Underground Construction - October 2018 - 38

20 1 8 C A PA B I LITI E S G U I D E
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Advertorial

MCELROY TALON ™ BRINGS
PIPELINING SOLUTIONS TO
LARGE-DIAMETER PROJECTS
McElroy introduced the Talon 2000 to answer the demand for increased pipeline capacity for growing populations and the many declining infrastructures around the world. Fusing pipe as large as 2000mm is challenging due to the heavy lifting equipment and manpower that is needed. This
would be the largest machine McElroy had ever designed; it would have to function in a bold, new way and it would have to be able to handle big
pipe jobs in an easier way.

FEATURES & BENEFITS
The Talon was unleashed in 2015, which started a revolution in the
way large-diameter thermoplastic pipelines can be built. One of the
most striking features is its ability to self-load pipe from the ground
with its powerful jaws as the machine adjusts its height and orientation to align and fuse pipe. This makes it safer and easier for operators
since the pipe stays close to the ground and is not hanging overhead as
happens when pipe is loaded into traditional machines.
The Talon is a track-mounted, self-propelled vehicle that straddles
the pipeline, which allows the operator to use a wireless remote to
drive it from joint to joint without the assistance of a crane or forklift.
It is self-contained, which eliminates the need for a separate generator
or hydraulic power unit (HPU); an Ultra-Low Sulfur Diesel (ULSD)
engine provides electric and hydraulic power.
Speed is also on its side with a quick-action facer that removes up to
1" of pipe per side in less than eight minutes. An electric-powered indexer safely and accurately positions the top-loading heater and facer into
the fusion machine, eliminating the need for extra lifting equipment.
The carriage converts to one fixed jaw and three movable jaws for easy
tie-in capability. Its skid-steer and track-mounted features allow it to position itself in tight spaces and move across rugged or uneven terrain.
The Talon also has built-in data logging capability to record fusion
joint data, which downloads to the DataLogger® Vault™ for storage
and analysis of pipeline integrity.
RESULTS ON THE JOB
The Talon first demonstrated its capabilities on an almond farm in
drought-stricken Firebaugh, Calif. ISCO Industries presented the idea
of using the Talon to fuse 13,000 feet of 54-inch DR 17 high-density
polyethylene (HDPE) pipe it supplied to replace a 48-inch steel irrigation line that was corroding and was leaking.
It was a massive opportunity for the Talon since the design called
for the pipe to be laid out in a straight line for two and a half miles,

making it ideal for pipelining. The Talon was able to lift
pipe from the ground with its powerful jaws, align it
within the machine, fuse it and drive from joint to joint
over the top of the pipeline - from one end of the job
to the other.
Fuse-in-place machines typically fuse several sticks
of pipe together, then are moved down the pipeline to
repeat the process. Once complete, at least three pieces of
heavy equipment are brought in to help tie in the fused
pipe strings. The Talon simply moved on its own from
joint to joint without the assistance of heavy equipment.
The pipelining method worked out perfectly throughout
the project as they were able to keep up with the pace of
delivery from the pipe manufacturer.
It was an exciting feat and one that was repeated on
the other side of the globe in Australia this year when
GEM Industrial was asked for assistance in replacing a
failing concrete, sewer pipeline with HDPE. This time,
it was 1800mm DR 41 which is even larger, though
thinner-walled, than the 54-inch polyethylene pipe
used in California.
The Talon fused in place for some of the fusions and employed
its signature pipelining method for others. Its maneuverability over
the pipeline wasn't hampered by any of the curvatures in the pipeline.
Without any modification, the Talon was able to continue its path
over 30-degree, prefabricated elbows. These jogged sections connected the main line to the pump station.
GEM's crew was soon producing up to seven fusions a day. It was
an impressive accomplishment given that the expectation was four
joints a day, but the capabilities of the Talon and a skillful team made
it all possible.
And although it has been tested, this was the first time on a job that
the Talon was converted from two fixed jaws and two movable jaws to
one fixed jaw and three movable jaws. This is done to reduce the amount
of pipe at the end of an elbow which makes the fittings smaller, less expensive and easier to ship. The conversion worked exactly as planned.
The Australia project was another notch in the belt for the Talon; the
success on both projects have proven that the Talon is a tough act to follow among large-diameter fusion machines. From the fusion operators
and the contractors to the engineers, technicians and the manufacturer
itself, it will always be an impressive sight to see a Talon on the job.
NEW OFFERINGS
McElroy is building on the Talon's success by offering more size capabilities. Inserts, quarter jaws and a smaller 1,200mm heater are now
available for fusing 1,000mm to 1,200mm (36" to 52") pipe.
ABOUT MCELROY
Founded in 1954, McElroy offers the industry's most complete line
of butt, saddle and socket fusion equipment for ½" CTS to 2000mm
OD pipe as well as quality assurance accessories that increase productivity and efficiency on the jobsite.

MMI and DataLogger are registered trademarks of McElroy Manufacturing, Inc. Talon and
Vault are trademarks of McElroy Manufacturing, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

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Underground Construction - October 2018

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