Explore the history and expertise behind FT Pipeline Systems, the UK’s top coated and lined steel water pipe supplier in a market where quality matters
FT Pipeline Systems (FTPS) is the UK’s leading steel water pipe supplier, providing project management for all aspects of water pipeline supply, from sourcing the pipe and applying coatings and linings, to producing end joints, organising fittings, logistics, and any accessory products that may be required. Over its 42-year history, the company has remained steadfastly focused on delivering high-quality products and minimising total life costs, starting with preventing the corrosion of the pipeline. With that, its ultimate goal is to provide a long lasting, quality pipeline system for its clients. Alongside excellence in project management, FTPS largely attributes its success to its strong supply chain relationships. Ian Harding, Managing Director, talks us through the history of the company.
“Frazer and Tabberer, the original company, was started by Horace Tabberer and Robert Frazer in 1982, with Robert’s son Duncan taking over the reins in the late
1980s. Duncan’s original focus primarily was on selling locking lids to the UK water authorities. The replacement lid was introduced with the aim of saving money and avoiding costly excavations of defective surface boxes by replacing the broken parts. I initially began working at Frazer and Tabberer part time when I was back from school in the 1990s. Once I graduated in 1997, I was taken on full time, and I have been here ever since. After some real ups and downs, the change of Frazer and Tabberer to the FT Group, and the beginning of FTPS in 2009, here we are in 2024, having survived a pandemic, Brexit, and a banking crisis,” he explains.
Extensive product portfolio
Through its diverse portfolio, FTPS caters to a vast range of water authorities pipe requirements. “We supply Spigot and Socket large diameter steel water pipes and fittings with coatings and linings. In addition, we offer pipes in lengths ranging from 8.4-to-14 metres, with diameters of usually 600 millimetres or larger, for multiple-kilometre projects that require bends and tees. To this end, we utilise two fabricators, one in France and one in the UK, who produce the same end joints as the mainline pipe and provide a drinking water-approved coated and lined product that is compatible with the straight pipes. The resulting product is supplied to the water authorities or their contractors for installation in major infrastructure projects. Furthermore, we supply Canusa joint protection – a range of repair products – as well as pipe-in-pipe spacers for pushing pipes through tunnels for road or rail crossings. Our spacer products allow for more efficient and safe pipe installation. Before the introduction of our spacer range, wood was commonly used, but we now have much better designed alternatives,” says Ian.
Enhancing operations
In an effort to deliver its solutions more efficiently, the Frazer and Tabberer Group has recently made significant investments in additional warehousing and storage facilities. Ian sheds light on how these new facilities impact FTPS and the group as a whole. “As of May 2024, FT Gas Control, FT Water Treatment, and FT Ductile were set up as their own limited companies, separating the business divisions from FTPS. The first stage of this investment involved separating the steel pipe supply business and transitioning the other three divisions, thus making four distinct companies. This was an expensive and time-consuming process given that every operation was intertwined and needed unpicking. In terms of warehousing, over the last two years, we have gone from having a single central location in Lichfield to having separate facilities for FT Gas Control and FT Water Treatment. At present, our head office in Lichfield primarily serves FT Ductile, while FTPS has its own warehouse and pipe storage where we can store some materials for projects. All these developments have taken place to ensure that each of our four limited organisations has their own feet to stand on,” he enlightens.
Advanced innovation
Shifting his focus back on FTPS, Ian reveals that the company is currently involved in the development of cutting-edge pipe tracker technology. He tells us more about the benefits of such advanced innovation. “One of the main considerations for our clients, apart from quality, is traceability. Steel pipes are unique due to their high level of traceability, as each pipe has its own pipe number that can be traced back to heat numbers of the slab production. While there may be multiple pipes made from a single heat number or set of coils, each pipe has its own identification. As a result, should there be any issues, we can trace each pipe through the manufacturing process, and ultimately to the original certification for that batch of steel,” he unveils.
This approach is complemented by FTPS’ very own processing application, which facilitates traceability. “We are currently developing an application that will allow us to scan the barcodes attached to our pipes, thereby providing us with information about the status of each pipe. This includes details about the diameter, wall thickness, grade, coating, lining, length, and weight. If any remedial action is needed, we will be able to quarantine the pipe and apply the necessary repairs, while keeping full records of any batch numbers or repairs, including information about who performed the work, when, and with photographs for reference. Our application is particularly valuable because the industry spends a significant amount of money on third party inspection. By using the application, we can provide the client with the status of specific pipes or individual assets and demonstrate that the products are in line with the specifications, eliminating the need for external inspection services. The information can then be accessed by the client by downloading the data, which includes the certificates with the chemical analysis needed for welders to cross check against the approved welding procedure.
“Moreover, the application will allow us to analyse data relating to individual pipes or groups of pipes. For example, if there are 500 pipes on a vessel and we find that 50 of them have a defect that requires remedial action, we can download a report to determine the cause of the defect. By identifying issues or patterns, we can then improve the process and prevent similar problems from occurring going forwards. Running a successful business requires continuous development and improvement, and we always aim to do better.
“As part of that, we invest significantly in our own workforce to ensure that they are able to perform repairs correctly, measure and record the results accurately, and with the right equipment. Investing in the appropriate equipment to carry out inspections and perform repairs if needed, is key as it allows us to provide our clients with full confidence that the product they are buying from us is being delivered to the highest standards. This also can mitigate costs as the client can avoid having to pay extra for an external inspection company.
“Overall, the development of the pipe tracking technology allows the water authority full traceability with assured quality and reliability for the duration of the operational life of their asset,” he concludes.