Polymers in pipeline stopping solutions from Sarco Stopper Limited

Sarco Stopper Ltd, an SPRA Corporate Member based in Broxburn, West Lothian, is finding that its range of inflatable pipeline stoppers is in demand in an expanding number of industrial sectors world-wide, including water, oil and gas, food processing and drainage. The company, which can trace its origins back to 1877, has been manufacturing inflatable pipeline stopping systems for almost 40 years.

The pipe stoppers make novel use of traditional latex dipping and coating techniques, using natural rubber and polychloroprene, combined with the latest textile technology. Sarco Stopper also supplies the complete system for the pipe stopping operation, including connectors, saddles, valves, tubing, by-pass systems, spark resistant tools and computer control.

For the oil and gas industry, for both polyethylene and ferrous pipes, the standard range suits pipe diameters from 25 to 2400 mm. Complete systems are available for isolating sections for pipe inspection. Special pipe stoppers incorporating flame shield materials have been developed for pipe welding operations. Bags are also designed for operating at elevated temperatures.

Aquastop is a simple low cost solution for the water distribution sector, enabling water mains repair, maintenance and renovation with minimal disruption to the customer. An inflatable bag is inserted through a small diameter hole in the mains and inflated using mains water pressure and a specially design pressurisation unit. The latest version, Aquastop II, has improved bag material and further simplification of the by-pass equipment. There is a special range of bagging off systems for water hydrants.

In the food industry pipe stoppers are used to block ducts during cleaning operations to avoid vapour getting into dust collectors.

In addition to the extensive range of standard bags, Sarco Stopper take pride in bespoke manufacture to solve flow stopping problems not covered by their normal range.