Poly Pipe News (PPN) Alerts

The leading source for curated real-time
poly pipe news and insights

BREAKING NEWS

Reliance Worldwide Shutters Melbourne Manufacturing Sites and Axes 85 Jobs

Reliance Worldwide to Shut Melbourne Brass Plumbing Fittings Operations

Plastic Pipe Failure Forensic Specialists Expanding into APAC Through Acquisition

Breakthrough – Borealis Scientists Develop Ultra-Low Sag HDPE Resin to Make Extra-Large HDPE Pipes [PDF]

LEGAL NEWS

Georg Fischer Product Liability Lawsuit Filed on Plastic Pipe (BUTLER v. GEORG FISCHER LLC et al)

Uponor Sued Again: Property Damage Case Filed in Alabama Court (DECLASSIFED) [PDF]

WORLD NEWS

Iplex Parent FBU Moody’s Credit Rating Withdrawn

PIPELIFE Publish Technical Guide on Long-Length, Large-Diameter PE100 Pipes [PDF]

SABIC and Jwell Set Up Joint Plastic Pipe Extrusion Laboratory and Test Facility in China

IPEX Finally Responds to Concerns Over PVC Pipe Polluting French Broad River After Helene

Vinidex in Australia Increases Overtime Hourly Rate of Pay for Poly Pipe Extrusion Workers

INDUSTRY NEWS

Borealis Develop New Polyolefin Pipe Resin with Very Good Sagging and Slow Crack Growth Resistance [PDF]
Patent US12668647B2
Patent US12668689B2

Chinese Develop Method to Check Quality of HDPE Butt Fusion Joints of Buried HDPE Pipe
Ultrasonic full-matrix wavenumber imaging of buried gas HDPE pipe butt fusion joint defects via differential wavenumber filtering method
Field tests conducted on in-service gas HDPE pipes indicate that the proposed algorithm can more clearly reconstruct the butt fusion interface and successfully detect lack of fusion defects

New Evidence Undermines Case for Peoples Gas HDPE Pipe Replacement

UK Opens Anti-Dumping Probe into US LLDPE Imports
The investigation, which began on 1 July, will assess Ineos’ claims that US-origin LLDPE has been sold in the UK at dumped prices, injuring the domestic industry. Ineos said US export prices were lower than normal value and that the resulting imports hurt the UK market through lower sales, lost market share, weaker prices, reduced profitability, withdrawn investment and fewer jobs.

FINANCIAL NEWS

Aliaxis – Declining Valuation, Weaker Construction Demand
Its bond prices and market valuation have weakened significantly over the past year
Industry sources have reported a sharp decline in the implied value of the company, reflecting concerns over slowing construction markets, particularly in Europe

Allan Gray Australia Equity Fund Exits Substantial Holder Position in Reliance Worldwide

HYDROGEN TRANSPORT

Cost-Effective High Hydrogen Barrier Polyethylene Nanocomposite for Pipes and Pressure Vessels Liner
The results demonstrate that nanoclay-modified HDPE is a practical, economical candidate for Type-IV hydrogen vessel liners.

HDPE PIPES

The Effect of Heat Treatment on Mechanical and Physical Properties of HDPE Pipes for Drinking Water

NEW Method to Check Quality of HDPE Butt Fusion Joints of Buried HDPE Pipe While in Service
Ultrasonic full-matrix wavenumber imaging of buried gas HDPE pipe butt fusion joint defects via differential wavenumber filtering method
Field tests conducted on in-service gas HDPE pipes indicate that the proposed algorithm can more clearly reconstruct the butt fusion interface and successfully detect lack of fusion defects

PVC PIPES

Concern Over Aging of Buried PVC Sewer Pipes and Microplastics Release
PVC pipes have seen increasing use in urban sewer networks; however, their long-term aging can reduce service life and contribute to microplastics (MPs) pollution. Pressure pipes developed flow-aligned cracks and severe surface deterioration Ra = 82.8 nm), whereas gravity pipes exhibited shorter, randomly distributed cracks with lower roughness Ra = 30.5–45.3 nm). COMSOL simulations revealed pronounced stress concentration at crack tips, with von Mises stress increasing from 0.69 to 5.53 MPa as internal pressure increased from 0.1 to 0.8 MPa, while sand abrasion elevated erosion rates from 10⁻¹ ⁰ to 10⁻³ kg/m²·s. MPs release from pressure pipes (13.5–19.8 × 10 ³ particles/m³; 67–298 μm) was 2.4–5.1 times higher than that from gravity pipes (3.89–5.72 × 10 ³ particles/m³; 2127–4178 μm), with all scenarios suggesting elevated ecological concern. These findings provide field-based evidence for configuration-dependent PVC sewer pipe aging mechanisms and MPs release, supporting future assessment and maintenance strategies for urban drainage infrastructure.

