Fusible Piping Solutions
Take advantage of Core & Main’s one-stop shop for all of your fusible piping needs.
As one of the largest nationwide distributors of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) pipe, we supply the most complete line of products including molded fittings, fabricated fittings, electrofusion fittings, transitions, valves and custom fabrication. Count on us to provide our dependable expertise for every stage of your project, from design through installation. We also offer butt and electrofusion machine sales, rentals, parts, and repairs, and our certified professionals are available to provide training at our facilities or at your site.
Pipe
Core & Main is one of the nation’s largest distributors of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) pipe.
Polyethylene pipe is tough, durable, flexible, corrosion free and chemical resistant. Its unique properties allow for it to be used in a broad range of applications including municipal, industrial, landfill, geothermal, mining, and more.
Features and Benefits of Polyethylene Pipe: (clips pulled from Plastic Pipe Institute)
- Life Cycle Cost Savings: The smooth inside surface of PE pipe maintains its flow characteristics, and feat fusion joining eliminates leakage.
- Leak Free, Fully Restrained Joints: PE heat fusion joining forms leak-free joints that are as strong as, or stronger than, the pipe itself.
- Corrosion & Chemical Resistance: PE pipe will not rust, rot, pit, corrode, tuberculate or support biological growth. It has excellent chemical resistance and is the material of choice for many harsh chemical environments.
- Fatigue Resistance and Flexibility: PE pipe can be field bent to a radius of about 30 times the nominal pipe diameter or less depending on wall thickness (12” PE pipe, for example, can be cold formed in the field to a 32’ radius). This eliminates many of the fittings otherwise required for directional changes in piping systems.
- Seismic Resistance: The toughness, ductility and flexibility of PE pipe combined with its other special properties, such as its leak-free fully restrained heat fuse joints, make it well suited for installation in dynamic soil environments and in areas prone to earthquakes.
- Construction Advantages: PE pipe’s combination of light weight, flexibility and leak-free, fully restrained joints permits unique and cost-effective installation methods that are not practical with alternate materials. Installation methods such as horizontal directional drilling, pipe bursting, sliplining, plow and plant, and submerged or floating pipe, can greatly simplify construction and save considerable time and money on many installations.
- Durability: PE Pipe installations are cost-effective and have long-term cost advantages due to the pipe’s physical properties, leak-free joints and reduced maintenance costs. The PE pipe industry estimates a service life for PE pipe to be, conservatively, 50-100 years provided that the system has been properly designed, installed and operated in accordance with industry established practice and the manufacture’s recommendations.
- Hydraulically Efficient: The internal surface of PE pipe is devoid of any roughness which places it in the “smooth pipe” category, a category that results in the lowest resistance to fluid flow. For water applications, PE pipe’s Hazen Williams C factor is 150 and does not change over time.
- Temperature Resistance: PE pipe’s typical operating temperature range is from 0°F to 140°F for pressure service. However, for non-pressure and special applications the material can easily handle much lower temperatures (e.g., to - 40°F and lower) and there are specially formulated materials that can service somewhat higher temperatures.
Fittings & Fabrication
Core & Main offers a variety of molded and fabricated fittings as well as a complete line of valves to service all of your polyethylene needs.
- Butt Fusion - Molded butt fusion fittings available up to 12”. Molded butt fusion fittings are molded from pre-blended virgin resins in accordance with the material specification listed in ASTM D1248 . Molded elbows, tees, reducers, caps, MJ Adapters, and more.
- Electrofusion - A complete range of electrofusion fittings available, from elbows, couplings, and flex restraints to end caps and saddle tees.
- Socket Fusion - Socket fusion fittings available from ½” – 4”. Just a sampling of these fittings include elbows, couples, end caps, reducers, and tees.
- Saddle Fusion - We offer a variety of main and outlet sizes of branch saddles, tapping saddles, and tapping tees.
- Valves - Any size ball valves, resilient wedge gate valves, butterfly valves, pinch valves, check valves and knife gate valves to meet your needs.
- Transitions - We offer a wide variety of fittings for transitioning to all types of pipe.
Custom Fabrication
We have the ability to provide many in-house fabrication services:
- Standard fabricated elbows, Tees & end caps, fabricated and tested to AWWA C906 standards.
- Fabricated Wyes & Clean outs
- Custom headers and piping
- Manholes, valve vaults, HDPE sheet stock butt fusion.
- Dual contained pipe & fittings
- Perforated pipe
- Wall anchors & water stops
- CNC Router
Read this HDPE case study highlighting the Core & Main team
in action on a job site in Rochester, New York.
