Each year, National Manufacturing Day is held on the first Friday in October, with events throughout the month to celebrate the manufacturers who make the products that keep us safe, enrich our lives, strengthen our economic and national security, and provide countless opportunities for our communities and workforce. It is also an opportunity to show students, parents, and the public what modern manufacturing is all about.
The waterworks and water utility industry were not spared from the shortages of finished products essential to maintaining and expanding drinking water systems nationwide. However, much progress has been made in recent months to improve this situation. This updated Iron Strong Blog of a content piece first posted on March 23, 2023, will discuss McWane Ductile’s current delivery and inventory position to the waterworks community and will correct the persisting misconception that Ductile iron pipe products are currently unattainable.
Did you know October 14 is World Standards Day? At McWane Ductile, standards matter—because they matter to everyday life. International standards play a critical role in consumer safety, environmental protection, technological advancement, and economic growth.
In this #IronStrong blog, we explore why standardization is essential for manufacturing Ductile Iron (DI) products and what it means for the people and communities that rely on them. With insights from Hal Eddings, Technical Director at McWane Ductile, and Jeremy Stewart, Quality Assurance Manager at McWane Ductile–Utah, the discussion highlights how rigorous standards help ensure quality, reliability, and long-term performance for consumers.
Jerry, Sept 24, 2022; I'm sitting on the beach near the northern tip of Captiva Island, Florida. I’m on vacation with my wife, enjoying the warm sun, dolphins playing, and birds feeding as if there was no care in the world. Admittedly, most people in the area were already aware of the tropical storm developing in the Caribbean Sea and wondered, will the storm become a hurricane?
In regions prone to seismic activity, the resilience of critical infrastructure plays a pivotal role in public safety. Among essential systems, water distribution networks are particularly vulnerable during catastrophic earthquakes, where ground movement and soil liquefaction can cause widespread pipe failure. Ductile iron pipe (DI pipe), however, has emerged as a highly reliable material due to its superior properties, joint flexibility, and proven performance in past seismic events. This #IronStrong Blog examines how the unique design and strength characteristics of DI pipes contribute to their remarkable ability to withstand the intense stresses of major earthquakes, ensuring continuity of service when it is needed most.
Is every piece of Ductile iron pipe (DI pipe) round? The short answer is no, but most of the time, a piece of pipe may be so slightly oval that it is not even noticeable to the end user. In fact, the way pipe is manufactured today, out-of-round issues are rarely a concern. At our foundries, there are quality assurance procedures in place that help safeguard this from occurring. However, there are occasions when you may encounter a piece of pipe in the field, typically on a field cut, that is too oval to facilitate an easy assembly. This #IronStrong Blog provides step-by-step instructions on how to round an oval ductile iron pipe using a field rounding kit.
Jimmy texts Bill, "I can't get into the virtual meeting." Bill replies, "You need to click on the link I sent you." Jimmy responds, "Where is the link?" A frustrated Bill answers, "In the email about the meeting." A confused Jimmy asks, "On my computer? Bill answers again, "Yes! Is your computer on?" Jimmy fumbles to turn on his computer and texts Bill again, "OK, it is now. How do I get to the meeting?" Does this situation sound familiar to you? Have you ever explained something to someone only to realize that they knew less about the subject than you had previously assumed? In this episode of Iron Strong, we'll cover how to use an OD (Outside Diameter) Tape when measuring Ductile iron pipe.
Welcome to our Halloween edition of #IronStrong," where we’ve compiled the spooky challenges haunting construction builders and pipeline contractors. From tricky terrain to mysterious leaks and unforeseen obstacles, we’re here to illuminate the “scary” aspects of water pipeline installations that can send chills down a project manager's spine.
See the “Ditch Doctor” advice column and a link to our blog, “Exorcising Restraint." We dissect a few daunting issues and present real-world solutions and insights to help brave contractors turn their nightmares into success stories. Grab your flashlight (and tools) as we guide you through the shadows, ensuring your next project is well-prepared to face any “frightening” twist that may lie ahead.
Misleading information has recently circulated regarding the availability of TR Flex® restrained joint pipe and fittings, creating a flurry of questions and uncertainty for engineers and utilities about its service performance and integrity. How can an engineer design a project without knowing the facts? After reviewing the information in this #IronStrong Blog, one can better understand future expectations.
The question will come up to everyone sometime in their young lives. What do you want to do when you grow up? What a loaded question! Everyone wants job security, and it's one of the great things about the waterworks industry. This industry will never go away, becoming more critical every year. Whether you work for a Manufacturer, Distributor, Contractor, Engineer, or Municipality, there are thousands of jobs and endless possibilities for current and future work. And with an aging generation in the waterworks industry, the near future for young professionals is more promising than ever.
In a continuous effort to make your job easier, we have developed an online submittal builder to quickly and neatly package your personalized presentation.
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Looking for answers to your DI pipe questions? Find decades of Ductile iron expertise with installation guides, videos, tip sheets, training resources, and more in our Learning Center.
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Stop struggling with those hard-to-figure field calculations and put ease and efficiency right at your fingertips with our Pocket Engineer for mobile and desktop devices.
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