Uponor retains National Grid contract

Plastic pipe and fittings manufacturer Uponor has renewed its multi-year contract to supply the majority of National Grid's gas pipes and fittings.

Plastic pipe and fittings manufacturer Uponor has renewed its multi-year contract to supply the majority of National Grid's gas pipes and fittings, worth an estimated £17 million per year.

The seven-year contract, which confirms Uponor as primary supplier to National Grid Gas - its existing position - has a potential further one-year extension.

Uponor became the UK's largest provider of polyethylene (PE) gas pipes and fittings when it was the first supplier to be awarded the status of primary supplier to National Grid (then Transco) back in 2000, prior to last year's sale of four of National Grid's distribution networks.

The new contract begins 1 June 2006, and covers the majority of National Grid's requirements, including polyethylene medium, high density and intermediate pressure pipe up to 7 bar, from 16mm to 630mm diameters.

It includes innovations such as Uponor's ProFuse peelable skin and PerformOr 7 bar ranges.

The contract also includes Uponor's gas fittings ranges, such as the specially developed Easigrip one-shot couplers and Unifit tapping tees, which have been saving considerable installation times for National Grid engineers on site.

National Grid Purchasing and Contracts Manager Simon Harnett described why Uponor had won the contract: "We have awarded this contract following a lengthy tender process during which we thoroughly investigated potential suppliers' proposals".

"In addition to price, we looked at areas such as health, safety and environment, contract management and continuous improvement of products".

"Uponor were able to demonstrate strong proposals in all of these areas, hence the award.

Uponor's Vice-President, Infrastructure (UK and Ireland), Stuart Godfrey said: "This is great news for all our hard-working people who are involved with every aspect of servicing this major contract".

"We have not only proven that we are able to reliably manufacture and deliver the required products and service levels, but also that we constantly seek innovative ways of making products and systems more efficient, saving costs for all parties and reducing environmental impact through a number of unique initiatives".

Uponor is helping National Grid fulfil its 30-year commitment to replace 90,000km of metal gas mains, replacing metal with PE wherever gas mains are within 30 metres of buildings.

Over 50 per cent of the National Grid gas network already comprises PE pipes.

Back to top