PEX PIPES

Collapse Buckling Prediction in Thermoplastic Tight-Fitted PEX Liners Accounting for Annular Volume Effects

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poly pipe news and insights

BREAKING NEWS

Aliaxis Trading at 52-week Low : Dropping from €28.00 to €16.00 – a 42% Decline [PDF]

Timebomb! – 700,000 Canadian Homes Still Carry Polybutylene Plumbing Pipe Removed Since 2005

Plastic Pipe Failure Experts Acquired by Forensic Loss Group

LEGAL NEWS

Judge Orders Atmos to Preserve Plastic Pipe Evidence from Oak Cliff Explosion as Survivor Sues Utility Company

Uponor Denies Liability in Crosslinked PE Pipe Failures (VIDEO)

Settlement for Direct Purchasers of PVC Pipe and/or Fittings for the Settlement with Otter Tail Corporation, Northern Pipe Products, Inc., and Vinyltech Corporation
Did you buy PVC Pipe and/or Fittings in the U.S. between January 1, 2020, and March 31, 2026, directly from any of the Converter Defendants listed above?
You might be affected by a class action lawsuit.

INDUSTRY NEWS

Thousands of IPEX PVC Pipes Remain in the French Broad River

Slab Leaks Common in Perth Homes and in Areas where Iplex Polybutylene (PB-1) Pipes Were Installed
The well-documented PB-1 failure crisis (2019–2020) affected hundreds of homes across Baldivis, Cockburn, and surrounding suburbs — and some of those pipes are still quietly failing today.

WHITE PAPER on The Role of Polymer Piping in Direct Liquid Cooling of Data Centres [PDF]

Plastic Pipe Maker JM Eagle Tips $1 Mill into Golfing Prize (Good Corporate Citizen)

How Ashirvad CIO Vipin Rustagi Built a Digital Benchmark for PVC Pipes in an Industry Late to Technology

How Plastic Pipe Maker is Quietly Building AI-Driven Factory Floor

Geberit Opens Indian PE Pipe Plant
The Geberit PE drainage system is booming in India. Reason enough to start local production of the black pipes.
In India, employees affectionately refer to the newly expanded Geberit plant on the outskirts of the city of Pune as ‘Little Rapperswil-Jona’ – a nod to the plant at Geberit’s headquarters in Switzerland. It is spotless, not just inside, but across the entire site. A striking contrast to the colourful hustle and bustle on the streets of Pune. A team of around 100 people has been producing concealed cisterns for the Indian market here for over ten years, as well as fittings for the PE drainage system for quite some time.
Plant Manager Ravikumar Nagaraja is delighted to now be able to manufacture PE pipes locally

Lubrizol Opens CPVC Plant in India

UAE’s Borouge Launches Bio-based PP for Water Pipe Fittings

Vinidex-branded PVC Pipe Used to Make Bomb

Residents in Cities with Older Infrastructure May Face Higher Exposure Through Tap Water as Plastic Particles Leach from Degrading Pipe Coatings and Fittings

South Korean Company Raises Funding from JCH at $196M Post-money Valuation for Plastic Pipe Smart Water Purification Tech

Investors Compare Dutch Industrial Group with Peers such as Geberit and Uponor in the European Capital Goods Segment

HDPE PIPES

Multiscale Investigation of Hydrogen Permeation Mechanisms in HDPE: Integrating Molecular Simulations with Experimental Validation

Review of Unconstrained Buckling Equations and Application to Solid-Wall PE Pipe

Identification of Friction Stir Welding Joint Areas in Crevices of Polyethylene Pipes

HYDROGEN TRANSPORT

A Multiscale Approach to Reducing Gas Permeation in Reinforced Polymer Composite Pipeline Systems

GRP PIPES

Lightweight and High-performance GFRP Water Supply Pipeline System with an Innovative Clamp Connection

Instability Mode and Damage of Fibre-Reinforced Composite Pipes under Axial Compression Loading

