PRiK Technical Conference, Poland, 27th -28th November 2014

Another successful annual technical conference was organised by the Polish Association of Pipes and Fittings Producers, known as PRiK.  The conference was held in Zawiercie, 75 km from Krakow, and attended by around 150 delegates.   The PE 100+ Association was one of the main sponsors, and Steve Beech gave a presentation on behalf of the Association.   The conference was aimed at end users

and the organisers were successful in attracting a large number of delegates from the water industry in Poland.  

The conference started during the afternoon of the 27^th November with an introduction given by Jacek Sobkowiak, the Chairman of PRiK.   This was followed by four presentations in English.   Claudia Topalli and Tony Calton of TEPPFA gave presentations on a comparison of installation time for a plastics drainage system with a concrete systems and CCTV inspection of clay, concrete and plastics systems.  Steve Beech presented the results and conclusions of the Association's Buttfusion Project.  

Following a dinner and entertainment, the second day comprised of a series of presentations given in Polish.  These included GRP and PVC systems, and PE electrofusion fittings.  The remaining presentations dealt with issues of interest to the water industry related to plastics systems including renovation to reduce leakage, resistance to pressure surges, and selection of drainage systems.

Overall this was a successful and well organised event.  A range of literature in Polish was distributed including a full translation of the Lars Eric Jansen book, 'Plastics pipes for water supply and sewerage disposal'.   Although relatively young, PRiK can be considered to be one of the leading pipe manufacturer's Associations in Europe.