Systems

PRE-INSULATED PLASTIC PIPE SYSTEMS

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Uponor in brief

• Net sales 2001: EUR 1.2 billion

• Sales to 100 countries worldwide
• 40 factories in 15 countries
• Number of personnel 6,000 Plumbing
and Heating

Uponor is one of the world’s leading

suppliers of pipe systems for the Utilities

construction industry and public

utilities. Building and
Environment

Uponor’s high standard,

environmentally friendly products
promote human welfare and improve
Utilities
quality of life. 2
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Ecoflex is a pioneer in flexible pre-insulated

piping systems

• Introduced in the mid-1980’s

• 20,000,000 meters installed in
thousands of projects worldwide
• Ecoflex partners are located in following
countries:
– Austria, Benelux, Bahrain, Bulgaria,
Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark,
Germany, Estonia, Finland, France,
Great Britain, Greece, Hungary, Ireland,
Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania,
Luxemburg, Netherlands, Norway,
Poland, Portugal, Rumania, Russia,
Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia,
Spain, Sweden, Turkey, Ukraine, United
Arab Emirates and the United States,
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Ecoflex history starts from 80’s

• First developed in Sweden 1983

• Production start in Finland, Nastola 1985
• Sales office for Central Europe
(Netherlands) 1986
• Entering on several European countries
1986-1993
• Production start in Germany, Marl 1993
• Ecoflex U.S.A. unit established 2000
• At 2000 Ecoflex was being distributed in
over thirty countries with a sales volume of
1,500,000 meters

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Ecoflex is not only a pipe

-it is the full system-

Robust chamber in T- or X -shape Pre-insulated Ecoflex pipe

Pipes up to 110 mm delivered

in max 200 m coils

Pipes from 110 mm to 160 mm T- and straight joint

delivered in max 12 m bars insulation sets Full range of couplings 5
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Pre-insulated pipes fit for different

applications –heating pipes

Ecoflex Thermo
• Oxygen barrier PEX pipes for heat transportation
• Carrier pipe diameters from 25 mm to 110 mm in
flexible max 200 m coils
• Maximum operation conditions 95°C /6 bar
• Available in Single and Twin

Ecoflex Ecobar
• PEX carrier pipe diameters from
125 mm to 160 mm in max 12 m long bars
• PP insulation and jacket pipe
• Flange connection system

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Pre-insulated pipes fit for different

applications –hot tapwater pipes

Ecoflex Aqua
• System approved for hot tap water
• Carrier pipe diameters from 18 mm to 63
mm in flexible max 200 m coils
• Maximum operation conditions
70°C (temporary 95°C) /10 bar
• Available in Single and Twin

Ecoflex Quattro
• Thermo and Aqua Twins combined in one
pre-insulated element in max 200 m coils
• Carrier pipe diameters max 4x40 mm
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Pre-insulated pipes fit for different

applications –Cooling and cold water
Ecoflex Supra

• Insulated cold water pipes

• Equiped with heat trace cable
to prevent freezing
• Freeze protection down to –52 °C
• Without heat trace cable for
cooling and refrigeration
• Pressure class PN16
• Sizes from 25...110 mm
• Coil length up to 300 m
• Good water quality

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Ecoflex system holds world recognized

approvals and certificates

• ISO 9001 and 14001 for Uponor /Ecoflex in Finland and in

Germany
• ISO 9001 and 14001 for Wirsbo Bruks ab
• DVGW for PEX (Germany)
• CSTB for PEX and Ecoflex system (France)
• POCC in Russia for Ecoflex system
• SVGW in Switzerland for
Ecoflex Aqua system

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Ecoflex system provides several short and

long term benefits
• Corrosion free Ecoflex pipe is made of
modern plastic materials

 Totally corrosion free structure

 Slippery inside surface of PEX carrier
pipe prevents sediment creation and
keeps up good water quality and
maximum flow ability along years
 Provides carefree operating time from
50 to 100 years
 No need for cleaning along years
 EVOH-oxygen barrier prevents oxygen
penetration into system and provides
longer operating age also for additional
components like radiators etc.

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Ecoflex system provides several short and

long term benefits

• Flexible, pre-insulated structure

makes installation easy
 Durable corrugated jacket stands up for
external impacts
 Corrugated pipe winds easily around
trees, underground obstacles and
eliminates expensive trench work
 Up to 200 m long coils enable few or
zero field joints and saves time
 Light weight makes coils easy to handle
and transport
 Pre-insulated structure guarantees
minimum heat losses even in wet
conditions and enables minimum trench
depth

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Insulated structure of Ecoflex system brings

real savings in energy costs
• Case: 750 m of Ecoflex pipe vs. plain pipe in low temperature
network
 Same ground temperature for both
• Pipe network structure (flow and return):
Diam. Length
 75/200 50 m
 63/160 50 m
 50/160 166 m
 40/160 490 m
 TOTAL 756 m
• Temperatures:
 Flow temp. 70°C
 Return temp. 40°C

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84 % LESS HEAT LOSSES WITH ECOFLEX

SYSTEM

SOIL PLAIN
ECOFLEX DIFFERENCE
MONTH TEMPERATURE PIPE
[kWh] [kWh]
[C] [kWh]
1 -5 5 894 37 088 31 194
2 -5 5 894 37 088 31 194
3 -5 5 894 37 088 31 194
4 -2 5 600 35 234 29 634
5 0 5 404 33 997 28 594
6 5 0 0 0
7 5 0 0 0
8 5 0 0 0
9 3 5 108 32 142 27 034
10 0 5 404 33 997 28 594
11 -2 5 600 35 234 29 634
12 -5 5 894 37 088 31 194
Total -0,5 50 691 318 954 268 263
• Energy loss difference 318 954 – 50 691 = 268 263 kWh
• Annual saving in energy losses with Ecoflex for 750 m line:
268 263 kWh x 0,067 EUR/kWh = 17 973 EUR
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Need of total money invested is lower with

Ecoflex
Installation of ~150 m of pipes with all needed components
Material Labor [10$/h]
20 000

15 000

$ 10 000

5 000

0
Ecoflex Steel
• Installation time is only 10% of the time needed with traditional
systems 14
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Several benefits provide long term cost efficiency

• Corrosion free Ecoflex system with operating age up from 50 years,

minimum heatlosses and low maintaining costs provide long term
savings when compared to traditional materials

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Ecoflex and Wirsbo were chosen to the world’s first

large-scale, all-PEX piping network

• World bank project in Bucharest, Romania

• 120 km of outworn piping infrastructure to be replaced
with Ecoflex
• Pre-insulated Ecoflex PEX and HDPE up to 110 mm
with flexible pipes and up to 160 mm with bar pipes
• Transport of potable water to 2,400,000 citizens

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Other major projects

• 100 km of District Cooling in Abu Dhabi

• Central Cooling for a Four Season Hotel and Resort in Costa Rica
• Bungelow Parc in the Netherlands
• District Heating Project on Elba in Italy

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Why Ecoflex?

• Uponor Ecoflex is able to release needed resources for

large scale projects
– Product training
– Installation training
– Project follow up and assistance
• Local, well trained, partner
• Guarantee of delivery ability
• Latest innovations of plastic systems in use
• Top quality in the world

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