI
There are numerous alloys being used in pipe fitting construction. The basic design really hasn't changed much over the years. The way fittings are manufactured has changed numerous times.
~Engineering, Design, Tucson, AZ
I would speculate that streamlining function, location, size, and environment compatibility. I have had to design and fabricate my own custom fittings.
~Alex L, Engineering Consultant, Corinth, TX
'Going Green' ~ less leakage, tighter packing design. Anything to help with emission control and environmental issues.
~Marketing/Sales, Aledo, TX
We are starting to use bolted pipe fittings, rather than the conventional welded pipe systems.
~Engineering, Design, Peachtree City, GA
Materials and weld procedures as well as non-destructive examination
~Maintenance/Facilities Management, Ft. McMurray, Canada
Computer flow modeling in steady state, heat transfer and dynamic.
~Brian H, Consultant Hydraulic and Drafting Engineer, Childers, Australia
Weight and longevity maintainabillity ease of insallation
~Gareth H, Project Manager, Edenbridge, England
ANYTHING THAT INVOLVES THE OVERALL REDUCTION OF LABOR
~Marketing/Sales, Northwood, OH
New Welding Processes; Extreme Temperature Alloy's
~Other, Tampa, FL
In plumbing PPR and Pex pipe & fitting are better
~Mansoor H, Engineering Consultant, Dubai, Dubai
EXOTIC MATERIALS & CORROSION REQUIREMENTS
~Quality Control/Assurance, SARMATO, Italy
My work is controled by code manuals.
~Project Management, Greenville, FL
New Synthetic polymer construction.
~Engineering, Design, University place, WA
Low flow and water conservation
~Bill P., Faculty/Staff, Fredericton, Canada
New fitting and seal materials
~Design Engineer, Grand Junction, CO
PE pipe. Compression fittings.
~Builder/Contractor, Louisville, KY
Shark bite, pro-press fitting
~Martin Lemire, General Management, Ville-Marie, Canada
AUTOMATIC WELDING PROCESSES
~Engineering, Other, Melbourne, Australia
A lack of skilled artisans
~Engineering, Consulting, Stafford, United Kingdom
Oil & gas requirement
~Engineering, Design, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Compression fittings
~Michael P, Design Engineer, Honolulu, HI
Ease of maintenance
~Eqbal R, Engineering Consultant, Delhi, India
None at this time.
~Marty S, Design Engineer, Surgionsville, TN
Nuclear materials
~Engineering, Design, Aiken, SC
3D CAD VICAULIC
~Design Engineer, PITTSBURGH, PA
RADIANT SYSTEMS
~ROBERT Y, Builder/Contractor, BKLYN, NY
Oil fields/gas
~Engineering, Other, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Process Piping
~Steve Hart, Project Manager, Auburndale, FL
Plastics
~Architect/Builder/Contractor, Philadelphia, PA
From your perspective, which companies are creating the most innovative pipe fittings?
24 answers
Hyquip, Ritter, and Parker are the absolute best companies I have used for hydraulic applications. Each company has their own niche. Finding microbore test point fittings on the fly can be somewhat difficult, however. These fittings are excellent for connecting transducers at remote points on a hydraulic system. When putting together a hydraulic system I always make sure I have a test point fitting at all important locations, even if I decide not to use them later.
~Mechanical/manufacturing engineer, Milwaukee, WI
Parker Hannifin seams to be a mainstay, Sporlan in the Refrigeration industry. Also there are a plethora of new companies from all over the global market, especially European companies with automatic battery operated and solar powered, radio controlled etc...I wish I had time to even try and keep track.
~Himself Anonymous M, Application Engineer, Cappagh Castlebar, FM
Not looking for innovation. Have quality issues with foreign as well as domestic products. Threaded fittings leak. ANSI flanged cast fittings are not true and occasionally have holes.
~Brian H, Technical Support, Simpsonville, SC
I still use a Taylor Forge cheat sheet for finding fitting sizes and dimension. Victaulic and Gruvlok make some nice mechanical connections, and George Fischer is good with polymers.
~Engineering, Design, Tucson, AZ
Not sure. I deal with development and design of products that generate the pipes and fittings and the data sets come from National piping specs.
~Engineering, Design, University place, WA
Anvil International in threaded fittings. WellMark Products has several new products for emission control on the production side.
~Marketing/Sales, Aledo, TX
DIFFICULT TO CHOICE ONE, ANYWAY IN THE NORTH OF ITALY ARE PRESENT THE MOST IMPORTANT AND BEST BUTT WELDING FITTINGS MANUFACTURER.
~Quality Control/Assurance, SARMATO, Italy
I don't patronize any one company. I check and see what is available and then go with it.
~Alex L, Engineering Consultant, Corinth, TX
Swagelok has a history of being quality and dependable for tubing.
~Maintenance/Facilities Management, Ft. McMurray, Canada
Chero Piping, Manfred Gelgbach, Galperti Engineering
~Sudaryono Sudaryono, Quality Control, Balikpapan, Indonesia
Victaulic, Bonney Forge, Nibco
~Mike Maxwell, Engineer, Crystal Lake, IL
HEATING SPECIALTY COMPANIES
~ROBERT Y, Builder/Contractor, BKLYN, NY
Zurn radiant heat piping.
~Builder/Contractor, Louisville, KY
Eaton, parker hydraulics
~Michael P, Design Engineer, Honolulu, HI
Swagelok, Parker etc
~RAJAGOPAL RAO, Design Engineer, MUMBAI, INDIA
VICTAULIC, VIEGA,
~Marketing/Sales, Northwood, OH
Viega pro-press
~Martin Lemire, General Management, Ville-Marie, Canada
The Europeans!
~Other, Tampa, FL
Voss, Stauff.
~Brian H, Consultant Hydraulic and Drafting Engineer, Childers, Australia
Parker
~Heith R, Designer, Duncan, OK
Foster
~Eqbal R, Engineering Consultant, Delhi, India
Parker
~Engineering, Process/Production, Keighley, United Kingdom
TDW
~Omer N, Welding Control, ISTANBUL, TURKEY
~Manufacturing, Howrah, India
