Amiblu
Transforming Sewer and Drainage Management with GRP Pipes

For long, corrosion-sensitive pipe materials like concrete, iron and steel have dominated sewage and drainage systems. The high-maintenance pipes made of traditional materials have often failed in acidic sewer environments and caused waste management systems’ malfunctioning and breakdown. Predictably, these pipes require frequent repairs and replacements, which might lead to the expensive overhauling of the sewers that should ideally remain functional for several decades. However, the application of glass fiber reinforced plastics (GRP) in building pipelines has largely mitigated the issues with traditional sewer pipes. The GRP pipes have increasingly proven to be a superior and sustainable alternative to conventional pipes with its corrosion-resistant, long-lasting, and low maintenance qualities.

Cognizant of the efficiencies imparted by reinforced plastics, Amiblu incorporates world-class GRP technology in sewer pipes and fittings to sustainably address wastewater and sewage management challenges. The Austrian company specializes in GRP system solutions for wastewater, stormwater, drinking water, hydropower, irrigation, and industry applications, aided by Hobas Europe’s centrifugally cast pipes and Amiantit Europe’s Flowtite filament wound pipes.

The Amiblu GRP pipes are designed to handle strong acidic sewer environments. They are engineered to be long-lasting with the capability to stay operational for more than 150 years without requiring regular maintenance. Unlike unreinforced pipes, the stiff and lightweight Amiblu pipes can retain their shapes for years, possess unparalleled hydraulic flow and a low coefficient of thermal expansion, and are equipped with excellent water jetting and abrasion resistance features. The corrosion-resistant electrolytic pipes can withstand high longitudinal compressive loads during pipe jacking.

With a fully automated production process, the Amiblu GRP pipes are custom-built with specific properties to meet water and sewage facilities’ precise application and operation demands.

Additionally, Amiblu’s integrated approach to manage sewage and drainage systems solves the issue of overflowing sewer and manholes. With the Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) system, Amiblu prevents the overloading of wastewater treatment plants that risk the entry of polluted water into ecologically protected lakes and rivers. The Amiblu CSO system separates suspended solids from the wastewater and directs it to the wastewater treatment plant, simultaneously leading the treated water into designated water bodies.

The high-performance Amiblu GRP pipes have earned global praise and are approved and utilized by major water and sewage authorities across the world. For instance, the municipality of Bettembourg in Luxembourg planned to build a new stormwater overflow tank to restrict the flow to a wastewater treatment plant and provide a temporary storage for the mounting water volume. The municipality approached Amiblu to construct a new sewer located in a nature reserve to connect the overflow tank with the wastewater treatment plant. With the eco-friendly GRP pipes, Amiblu received client appreciation for successfully completing the new sewer within seven months.

In another instance, the German coastal town of Wilhelmshaven sought Amiblu’s services to renovate parts of its sewer system in preparation for expected heavy rainfall. For this project, Amiblu provided 320 metres of Flowtite GRP pipes with a unique kite-shaped interior design to withstand high water pressure. Furthermore, Amiblu supplied the pipes with ready-made connections to domestic service lines and sequentially numbered them to ensure optimal efficiency. Despite several installation obstacles, such as excessive rain and unstable soil conditions, the project remained on track and was completed on time.

Amiblu has been involved with more successful projects across numerous countries. An accredited GRP pipe testing laboratory in Norway, a robust global group of licensee partners, and an extensive network of sales and engineering offices assists Amiblu in being future-ready to take up and resolve future challenges in wastewater management. With over half a century of expertise in GRP production and innovative R&D, Amiblu looks forward to delivering top-class sewer piping solutions to clients worldwide.