Hepworth PME, a leading UAE-based manufacturer and supplier of plastic pipes, fittings and accessories used for the distribution and transmission of water, wastewater and gas, says it has enhanced the competitiveness of its products by achieving recognition for its quality standards.

Established in Dubai for nearly three decades and represented by a chain of branch offices throughout the region, Hepworth PME meets the requirements of industry professionals thanks to its substantial product stocks, a company spokesman says.

Hepworth set up its modern manufacturing facility in Dubai in 1991 in response to the demand for readily available high-quality pipes and fittings. The company produces uPVC (unplasticised polyvinyl chloride), polyethylene and GRP (glass-reinforced plastic) pipes in a wide range of diameters. Production of uPVC, polyethylene and polypropylene fittings began in 1999 when the company imported injection-moulding machines.

In addition, fabrication of standard, specialised and bespoke fittings using uPVC, GRP, polypropylene and polyethylene is undertaken by the firm to provide solutions for discerning water engineers.

Hepworth PME says it was the first company of its kind in the region to achieve BS Kitemarks and ISO 9002 accreditation and is now designated as an ISO 9001/2000-accredited manufacturer. The company holds BS Kitemark licences covering 26 of its locally-manufactured products.

Hepworth is also committed to customer training at its facility in Dubai and on site covering the proper installation and use of Hepworth's range of products. Customers' technicians are instructed in the use of best-practice techniques for jointing of the various piping materials, correct installation of fittings and accessories and operation and maintenance of their systems.

On completion of the training, the technicians become certified installers of Hepworth PME products covered in the course. "The training benefits are enormous because incorrectly installed systems will fail prematurely at substantial cost to the owner or operator," the spokesman says. "This is significant where systems are installed underground or with difficult access.

In addition to the range it produces in Dubai, Hepworth represents a select group of international manufacturers, and this further enhances the scope of supply by accommodating other aspects of water and gas flow management. These products cover requirements from irrigation to fire fighting and district cooling to domestic water supply. Complete systems and individual components can be sourced from one professional outlet conveniently located to serve the needs of the specifier or contractor.

A licensing agreement between Hepworth and Uponor UK gives access to a range of gas pipeline products certified to ISO 4437 and PL2 and approved and used by Transco of the UK. Transco is solely responsible for gas distribution throughout the UK and relies on Uponor as its prime supplier of gas pipeline equipment.

Details on the entire range of quality products offered by Hepworth PME can be accessed on www.hepworthpme.com.