January 2021 Vol. 76 No. 1
Rehab Technology
Rehab News
Vortex Launches Technology Group to Deliver Sensor, Software Systems
Vortex Companies LLC, a national fast-growing trenchless infrastructure solutions provider, launched Vortex Technology Group LLC to support new, proprietary cured-in-place-pipe (CIPP) sensor technology.
The addition came by acquiring the intellectual property and assets of the Curing Monitoring System (CMS) from OSSCAD GmbH & Co. KG, a developer of optical sensor technology based in Germany.
“The CMS software is designed to capture and record a thermal temperature reading, incrementally, along the entire length of the liner,” stated Prof. Dr. Ulrich Glombitza, the product‘s inventor and managing director of OSSCAD. “With such data, the contractors may adjust and control the curing temperature to lower power consumption, reduce cold spots and prevent curing irregularity.”
Even as trenchless rehabilitation methods continue to evolve and expand, accurate inspection data verifying the quality and completeness of the process has lagged.
“The CMS technology and its powerful reporting software is a game changer in the industry and a natural fit for our customers,” said Mike Vellano, CEO of the Vortex Companies. “It benefits both the contractor and project owner, and will improve quality while mitigating cost.”
Currently sold and marketed under the names VeriCure and Zia Systems, CMS technology will still be available through existing channels. However, it will be rebranded over the next 60 to 90 days to protect CMS patents and stave off copycat specifications and technology development. CMS is currently patented in the United States and 18 other countries.
“We are proud to be at the forefront of driving change in the trenchless rehab industry, especially across technologies as foundational as CIPP,” said Andrew Gonnella, EVP of Products at Vortex Companies. “The CMS technology offers the building blocks for the vast adoption of underground construction sensors and next-generation trenchless automation and robotics.
“Our team is well-positioned and eager to support the CMS product and will be immediately focused on creating market access, supporting customers with field training and driving the development of adjacent technologies.”
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Vortex Companies LLC, (281) 750-9081, vortexcompanies.com
Hathorn WiFi Camera Reels Change Municipal Pipe Inspection Game
Hathorn Wi-Fi DuraSCOPE reels for municipal pipe inspection are designed to work with any Apple or Android mobile device. Stream video inspections directly to your mobile device record, screen shot, make voice commentary and share video inspections seamlessly.
These municipal-grade Wi-Fi reels are compatible with 18-volt Milwaukee batteries for the ultimate in portability and are fitted with DuraCAM self-leveling or straight-view camera heads. They are also equipped with super-bright, cool-running LEDs for optimal HD picture quality.
Butt-welded steel frame construction, stainless steel camera heads and a choice of push rod size allows users to push further than ever before and remain in the field longer with Hathorn’s legendary reliability.
These camera reels are trusted by plumbers, municipalities, general contractors, home inspectors, petrochemical companies, and mining engineers to deliver a high-definition, recordable video inspection every time the camera is used. However, the Wi-Fi camera reels do not allow recordings to be paused. Instead simply stop and start a new recording.
Established in 2003, Hathorn Canada (Ontario) and Hathron USA (Columbus, Ohio) have thousands of precision-built cameras in the field from California, to Canada and Australia, proving that they operate in the harshest conditions, day after day.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Hathorn Corporation, 1 (866) 428-4676, hathorncorp.com
Double Honor for Saertex Group at AVK Innovation Award 2020
The Industrial Association for Reinforced Plastics (AVK) presented two 2020 innovation awards to the SAERTEX Group.
“We know that exciting and innovative projects are submitted every year for the AVK Innovation Award. We are therefore very pleased that our innovative achievements have been recognized and would like to thank our project partners for their cooperation,” said Christoph Geyer, CEO at SAERTEX.
SAERTEX and its partner Hyconnect GmbH jointly received a third-place award in the “Products and Applications” category. The winning combination is a 3D-reinforced SAERfoam composite “sandwich,” with structural properties and fire protection layers. A Hyconnect steel-glass hybrid connector is also integrated into the process via vacuum infusion, which enables welding with classic metal components.
The result is an innovative, fireproof connection. Unlike classic metal composites, product can be reduced by up to 55 percent. Possible applications include shipbuilding, the railway vehicle sector or the automotive industry.
Subsidiary SAERTEX multiCom was awarded first place in the “Research and Science” category for its work with Dr. Moritz Stuck on his doctoral thesis, “District heating liners: Possibilities and limits of district heating pipeline rehabilitation using pipe liners that harden on site.”
For rehabilitation or repair of district heating pipelines, technologies must be qualified for significantly higher thermal-mechanical stresses. With the new high-temperature UP resins and a toughening agent, a glass transition temperature (Tg) of nearly 250 degrees Celsius is possible.
So far, the highest measured HDT value (heat deflection temperature) was 180 degrees Celsius. Tests at SAERTEX multiCom showed that the photochemical and thermal reactivity is significantly higher than that of comparable high-temperature-resistant vinyl esters and urethanes.
The toughening agent was developed based on styrene-maleic anhydride copolymers and increases at temperatures between 100 and 160 degrees Celsius. At the same time, reactivity and surface quality of the laminate improve.
SAERTEX Group is the global market leader in the production of technical textiles and systems made of glass, carbon and aramid fibers. Customers in the wind energy, aviation and sports industries, together with the transport sector, depend on fiber-reinforced composites that gain in lightness, stability and corrosion-resistance, thanks to materials from SAERTEX.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Saertex Group, +49 2574 902 0, saertex.com
Saertex multiCom LP, (704) 584-4059, multicomUSA@saertex.com
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