Manufactured from high-grade thermoplastic, casing spacer and centraliser products by kwik-ZIP® help contractors to comply with the numerous regulations that require casing centralisers or pipe spacers (also known as slippers or spiders), including wastewater and sewerage codes, and well construction standards.

kwik-ZIP spacers have no metal parts, and have high flexural strength, high temperature resistance, low co-efficient of friction, abrasion resistance, and outstanding chemical resistance. All kwik-ZIP spacers are designed to meet the requirements of Water Services Association of Australia (WSAA) Product Specification 324 (Casing Spacers).

Available in various product series (HDXT, HDX, HD, GT and 155), each series is available with varying bow or runner heights, making these highly flexible products suitable for use across a range of different industry sectors, and providing flexibility to deal with different project requirements and alterations.

Designed to last, expertly manufactured and compliant across guidelines, the HD series can adapt to a range of onsite scenarios. It is designed for trenchless and cased crossings, slip lining, gravel-packed well screens, pump torque arrestors, water well casing, coal-seam methane casing, pump riser/submersible pump installation, and piling.

Coming in four sizes, the HD series can be used for both vertical and horizontal applications. With unique features, including a curved bow spring that boasts a superior centralising force, no special tools are required to assemble the HD series casing spacers.

Similarly, kwik-ZIP’s HDX and HDXT series spacers are designed for use on medium-weight to heavyweight pipes in cased crossings.

The spacers can be utilised on a wide range of pipe material – including, but not limited to, steel, ductile iron concrete-lined, high-density polyethylene, concrete, and mild steel cement-lined carrier pipes – minimising running friction between the carrier pipe and the casing during installation.

The HDX comes in four runner heights, while the HDXT come in six runner heights, which provides pipeline installers with the ability to handle a broad range of carrier pipe outside diameter and casing (host pipe) inside diameter combinations, and customise pipe position for grade control or ‘centring’.

The kwik-ROLLER is a non-metallic roller assembly designed to be used with kwik-ZIP HDXT-58W and HDXT-78W casing spacer models to provide an alternative spacer solution to long-run slip-lining installations where the reduction of any sliding friction is critical.

The HDX/HDXT series casing spacer is compatible with all types of pipe material, minimising running friction during installation, and stations the pipe to promote even grout cover. If the pipe is not to be grouted, the HDX/HDXT will support and isolate the carrier pipe, plus its contents, for the design life of the installation.

The HD, HDX and HDXT models have been approved as compliant by the WSAA against WSAA Product Specification 324 (Casing Spacers).

kwik-ZIP products are also approved for use within many utilities’ infrastructure, including Melbourne Retail Water Agencies, South-East Queensland’s Infrastructure and Materials list, Sydney Water, and the Western Australian Water Corporation. All products are certified by the Australian Water Quality Centre for use in contact with drinking water.

As a member of the Australian Water Association, kwik-ZIP is also affiliated with Water Industry Operators Association of Australia, American Water Works Association, US National Groundwater Association, the Australasian Society for Trenchless Technology, and The Australasian Corrosion Association. kwik-ZIP is also a QMS ISO 9001–certified organisation.

kwik-ZIP has established distributors in Australia, New Zealand, the United States and Great Britain. It operates from its head office in Perth, and maintains warehouse facilities in Sydney, Texas and the United Kingdom.

Case study: Cairns Water Security Project

kwik-ZIP HDXT 103 and HDXT 63s were installed to facilitate the slip-lining of several crossings as part of the Cairns Water Security Project. Two 61-metre runs and one 40-metre run was installed as part of this project.

Stage 1 of the Cairns Water Security project’s goal is to secure ample drinking water supply for many years to come. Stage one of the project involves the construction of a water intake at the Mulgrave River, near the Desmond Trannore Bridge in Gordonvale; a water treatment plant and water reservoirs on council land; and a network of pipes to take raw water to the treatment plant, and treated water from the plant to residents.

Once operational, the project is expected to provide approximately 6.4 gigalitres of extra water to the region each year, which is a quarter of Cairns’s current annual use. The $472-million project is jointly funded by the Australian and Queensland governments and delivered in partnership with Cairns Regional Council.

kwik-ZIP’s large range of spacers caters for a wide range of ID/OD combinations, as well as providing flexibility to deal with project alterations.

Integrated rubber grip pads under collars prevent slippage. kwik-ZIP spacers’ load-sharing suspension system allows heavy loads to be shared across multiple runners, reducing point loading and increasing the overall load capacity of the spacer.

The simple and efficient installation process does not require any special tools, nor is there any requirement to pre-wrap pipe.