RPC Pipe Systems, in Lonsdale, Adelaide, has recently landed a $22 million contract to supply GRP pressure pipe and fittings for the Central Plains Water Stage 2 Irrigation Project on the South Island of New Zealand. It is RPC Pipe Systems’ largest ever export pipe order.

The contract involves supplying approximately 23km of DN1600 (1.6 metre diameter) to DN2500 (2.5 metre diameter) of GRP high pressure pipe and fittings.

National Sales Manager, Darren Gibbons said; “It’s a great win for us and for Australian manufacturing generally. RPC Pipe Systems overall engineering expertise, quality of manufacture and proximity to NZ were significant factors in winning the contract.”

RPC will be delivering the pipes, the largest diameter ever used in a New Zealand irrigation scheme, under a phased delivery program throughout the first half of 2017, with the objective of completing the construction development by 1 September 2018. “RPC Pipe Systems is delighted with this contract and it’s a great demonstration of the strength of SA’s water industry and its capacity to win substantial export orders,” Mr Gibbons said.

The irrigation scheme will service 20,000ha of farmland in addition to the 24,000ha covered by Stage 1. The NZ Government says that in addition to boosting agricultural production, the Central Plains Water Scheme delivers significant environmental benefits, replacing groundwater extraction with water naturally originating from the mountain ranges.

Flowtite® GRP pipe and fittings are designed and engineered for water infrastructure, irrigation and environmental management applications, particularly where performance, strength and long-term asset value are essential.

“RPC has the engineering and manufacturing know-how, expertise and experience to meet the most complex of project demands. Our Lonsdale facility is equipped with the most advanced GRP pipe technologies, capabilities and operational synergies available to deliver superior quality and outcomes to clients.

We have the advantages of local manufacture, scale and influence across the supply chain to provide the flexibility, speed-of-delivery and responsive service support that importers are not able to match. It’s these attributes which has made a significant contribution to this important partnership with the NZ Government”, Mr Gibbons said.