ROXTEC will feature plastic pipes and the change from welded method of sealing metal pipes to the use of modular seals. These new solutions were chosen for the cruise liner ‘Freedom of the Seas’ – the first ship in a series of three of its type ordered by the Royal Caribbean International and built by Aker Finnyards in Turku, Finland and due for delivery in Spring 2006. A common-known issue on larger cruise ships is the wear down of metal pipes over time and eventually the inconvenience of replacing old ones and installing new. To address this problem and in order to find a better solution, Aker Finnyards made test installations in 2002 onboard their Voyager series. Roxtec multidiameter seals came out a winner.

The use of plastic pipes is increasing in shipbuilding. The advantages are obvious compared to metal pipes: better resistance against corrosion and less weight, just to mention a couple. Plastic pipes are common onboard the Freedom of the Seas, in particular for fresh water and waste water systems onboard, as well as for cooling in the HVAC. Roxtec is following suit with the development of the new Roxtec PPS plastic pipe seal. This enables customers to use plastic pipes in the fire rated decks and bulkheads. It also allows installations to be made in a very similar way to metal pipes.

Roxtec will also be showing multi diameter cable and pipe transit systems – these are of use to all marine and both onshore and offshore oil and gas applications; there are also applications within telecoms, industrial, petrochem, pharmaceutical and process plants.

Roxtec exhibits will be of particular interest to delegates attending the ICMES, INEC, Commercial Shipping, Offhsore Oila nd Gas, ATUV; and MAREC streams of WMTC 2006. Further information from www.roxtec.com and info@se.roxtec.com