Global sanitary products giant Geberit has manufactured its billionth Mapress fitting in the German town of Langenfeld, near Düsseldorf, highlighting the importance of the system and the fact that it meets almost every requirement in the areas of technical building systems, industry and shipbuilding.

Geberit Mapress is a metal piping system with press connections and a wide range of fittings, pipes and seal rings. In addition to creating a permanently leakproof connection between pipes and fittings, the pressing technology also guarantees speedy progress when it comes to installation, John Chrysochoos, UAE sales manager for Geberit, tells ABDULAZIZ KHATTAK of Gulf Construction.

The manufacture of Mapress was launched in 1969 and by the end of 2017, the total length of Mapress piping systems installed worldwide was around 790,000 km. In 2004, Geberit acquired Mapress from the Mannesmann Group as well as the plant in Langenfeld.

Available in 12 pipe dimensions between 12 and 108 mm, the Mapress product range consists of more than 20 different types of fittings and 3,500 sales products, and is manufactured in several metal types.

The carbon steel type is an economical solution used for closed circuits, and offers 400 different fittings. The stainless steel type can be used for a wide range of applications, especially in areas where hygiene is critical. It has molybdenum content of at least 2.3 per cent; and is offered in 500 different fittings.

A Mapress stainless steel fitting with O ring ... Geberit has manufactured its billionth unit.

The Mapress fitting made of copper is for drinking water, heating and gas applications. It is a robust and hygienic product material, and is offered in 450 different fittings. And the CuNiFe, made from an alloy of copper, nickel and iron, is used for applications in shipbuilding. It is resistant to salt water, and offered in 300 different fittings.

“While pressing technology was not yet widely used in the mid-1990s, the situation is quite different today; the technology is now the standard for plumbers. Nowadays, gas and water installations in technical building systems are reliably pressed, as are installations for special industrial applications,” Chrysochoos says.

He adds the billionth fitting manufactured is proof of the success of the technology that has been the standard for virtually all installation applications for generations. The reasons for this are clear: reliability, efficiency and safety.

The pressing system is also being constantly expanded today. New in the range are the maintenance-free Mapress pressing jaws, which are designed in such a way that the annual service interval is no longer required.

Geberit is also modernising its plant in Langenfeld from top to bottom in preparation for the next billion press fittings.

Geberit has supplied to several projects in the region, the latest being the Mashreq Bank headquarters in Downtown Dubai, where it provided the Mapress Stainless Steel pipes and fittings for water supply system. Mapress stainless steel pipes were used in both concealed and exposed situations. Pipes with a high pressure rating of pn16 were required from the pump room to the water supply system.

Chrysochoos says Mapress Stainless Steel was selected because it is a highly effective supply system and is easy to install with time-saving press fit jointing.

Training for the installers was conducted in Geberit’s training centre in Dubai and on site. “We are more than happy to support with thorough training for the installer. This is important to ensure proper installation,” Chrysochoos says.

He says the very high standards Geberit sets during manufacture means peace of mind for the consultant, in this case WSP.

The high molybdenum content, as an example, ensures a particularly high corrosion resistance. 

The Mapress press connection system consists of three matched components, while the pipes themselves are characterised by their carefully controlled dimensional accuracy and finish.

“Clear production requirements include complete recrystallisation of the metallurgical structure and welds, with defined surface finishes free from edge misalignment. With their unique profiled seal ring, the press connection fittings, which are subject to equally stringent quality control, form a permanently tight pipe connection and ensure quick and easy yet safe and reliable installation.

“This combined with the Geberit support on the ground with site inspections conducted by Geberit representatives, ensured installation done by electromechanical contractor Bilt ME was as per Geberit application technique,” says Chrysochoos.

Headquartered in Rapperswil-Jona, Switzerland, the Geberit Group’s production network encompasses 30 production facilities, of which 6 are located overseas.

With around 12,000 employees in around 50 countries, Geberit generated net sales of $2.9 billion in 2017.