Often municipal sewer work requires blocking a pipeline when either effluent flow needs to be temporarily stopped or when a new pipe is being air-tested for leaks. Inflatable blocking plugs can be used to effectively hold back air or water inside a pipe to seal it from outside materials. Cherne now offers larger 24- to 60-inch plugs in its I-Series line, featuring the safety and durability of innovative robotic technology.
According to Pete Rogers, inside sales specialist for Cherne, the manufacturing process of the robot sets a new standard for the company’s plug products. “It’s interesting to note that even though these products are meant for sewer use, their aesthetics are important,” he says. “Beyond their visual appeal, these plugs outperform any others in the territory. By allowing for higher inflation pressure, they can withstand greater back pressure, making them crucial for specific field applications. The durability of these plugs saw a significant improvement when we shifted to manufacturing them on a robot.”
Cherne’s I-Series Test Plugs provide improved performance and safety through their optimized design. Because they are manufactured robotically, each plug’s natural rubber core is mechanically bonded to its aluminum end plate, ensuring precision and consistency while eliminating failures that can result from chemical bonding processes.
“Previously, our standard for pneumatic plugs entering the product line required them to endure 200 cycles while remaining functional,” Rogers says. “With the implementation of the new robot to create I-Series plugs, we increased cycle testing to 1,000 and the plugs exhibited no degradation during this rigorous testing phase.”
In addition, I-Series plugs feature corrosion-resistant aluminum base plates with laser-etched identifiers, replacing the use of raised rubber markings that eventually wear away with usage. The plugs are lightweight, short and flexible, while offering superior back pressure to accommodate the range of plug sizes offered. Protective sleeves are also available for the full range of I-Series plugs, helping further preserve the plugs for extended use.
“Our rental customers play a crucial role as they are the ones who take our products out to the field. They not only install the plugs but also provide training on their usage,” says Rogers. “Their experiences resonate about our plugs being incredibly durable and reliable.” 800-843-7584; www.cherneind.com
