Extrusion International USA 4-2021

42 Extrusion International 4/2021 PIPE EXTRUSION Molecor to develop a technologi- cal solution for the manufacture of TOM ® PVC-O pipes up to diam- eter 1200 mm. Technical, environmental and quality factors TOM ® PVC-O pipes have several advantages compared to other traditional materials, among which it is worth highlighting: their greater hydraulic capacity, allowing the transport of greater volumes of water for the same di- ameter; less load losses with im- proved energy costs; their better behavior against water hammer due to their lower speed; and their excellent impact resistance. TOM ® pipes are the ones that provide the highest installation performance in meters/hour of assembly compared to other so- lutions, mainly due to their light- ness and flexibility and their ease of connection. The tightness that they provide to the system in the conduction prevents leakages, and therefore water losses, which would reduce the volume of wa- ter supplied. The Molecular Orientation pro- cess provides TOM ® Class 500 pipes with exceptional mechani- cal and hydraulic characteristics compared to pipes made with other materials available on the market. Applied to pressure pipes, a pipe of great mechani- cal and chemical resistance is achieved, therefore, with a very high useful life of more than 100 years. This characteristics provide solutions aimed at optimizing available water resources and re- ducing energy costs in hydraulic infrastructures. In addition to this, TOM ® PVC-O pipes are the most ecological solu- tion of all that exist on the market for the transport of pressurized water, due to their best contribu- tion to the correct sustainable de- velopment of the planet, as shown by different studies worldwide, among which we can highlight: Estimation of energy consump- tion and CO 2 emission associated with the production, use and final disposal of PVC, PEHD, PP, Found- ry and Concrete pipes (Universi- dad Politécnica Catalunya) and the PVC-O Environmental study Product Declaration TEPPFA (The European Plastics Pipes and Fit- tings Association). TOM ® PVC-O pipes present environmental ad- vantages in all phases of their life cycle, extraction of raw materials, manufacturing and use, thus be- ing the most efficient from the energy point of view. In environmental matters, Mole- cor has obtained the Environ- mental Footprint seal from the Sustainable Life Foundation that calculates the environmental footprint of its TOM ® pipes and