RSM Leads UV LED Cure Development
RSM Lining Supplies continue to spearhead the growth of UV LED Cure within the CIPP Industry
The development of technologies for Cured In Place Pipe Repair (CIPP) has led to the expansion of multiple facets of the CIPP process. UV LED cure technology has progressed rapidly with multiple different types of material & equipment readily available in the market in 2024.
The idea of UV curing was first introduced back in 1990 when the first UV CIPP lining systems were developed, offering faster curing
times and a stronger strength characteristic than more traditional curing methods. However, traditional UV liner is unable to navigate bends or handle diameter changes, limiting its suitability.
This is where UV LED Cure comes in, the newest cure method in the CIPP industry. UV LED cure is a fast, safe, and simple curing process with a much smaller on-site footprint than all other curing methods. It is the only cure method in the market that has the capability to cure both standard UV glass re-enforced liners and felt liners impregnated with UV LED resin.
RSM Lining Supplies Global Ltd offer two main types of resin suitable for UV LED cure – UV LED Vinylester & UV LED LT. Both resins are styrene free, eliminating any odours during installation and can either be factory impregnated or impregnated on site. They are also both supplied as one component, meaning there is no need to mix any resin or hardener.
Both resins have excellent mechanical properties, with the main difference between the two being that UV LED LT also offers an IKT tested leak tight finish. It bonds directly to the pipe offering additional assurance to the contractor and their client that there will be no form of infiltration once the installation is complete. Both resins are compatible with all RSM’s felt liners and their experienced impregnation team ensure pre-wet liners can be supplied on demand.
RSM’s contribution towards the development of UV LED Cure doesn’t stop with resin – they offer two variations of UV LED curing equipment – the Sewertronics SpeedyLight+ and the Sewertronics SpeedyLight+ VX System. The SpeedyLight+ VX is a small, portable unit suitable for diameters up to 225mm. It fits perfectly into hard-to-reach areas and is an ideal piece of starter equipment for UV LED lining.
The SpeedyLight+ VX has been developed specifically to be suitable for use in both horizontal and vertical pipes and requires significantly
less power and energy than more traditional UV curing systems. The all-in-one design allows the system to be used virtually anywhere with the control unit, power supply, and cable reel all integrated within a single, portable unit. It has a total weight of less than 60kg.
Phil Steele, RSM’s Sales Director, commented “The easy manoeuvrability of the SpeedyLight+ VX makes it perfect for use on domestic jobs or those with limited access. The option of purchasing the unit with either 25 metres or 40 metres of cable allows the customer to tailor their purchase to their individual requirements, making it a fantastic starter piece of equipment for UV LED lining.”
Incredibly versatile, the VX system is suitable for use with felt liner impregnated with either of RSM’s UV resins and can successfully navigate bends up to 90°. It has an integrated CCTV camera within the curing head delivering a clear image of the pipe throughout the installation process to ensure everything is running smoothly.
The Sewertronics SpeedyLight+ has the additional capacity to cure liners in diameters up to 600mm, with the ability to reach cure speeds from 1.3 metres per minute. It is ideal for the repair of leaking joints, cracks, root intrusion, and deformation in wastewater pipes.
Like the SpeedyLight+ VX, the SpeedyLight+ system can negotiate bends of up to 90 degrees and is also capable of curing both standard UV glass liners and felt liners impregnated with both of RSM’s UV LED resins.
UV LED cure is fast becoming one of the most used curing methods within the CIPP industry. Boasting a multitude of benefits, it is a fast, safe, and simple curing process with a much smaller on-site footprint than all other curing methods. The time required for pipe rehabilitation is reduced dramatically when compared with traditional curing methods and the lightweight and portable curing equipment means access to small working areas is achievable and less power is required than with traditional systems.
Since the invention of CIPP in the 1970’s, the advancement of curing techniques has been exponential. The introduction of UV LED Cure has dramatically shortened the time required for pipe rehabilitation whilst requiring less power and energy than more traditional curing systems.