The new McElroy
MegaMc 1600 pipe fusion machine was picked to be the centerpiece of the company’s
display. The MegaMc 1600 is large, but versatile, according to the company. The
four-jaw machine butt-fuses high-density polyethylene pipe sizes from 20 to
65inches (500mm to 1,600mm).
Its four
independently controlled jaws each grip with a force of 30,000lb (133kN), thus
gripping and re-rounding pipes. When fusing such heavy pipe, the drag force in
play is often a point of concern, according to the company, and so the new
MegaMc packs 88,000lb (391kN) of fusion force to give the operator power in
reserve to overcome drag.
Critical
components to the fusion process – the facer and the heater – have also been
upgraded. The new facer has a stronger internal design and is 40% faster than
the previous MegaMc design. The improved speed makes the facer better at facing
heavy-wall pipes, said the company. The heater has an advanced digital heater
control that offers better temperature control, as well as an automatic
hydraulic heater stripping design that improves open and close times.
The MegaMc
1600 can be shipped on most roads in the US without a permit, said McElroy.
It has a 102inch (2.6m) width that is suitable for most flatbed trailers.
