Note From The Editor
Greetings Discerning Readers,

I lean over the rail of the cruise ship Ecstasy and regret the decision to pass on the Dramamine.  I’m staring into the cool, blue, ocean water when a dolphin leaps out of the Gulf and eyes me with one of those smart-ass dolphin grins.  The ship is sailing for Cozumel Mexico and the coming debarkation will include almost three hundred PE Fusion Experts who will pour onto the Island’s white, sandy, shores disguised as tourists who all called each other and decided to wear the same blue shirt.

We would soon be a small army of McElroy folk.  The locals would have no idea they were being invaded by a force who could easily answer any question about PE or Butt Fusion. 

The Gulf passage is hosted by McElroy who commandeered the cruise for our 25th annual Distributor Management Conference (DMC).  McElroy’s guests are in the middle of a four day celebration at sea and being honored for their achievements in propelling McElroy through a thirty month growth period that is greater than the growth of the company over the last thirty years. 

Water is a big topic among these people.  They are seeing adoption of polyethylene into the water industry at a pace that is making everyone excited.  Some of them feel it is the major contributor to the growth of their companies.  Incidentally, almost every McElroy distributor reports strong growth.  The general consensus among many of them is that a lot of cities now have a polyethylene water project under their belt and are in the process of doing major municipal infrastructure rehabilitation thanks to the new funds becoming available from the clean water state revolving fund.  The tipping point is happening, and the bottom line for everyone involved with polyethylene is promising.

My tipping point is about to happen while leaning over this cruise ship rail.  I look sideways at the dolphin while he performs his twentieth-something leap into the air that looks much like the one before.  Not very showy like the famous Flipper who could do back-flips and go backward across the top of the water on his tail.  But that is the way it always happens.  The first onto the scene have to perform back-flips to get noticed.  Like this group of distributors, many are the pioneers of polyethylene; the people that showed the piping industry all of the wonderful things that polyethylene could do.  The dolphin is still grinning and now doing a sideways, somewhat fancy twist in the air turning his belly to the side of the ship in midair before plunging back into the drink.  He’s riding the wave.  The sailing looks good ahead.

Squeezing off polyethylene (PE) pipe to stop flow is nothing new to the Natural Gas Industry.  The industry has been utilizing the procedure for over 20 years to control the flow of gas in their lines.  Now larger gas producers like XTO Energy are looking at the technology to help them become more efficient in their larger diameter pipe operations.  The added environmental benefits of the procedure are also winning accolades from the industry and the result for companies like XTO is a bottom line that is the same color as the pipe – black. 

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Advances in drinking water transfer systems, as well as sewage and drainage systems, are expected to drive the plastic pipe market’s global expansion, according to a PR Web press release on the new report.

HDPE pipe is a segment that is growing at a faster pace than others in potable water piping systems due to its joint integrity, flexibility, trench-laying capability and sturdiness, the release said.

PVC pipe represents the largest market segment, estimated at about 13.2 billion feet in 2007. Polyethylene (PE) pipe is the second largest segment, with sales expected to reach 7.5 billion feet by 2010.

Wednesday, October 24, 2007

AWWA recently published the manual of practice M55:Design and Installation of Polyethylene Pipe.  Join this webcast to hear authors of the manual, including Jim Craig of McElroy present information on maintenance and repairs, as well as handling (transportation, installation), hydrostatic testing and commissioning of this type of pipe. Read more about and register for this webcast.

Asia faces huge environmental costs due to lack of investment in sanitation, ADB says
MANILA, Philippines -- Asia is faced with a huge bill to clean up its polluted rivers and groundwater because it has not invested enough in infrastructure for...
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Beneath devastated New Orleans, water system crumbles
NEW ORLEANS -- Deep underground, an unseen crisis is threatening New Orleans' already troubled recovery. The city's 3,200-mile system of water and sewer lines...
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El Paso desalination plant opens with high expectations
EL PASO, Texas -- A desalination plant officials say is the world's largest outside a coastal area and is expected to supply this desert city with water for 50 years...
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Scientists to study Allegheny River fish for toxins
PITTSBURGH -- Researchers plan to study fish taken from the Allegheny River for contaminants in the water. A team led by scientists from the University of...
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Aquafina labels soon to spell out water comes from same place as tap water
NEW YORK -- So you thought the water in your Aquafina bottle came from some far-away spring bubbling deep in a glen? Try the same place as the water in your...
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Michigan Supreme Court narrows landmark environmental protection law
LANSING, Mich. -- The Michigan Supreme Court has put limits on a long-standing state law that allows Michigan citizens to sue over drilling, dredging and...
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The McElroy Image Library has recently been expanded to include a large collection of photographs including McElroy fusion equipment in action and general construction photos of polyethylene construction sites from around the country.  If you are in need of photo art for your website or printed materials, be sure to browse these photographs. Click here!

Now, when you register McElroy equipment, on behalf of your customers, you are giving them a gift of up to $600.

To help introduce the new 2007 curriculum of McElroy University Classes and Certification Options, McElroy is offering free or half-price classes (a discount of $600 or $300) for your customers that purchase a McElroy Fusion Machine.

Your customers that purchase a hydraulic machine from a 28 series or larger, will receive a class of their choosing for free (i.e. a $600 discount). Your customers that purchase a manual machine size No.14 and below will receive 50% off a class of their choosing (i.e. a discount of $300).

Please note: the discount only applies to class tuition. Those opting for any certification will still be responsible for the $150 testing fee.

Eligibility
To receive the discount:

1. The machine must be purchased after 1/1/2007
2. The distributor must register the machine with McElroy via the product registration section on the McElroy Distributor Website
3. Upon proper registration, a letter will be sent to the contact person listed on the registration with a discount code specific to each machine registered (codes can only be used for one time)
4. During registration, your customer will need to enter the discount code, model number, and serial number of the machine for verification
5. Customers will initially be charged for the full price of the class but upon verfication, their account will be credited with the appropriate discount
6. All other rules and guidelines for McElroy University (such as cancellation policy) will still apply
7. This promotion is offered on a limited time basis and can be cancelled at any time