F.W. Webb: Your Partner for HDPE Fusion Equipment and Services

An increasing number of contractors across various industries are discovering the benefits of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) piping. HDPE is a cost-effective, easy-to-install, and versatile piping material for any underground utility application—from communications, electrical, and geothermal to sewer and domestic water. HDPE can cost 40 percent less than other various piping options for communications, electrical, or geothermal applications and lasts a lifetime.

For those unfamiliar with HDPE, the installation process differs from other materials like ductile iron, but is less disruptive by limiting the need for extensive site excavation. For guidance on the unique HDPE installation process, the knowledgeable F.W. Webb team is ready to help.

F.W. Webb’s Water Works division not only supplies all sizes and lengths of HDPE piping and accessories, but also lends a full-service hand through the entire installation process. From sales and rentals to equipment certifications and repairs, F.W. Webb works with partners like McElroy to offer the fusion equipment that melds each HDPE pipe length together, creating leak-free seams.

“McElroy is the leading choice for fusion equipment when a customer chooses HDPE,” says Rory Budds, Director of Water Works for F.W. Webb Company. “We’re thrilled to be a certified McElroy dealer and rental distributor, and we’ve quickly become a leader for McElroy training and service.”

Using the McElroy line of tools, HDPE is fused above ground and can be placed via trenchless installations, reducing traffic and other disruptions. HDPE’s fused joints are also more cost-effective than restrained joints for traditional materials.

Through the end-to-end approach offered by F.W. Webb’s Water Works team, contractors can receive pre-project guidance, all the necessary materials, and fusion equipment training and maintenance from one trusted partner—saving valuable time and effort trying to identify separate partners for each part of a project.

In one recent example, F.W. Webb’s team provided efficient, complete project support for HDPE installation at BETA Technologies’ electric plane manufacturing plant in South Burlington, VT.

Along with supplying 272 HDPE loops and more than 28,000 linear feet of HDPE pipe, F.W. Webb trained contractors to use McElroy’s fusion equipment to connect 300 geothermal wells to the facility.

The F.W. Webb Water Works team can evaluate project plans and inform contractors about the HDPE piping, fittings, accessories, and tools needed for the job. The full-service guidance removes any guesswork a contractor might face in determining the correct materials for a given project.

Components for HDPE piping and Water Works projects are available at more than 100 convenient F.W. Webb locations across the Northeast, with 15 locations dedicated to stocking pipe, accessories, fittings, and other Water Works products.

Additionally, F.W. Webb’s in-house staff offers training for the HDPE fusion process. F.W. Webb’s certified trainers provide two types of training sessions: contractors can either visit the company’s Fusion Training Center in Springfield, MA, or receive training on the job site. The training culminates in McElroy-backed certifications.

Once McElroy training is complete, F.W. Webb provides equipment maintenance and repairs for the full line of McElroy machines, including the TracStar series, which features the 900i. This fusion machine can be controlled remotely and maneuvered across uneven terrain to help install HDPE pipe up to 36” in diameter.

“Because of our partnership with McElroy, our customers don’t have to waste time searching for the right parts or a mechanic; they can simply bring the tools to us and be confident the equipment will be repaired to the highest standard set by the manufacturer,” says Budds. “It’s part of our commitment to our customers to understand their needs and craft solutions for every stage of their projects from start to finish.”

To learn more about HDPE installation and F.W. Webb’s partnership with McElroy and other industry-leading brands, visit fwwebb.com/waterworks.

Evan Heidenrich is a Subject Matter Expert for F.W. Webb Company.