Thermoplastic valve and pipe manufacturer Asahi/America Inc. has recently formed a strategic partnership with McElroy Manufacturing Inc., based in Tulsa, Oklahoma to provide industry-leading fusion equipment to the market, compatible with Asahi/America’s thermoplastic piping systems. As of Sept.1, 2023, Asahi/America will offer McElroy-manufactured butt and socket fusion equipment that will be available for rental or purchase.

Asahi’s McElroy tool fleet will be able to butt or socket weld single and double wall pipe diameters ranging from 20 – 125mm (1/2” – 4-1/2”) for socket, and 20 - 630mm (1/2” – 24”) for butt in thermoplastic materials such as polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE and PE100RC), high density polyethylene (HDPE), polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), and ethylene chlorotrifluoroethylene (ECTFE or HALAR). The new tool offering is available for shop or field use.

McElroy’s DataLogger 7 will also be available to purchase or rent from Asahi/America as an optional accessory. The DataLogger meets ASTM F3124 requirements and is a waterproof, shockproof, and dustproof device that records fusion operation data to ensure the correct pressure and fusion times are used according to the job’s parameters. The DataLogger 7 supplied by Asahi/America will be programmed with all of the necessary weld parameters for all of the company’s single-wall and double-wall pipe systems. Data from the unit can be uploaded to McElroy’s vault, to store, evaluate, and inspect all actual weld data remotely. 

In addition to the fleet of welding equipment, Asahi/America, in partnership with McElroy University, will launch an online welding certification and Learning Management System (LMS) for contractors and installers who will be operating the equipment. This will be available in early 2024.

“This new relationship with McElroy will bring Asahi/America’s weld program to a new level," said Joe Poniatowski, Asahi/America’s welding and standards manager. "The McElroy team has been very instrumental in developing a full tool offering for Asahi as well as the new learning system for Asahi’s pipe systems. We will continue to develop new learning modules, i.e., QA/QC weld inspection for all of our materials, double-contained piping installation/welding, hot air welding for our thermoplastic duct systems, and more.”