Equipment Rental & Sales
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We offer for sale and rent the finest quality fusion equipment in the industry to assure your projects are completed to the highest standards. Whether you need equipment for butt fusion, socket fusion, electrofusion, sidewall fusion, internal or external bead removal, extrusion welders, generators or any accessories or tools, we can help. From as small as ½” up to 65”, no job is too small or too large for us to handle.
SIDEWINDER®
The McElroy® Sidewinder® Fusion Machines give you the ability to saddle fuse 4’’ IPS and smaller branch saddles, tapping tees and service saddle fittings onto 1¼’’ IPS and larger main sizes. The Sidewinder® comes in two configurations: the Jaw Clamp and Chain Clamp. The Jaw Clamp Sidewinder™ is used for fusing branch saddles, tapping tees and service saddle fittings onto 1¼’’ to 4’’ IPS main sizes. The Chain Clamp Sidewinder™ gives you the ability to fuse onto main sizes larger than 4” IPS. Both Sidewinders® are DataLogger® compatible.
2LC
The 2LC will butt fuse ½’’ CTS to 2’’ IPS (16mm to 60mm) pipe. It employs a semi-automatic locking cam (LC) system to maintain force during the cooling cycle. The 2LC incorporates McElroy® patented Centerline Guidance System, and is designed to butt fuse tees, ells, and other fittings.
14 PITBULL®
The McElroy Pit Bull® 14 fuses 1” IPS to 4” DIPS (32mm to 110mm) pipe. It is a compact, lightweight, highly reliable and rugged machine. The machine incorporates McElroy’s patented Centerline Guidance System, and is designed to butt fuse tees, ells, and other fittings with consistent high-quality results. The machine’s semi–automatic locking cam system maintains force during the cooling cycle.
26 PITBULL®
The Pit Bull® 26 fuses pipe sizes from 2” IPS to 6” DIPS and 63mm to 180mm. Both models come standard with a 6” IPS insert set. The 26 offers McElroy’s patented Centerline Guidance System, a semi-automatic locking cam system that maintains force during the cooling cycle, and the ability to fit on the Manual Fusion Stand accessory.
28 ROLLING
The McElroy® 28 fusion machines will butt fuse pipe sizes from 2” IPS - 8” DIPS (63mm - 225mm). Rolling machines incorporate the interchangeable 28 four-jaw carriage, which can be easily removed for in-ditch fusion. For tight installations, the outer fixed jaw and skid can be removed from the carriage converting it to a 3-jaw carriage for an even more compact fusion unit. The Rolling 28 has staked its claim as the industry standard for more than 30 years. Its ease of use and rugged quality construction opened the door for the most extensive line of 8-inch fusion machines on the market.
28 TRACSTAR®
The McElroy® 28 fusion machines will butt fuse pipe sizes from 2” IPS - 8” DIPS (63mm - 225mm). For tight installations, the outer fixed jaw and skid can be removed from the carriage converting it to a 3-jaw carriage for a more compact fusion unit. The TracStar® 28 offers a self-contained, self-propelled track mounted vehicle that can handle grades up to 30%. It is the number one choice on the jobsite for its ease of maneuverability and productivity gains.
412 ROLLING
McElroy® 412 line of fusion machines will butt fuse pipe sizes from 4” IPS to 12” DIPS (110mm to 340mm). The Rolling 412 changed the industry when introduced as the first fully self-contained fusion machine in the world. These Rolling machines incorporate the interchangeable 412 4-jaw carriage, which can be easily removed for in-ditch fusion. For tight installations, the outer fixed jaw and skid can be removed from the carriage converting it to a 3-jaw carriage for an even more compact fusion unit. These machines can fabricate segmented ells with optional mitered inserts and are DataLogger® compatible.
412 TRACSTAR®
McElroy’s 412 line of fusion machines will butt fuse pipe sizes from 4” IPS to 12” DIPS (110mm to 340mm). The TracStar® 412 added all-terrain mobility to the unit setting a new industry standard. TracStar® machines incorporate the interchangeable 412 4-jaw carriage, which can be easily removed for in-ditch fusion. For tight installations, the outer fixed jaw and skid can be removed from the carriage converting it to a 3-jaw carriage for an even more compact fusion unit. These machines can fabricate segmented ells with optional mitered inserts and are DataLogger® compatible.
