As the lifeline of any industrial plant, pipelines are frequently exposed to the elements and can easily trap water where they make contact with steel beams or other pipes. Corrosion can be, and often is, the frustrating and costly result.
A solutions-oriented company, Delta Machine & Ironworks recognized an opportunity earlier this year to begin offering a patented “lift-off” support that literally lifts the pipe off of structural steel or nearby pipes and eliminates the corrosion problem. Delta began ramping up production of the non-metallic fiberglass product in June after buying the patent rights from a small Lake Charles-based supplier, then began offering it to their industrial clients as a viable alternative to traditional supports.
In a nutshell, Delta’s Lift-Off™ pipe supports and corrosion barriers offer the same level of pipe protection that current products offer, but with less hassle. “Our Lift-Off supports naturally mold to the beam and bypass the need for drilling or mounting into the steel,” says Heidi Holmes, engineering and technology director at Delta. “They’re designed to go over both sides of a beam and have a painted gritty back that keeps them from moving. That means there’s no ‘hot work’ required for installation.”
The cutting-edge technology evenly distributes the pipe load across the whole structure and comes with ribbed channels (or lobes) that create a low coefficient of friction and allow for water to easily drain away from the pipe.
Molded from a special formulation of selected synthetic resin in combination with high-strength glass reinforcement, Lift-Off is specially designed to meet the thermal requirements of any load-bearing support – from negative 265 up to 550 degrees Fahrenheit – and comes with a UV inhibitor that extends its lifespan.
Lift-Off supports come in three main configurations:
- LOR (Lift-Off Rest): Supports are available for beams/angles/channels ranging from 2 to 14 inches wide; lengths can be modified up to 120 inches long and can support multiple pipes.
- LORP (Lift-Off Rest on Pipe): Supports are available for pipe sizes up to 48 inches
- LORG (Lift-Off Rest with Guide): Supports are configured to work with U-bolts and require drilling in support steel as with any other U-Bolt application. LORG supports are available for beams/angles/channels ranging from 2 to 16 inches wide.
The new product is clearly generating a lot of “buzz” in the industrial space. Delta shipped its first order to Marathon in July, and other orders are being readied for shipment. “Those that have been installed since 2017 (by the previous patent holder) are holding up well,” Holmes says. “It’s not difficult to see why the product is gaining traction. You literally just sit it on top of the beam, put the pipe on it and you’re done.”
For additional information on LIFT-OFF® supports visit teamdeltausa.com/products/pipe-supports/lift-off-pipe-supports/