COMPOSITE PIPES

Accelerated-Aging Screening Data for Polymer Liners in Oil and Gas Flexible Composite Pipes: A Communication

Nonlinear Lamb Wave-Based Defect Evaluation of Ultrasonically Welded Thermoplastic Composite Pipe Joints with Thermo-Mechanical-Optical Analysis

NEW PATENTS

Pipe Fitting with Fusible Sleeve

Solvent Free Jointing Method for Plastic Pipes for Pressure Applications

Polyflow Patent Method and Apparatus for Increasing the Collapse Resistance of a Flexible Pipe

The leading source for curated real-time
poly pipe news and insights

BREAKING NEWS

Plastic Pipe Failure Group Acquired by McLarens Halliwell

Halliwell Forensics Buy ExcelPlas Polymer Specialists

Halliwell Sharpens Edge in Insurance with ExcelPlas Buy

LEGAL NEWS

Aquatherm Agrees to Pay $1.35 Mill to Resolve False Claims Act Allegations

PLASTIC PIPE FAILURES

Homeowners Say Hidden Uponor PEX Pipe Leaks Are Wrecking Their Houses Years After Move-In

Lawsuits in 10 States Allege Uponor Pipes Are Failing and Damaging Homes

Iplex Parent FBU Asks for Credit Rating to be Withdrawn
The company has Moody’s lowest investment grade rating of Baa3 rating, below which is considered a speculative grade and outside the limits for most institutional investment

SAFETY ALERTS

Biofilm Formation and PAH Migration in HDPE Drinking Water Pipes
Water analysis showed increased levels of PAHs passing through the HDPE pipe, especially naphthalene, which exceeded permissible limits.

WORLD NEWS

Borouge Launch Bio-based Plastic Pipe Materials with Lower Carbon Footprint

Georg Fischer’s LiquidCore® Piping Quietly Targets the Heat Problem in Data Centers

REHAU Names Simon Koenig EVP to Lead Water Technologies (Piping & Fittings) Growth Across the Americas
The industry veteran will oversee expansion in plumbing, hydronics, geothermal and municipal infrastructure as REHAU sharpens regional strategy

IPEX Issue Statement on French Broad River Clean Up and Recovery

Pipe Engineer Matthew Wirtz Recognized for Sharing Best Practices for the Use of HDPE Piping

PHMSA Proposes to Add to its Annual Reporting Requirements the Mileage of “PE Brittle-Like” Distribution Mains and the number of “PE Brittle-Like” Fittings Installed on Pipelines

Framing a New Design Mindset Around Fiberglass Reinforced Plastic Piping

No Room for Compromise: Protecting Quality in Plastic Pipes

NEW PATENTS JUNE 2026

Aliaxis Develops Novel Mechanical Fitting for PVC Pipes

Core Linepipe Patent Electrofusion Pipe Joining System

HDPE PIPES

Mechanical Properties of Graphene Reinforced HDPE Nanocomposites for Pipes: a Comprehensive Review

Control of Crystallization of Material when Welding a Saddle Elbow to a Polyethylene Pipe at Low Temperatures

Ground Load Assessment on Buried Flexible Pipes Subjected to Lateral Soil Movement

Investigation of Thermal Behaviour and MFZ-Thickness-Based Welding Window Optimization for HDPE Pipe Butt-Fusion Welding

Deformation Gradient-based Computational Framework for Finite-Strain Analysis of Photodegraded Semi-crystalline Polyethylene Pipe

Biofilm Formation and PAH Migration in HDPE Drinking Water Pipes
Water analysis showed increased levels of PAHs passing through the HDPE pipe, especially naphthalene, which exceeded permissible limits.

Pipe Failure Risk Analysis of Water Distribution Network Using Analytic Hierarchy Process and Geographical Information System
The results indicated that 40 mm diameter HDPE pipes under higher internal pressure were at a high risk of failure.