618 ROLLING
McElroy’s 618 line of fusion machines will butt fuse pipe sizes from 6” IPS to 18” OD (180mm to 450mm). One of our best sellers, the Rolling 618 bridges the gap between small and large diameter pipe fusion. All units incorporate the interchangeable 618 four-jaw carriage, which can be easily removed for in-ditch fusion. For tight installations, the outer fixed jaw and skid can be removed from the carriage converting it to a 3-jaw carriage for an even more compact fusion unit. These machines can fabricate segmented ells with optional mitered inserts and are DataLogger® compatible.
618 TRACSTAR®
McElroy® 618 line of fusion machines will butt fuse pipe sizes from 6” IPS to 18” OD (180mm to 450mm). The TracStar® 618 offers a self-contained, self-propelled, track-mounted vehicle that can handle grades up to 30%. It is the number one choice on the jobsite for its ease of maneuverability and productivity gains. All units incorporate the interchangeable 618 four-jaw carriage, which can be easily removed for in-ditch fusion. For tight installations, the outer fixed jaw and skid can be removed from the carriage converting it to a 3-jaw carriage for an even more compact fusion unit. These machines can fabricate segmented ells with optional mitered inserts and are DataLogger® compatible.
1236 ROLLING
The MegaMc® 1236 will butt fuse pipe sizes from 12” IPS to 36” OD (340mm to 900mm). Above ground or in the ditch, these all new machines bring the flexibility of the smaller machines to MegaMc® large-diameter fusion. These fusion machines have all the advantages of their predecessors with additional features for in-ditch, close-quarter work. The carriage has 4-jaws with a removable 3-jaw carriage and is capable of top loading the heater and facer to maximize functionality within limited space.
T900
The TracStar® 900 will butt fuse pipe sizes from 12” IPS to 36” OD (340mm to 900mm). Above ground or in the ditch, these all new machines bring the flexibility of the smaller machines to MegaMc™ large-diameter fusion. These fusion machines have all the advantages of their predecessors with additional features for in-ditch, close-quarter work. The carriage has 4-jaws with a removable 3-jaw carriage and is capable of top loading the heater and facer to maximize functionality within limited space. The TracStar® 900 is mounted on independently controlled, self propelled tracks and features a wireless remote driving control.
1648 ROLLING
The MegaMc® 1648 Machine will butt fuse pipe sizes from 16” OD to 48” OD (450mm to 1200mm). It was designed to serve the large diameter needs of the water and sewer industry. Growth in the water industry has fueled the demand for the 1648. The machine allows for butt fusion of most fittings without special holders or removal of the outer jaw. Mitered inserts are available for fabricating ells. McElroy® unique semi–automatic control system requires only one operator. Hydraulic power assists all fusion functions including the complete operation of the jaws, pipe lifts, heater and facer.
1600 ROLLING
The McElroy® 1600 machine will butt fuse pipe sizes from 20” OD to 65” OD (500mm to 1600mm). It carriage has 4 jaws to tackle large pipe jobs, with 30,000 lbs of clamping force per jaw for improved gripping and rerounding of pipe. With 88,000 lbs. of fusion force, operators will find they have extra force in reserve to overcome drag. The 1600 boasts a road-approved 102" width, extendable hydraulic outriggers/levelers for stabilization and an improved facer design that is 40% faster. Hydraulic power assists all fusion functions including complete operation of the jaws, pipe lifts, heater and facer.
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DATALOGGER®
The McElroy® DataLogger® is used to record and document key parameters of the fusion process. This cost-effective device can be used to verify that proper fusion procedures have been followed prior to installation. The DataLogger® unit consists of a rugged handheld computer that serves as the recording device connected to a data collection device that records the heater temperature and fusion pressure profile over time. All data is recorded and transmitted to the handheld computer where the joint report can be stored, viewed, printed or transferred to a desktop computer for archiving.
Services & Repairs
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Factory Certified Field Service Techs are available to provide fusion services for all your HDPE project needs.
- Butt Fusion
- Electrofusion
- Extrusion Welding
- Saddle Fusion
- Socket Fusion
Contact Core & Main to get your Fusion projects headed in the right direction from the start.
Training & Education
When it comes to training and education, Core & Main is staffed with experienced, certified trainers. Our training classes can be held at our facility or on-site and are taught in accordance with ASTM F2620 Standard Practice for Heat Fusion Joining of Polyethylene Pipe & Fittings, and PPI TN 42-2009.
Equipment Repairs
McElroy Equipment
From a full machine rebuild to a simple cylinder reseal, we are a one stop repair facility. We understand that your equipment is important to your operation, and we can typically get most repairs done in a few days. During those few days, however, we do offer rental equipment to keep you working. Currently we employ multiple experienced McElroy master mechanics that are here to help, with in-field troubleshooting and repairs.