Evaluating the Effect of Pressure and Temperature on Hydrogen Permeation in MDPE and HDPE Pipes Using Helium as an Inherently Safer Substitute

Hierarchical Phase-Crystalline Structure Construction and Gas Barrier Properties Enhancement of HDPE/TBIR Composites for Piping

PVC PIPES

Implementing Machine Learning Algorithms for Pipe Failure Analysis in Water Distribution Systems
PVC pipes were found to be the most prone to failure in the study

Noncontact Detection of Water Hammer Pressure Damping in PVC Pipes with Leakage Using Digital Image Correlation and Continuous Wavelet Transform Methods

Upcycling Waste PVC Pipes into Green Deep Eutectic Solvent-modified Membranes for Energy-Efficient Bioethanol Recovery by Pervaporation

PVC Microplastics Facilitate Uropathogenic Escherichia Coli Pathogenicity by Enhancing Host Cell Invasion

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poly pipe news and insights

BREAKING NEWS

Plastic Industry to Lobby EPA to Drop Microplastics from Water Contaminant List

PRESS RELEASE: If You Purchased Any PVC Pipe or PVC Fittings, An Antitrust Settlement May Affect You

LEGAL NEWS

Uponor Hit with Yet Another Pipe Property Damage Product Liability Lawsuit

INSURANCE NEWS

Australian Plastic Pipe Failure Claims Feel the Weight of Middle East Fuel and Freight Shocks
Energy-linked price movements stemming from the Middle East conflict is pushing new uncertainty into Australian claims, with loss adjusting firm Crawford Australia flagging that the effects are now detectable across repair costs, contractor pricing models, and claim durations.

INDUSTRY ALERTS

Researchers Discover Sunlight and PVC Pipes Create a Hidden Driver of Antibiotic Resistance

Researchers Express Concerns Over Use of Aged Polyethylene Gas Pipes for Hydrogen-Blended Natural Gas
A new study systematically evaluated the aging behaviour of polyethylene gas pipes through artificial accelerated aging tests, with a focus on their suitability for hydrogen-blended natural gas transport. The key findings are as follows: With prolonged aging, the material’s antioxidant capacity declined significantly, as evidenced by a marked decrease in oxidation induction time. Infrared spectroscopy confirmed progressive chemical degradation in the amorphous regions—including chain scission, oxidation, and carbonyl compound evolution—independent of the stable crystalline structure. Gas permeability tests revealed a substantial increase in the permeability coefficient for hydrogen-blended natural gas after aging. Following 1,000 hours of aging, the coefficient rose from 8.86×10-14 to 1.28×1013, representing a 44.5% increase. This is attributed to the formation of small-molecule products and structural relaxation in the amorphous regions, which created additional gas diffusion pathways and reduced barrier performance. These results indicate that using aged polyethylene pipelines for hydrogen blended gas transport could lead to significantly higher permeability, posing potential safety and economic risks.

New German Report Addresses Concerns Over Recycled Plastic Pipes in Buried Infrastructure
In the plastic pipe industry, the use of post-consumer recyclates remains very limited due to reduced material quality, economic hurdles, limited availability, non-specific classification requirements and a lack of testing standards.

INDUSTRY NEWS

Alert: Polypipe’s January 2027 EPD Expiry to Watch

PVC Pipe Company Stock After PVC Litigation Settlements – Is the Valuation Reset Just Getting Started?

Impact of Strait of Hormuz on Asian PVC and PVC Pipe Prices

PE Pipe Factory Drives Post-Conflict Revival in Azerbaijan

Plastic Pipe Failures? – Call the Polymer Detectives
ExcelPlas expertise spans high-stakes investigative matters, including failure diagnosis, performance assessment, remaining asset life evaluation and routine testing programs. ExcelPlas delivers a rare combination of advanced analytical equipment and deep technical expertise that serves both regional and global markets.

The History of PVC-O Pipe
The real innovation wasn’t the pipe

Wavin/Bow Plumbing Group Inc. Announces a Pricing Increase of 10% for PEX Pipes
The increase applies to select PEX pipe product categories due to rising raw material, energy, and transportation costs.

NEW PATENTS

Borouge Patent Novel PRE‑COOLING SYSTEM AND PROCESS FOR POLYPROPYLENE PIPE PRODUCTION

CHLORINE DEGRADATION OF PLASTIC PIPES

Chlorine-Induced Aging of HDPE Pipes: Insights into Structural, Thermal, and Mechanical Degradation Mechanisms

Degradation of PP-R Pipes in Aqueous Solution of Chlorine Dioxide

HDPE PIPES

Visualization of Different Chain Entanglement Densities in Electrofusion Welding of HDPE Pipes

Aging and Degradation Patterns and Life Prediction of HDPE Pipes Under Thermal Oxidation and Photo-Oxidation Effects

PP-R PIPES

Degradation of PP-R Pipes in Aqueous Solution of Chlorine Dioxide

PVC PIPES

How Do You Stiffen PVC Pipe by Reducing Plasticizer Content
Industry Player Confirms For pipe classifications: rigid PVC pipe can contains less than 10% plasticizer (typically 0-5 phr for pressure pipe)

FRP PIPES

Mechanical response of FRP liner-reinforced ductile iron pipe joints under normal faulting

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poly pipe news and insights

BREAKING NEWS

Aliaxis Sells Off HDPE Pipe Business

Life’s Work of PE Pipe Consultant Harvey E. Svetlik to be Made Accessible & Searchable Using New AI Platform
Svetlik has contributed over 40 years of experience to the plastic pipe extrusion industry, specializing in extruded Polyethylene Pipe and Fabricated Fittings

Potential Release of Micro- and Nanoplastics from Stormwater Infrastructure by Virginia Tech Researchers
Virginia Tech study on release of micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) throughout the service life of plastic sewer pipes

Polybutylene Lawsuit Deadline 2026: Your Legal Options

20 months After Hurricane Helene, Plastic Pipe from IPEX Factory Continues to Choke US River

BUSINESS NEWS

What’s Next for Atkore?
Now it has resolved the final lawsuit, for $50 million what is Next for Atkore? The settlement concludes a two-year legal process that began with earlier agreements totalling $136.5 million.
The combined settlements across all three plaintiff classes is a total $186.5 million.

Iplex Parent Fletcher Building’s Asset Purge Rolls On

Aliaxis Sells Off HDPE Pipe Business

INDUSTRY NEWS

Chlorblue® – the New Standard for HDPE Potable Water Pipes
Vinidex Chlorblue® is delivering clean, safe drinking water to Townsville’s residents

Georg Fischer Opens Saudi Office to Support Kingdom’s Water Needs

REHAU Introduces Automated Production of RAUMAT Prefabricated Pex Pipe Mats
RAUMAT is a pre-assembled radiant mat system engineered for large-scale commercial, industrial and institutional projects

EPA Announce Historic Actions to Protect Americans from Microplastics and Safeguard Drinking Water

Molecor Leads Microplastics Prevention to Protect the Oceans

LEGAL NEWS

$15 Million Lawsuit Against Summit Carbon Solutions Proceeds Toward Trial

NEW DEVELOPMENTS

Saudi Aramco & TWI Develop Advanced Composite Pipe Welding Technology 
Bonding Tie Layers on Reinforced Thermosetting Resin Laminates for use In Welding Thermoset Composite Pipe Joints
Dr. Farshad Salamat-Zadeh is a Chartered Engineer and TWI’s lead failure investigator for non-metallic materials, specializing in polymer processing, adhesive bonding, and composites.
Dr. Chris Worrall is a materials engineer focusing on structural integrity, polymers, and innovative joining methods for composite structures.

Clariant Develop New HALS Stabilizer for PP-R Pipes

Advances in Processing Aids for PE Pipe Extrusion in Light of the PFAS Regulatory Shift

Nucleated HDPE Pipes for Improved Hydrogen Gas Barrier

Dynamic Covalent Crosslinking for PE and PP Hot Water Pipes: Major Effects on Elevated-Temperature Creep, Heat Distortion Temperature and Wear Resistance

New System Developed for Supporting Plastic Plumbing Pipes

Analysis of Graphene Nanoplatelet-Reinforced Polymer Pipes Incorporating Hyperelastic Material Behaviour

ELECTROFUSION

Advances in Electrofusion Welding Technology for Polymeric Pipelines: From Process Optimization to Mechanism-Driven Control

HDPE PIPES

Market Feasibility Study of Double-Wall Corrugated Pipes as a Sustainable Alternative to RCC Pipes

Machine Learning-Based Non-Destructive Evaluation of HDPE Lining Integrity from Ultrasonic Signal Features

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT !!

Plastic Pipe Industry Loses Pioneer – Francis Gerald (Hank) Murney

Aging of Buried PVC Sewer Pipes and Microplastics Release: Mechanisms and Environmental Risks

New Study on Disinfection-Driven Oxidation and the Effect on Water Quality in Water Distribution Networks (Thesis)

SABIC Strength Polymer Pipe Resins Through Innovation

Offshore Investor Flips Reece Plumbing Showroom and Makes $2 mill Profit

BOWEN PIPELINE the Experts in Large Diameter HDPE Pipes