FT Pipeline Systems drives innovation in water pipelines as it helps deliver major infrastructure projects
As the UK’s top supplier and project manager for water pipelines, FT Pipeline Systems (FTPS) handles every aspect of the process. This includes everything from sourcing pipes and applying coatings to producing end joints, as well as coordinating logistics, fittings, and essential accessory products for successful installation. Last year, we learned about the company’s ongoing endeavour to create a pipe-tracker technology and processing application. Now, we converse with Ian Harding, Managing Director, who shares insights into the progress of these innovations and other developments.
“Currently, we are awaiting the spending to start for the eighth Asset Management Period (AMP8), during which government-approved funding will become available. Over the past year, we have been patiently biding our time, waiting for decisions on the final design; specifications, diameters, wall thicknesses, and pressure ratings for the materials to be procured,” he opens.
For AMP8, FTPS has focused its investment programme on several key areas. “Our first priority is to address issues we encountered during the previous AMP. With thousands of pipes arriving at the dock, each assigned a unique identification number that is largely sequential, mistakes in manually recording these numbers can easily happen. Although these errors do not affect the quality of the pipes, maintaining traceability is important to us. To address this issue, we have developed an app that allows us to scan the barcode on each pipe, instantly retrieving its number without the need for manual reading. As part of this initiative, we invested in tablets for on-site use that link to the app. This enables us to scan each pipe on arrival, inspect it, and, if any issues arise, quarantine the pipe and document the problem with photographs before remedial action is applied. The process allows us to maintain that each asset is 100 per cent prior to leaving for site. This streamlined process allows us to quickly generate detailed reports for our clients and gives them real-time visibility into the status of each item, even during delivery, and provides a record of deliveries across a scheme. This complements our document management system which is run through an online dashboard system called IsCompliant.
“We have also prioritised investing in our people. Recently we supported our logistics director in becoming a BGAS-certified coating and lining inspector. While we already used to do inspections and repairs, having a certified inspector on-site enhances client confidence in our work and reporting. Over the past 12 months, we have also brought in two new team members to strengthen our workforce, and we are considering adding another to ensure we are well-prepared when AMP8 begins.
To assist in the office, we have upgraded our office technology with a new accounting package and in May of this year, we restructured FTPS by splitting three of our divisions into separate limited companies: FT Water Treatment Ltd, FT Gas Control Systems Ltd and FT Ductile Ltd, under the FT Group Ltd umbrella,” Ian describes.
Carbon neutrality goals
Alongside these investments, which are set to boost FTPS’ operational efficiency, the company has been dedicated to reducing its impact on the environment. “Achieving carbon neutrality is another key objective in our investment strategy. We completed our carbon assessment for year one in May, which analysed our carbon footprint for the financial year of 2024. This assessment provides us with a baseline for our offsetting efforts, and we are partnering with Carbon Neutral Britain for this initiative. We have offset our carbon emissions this year and invested in kelp forests. Moving forward, it will be essential to maintain and record our data throughout the year to ensure we reach our carbon neutrality goals,” Ian adds.
Supply chain management forms a vital pillar of FTPS’ preparation for AMP8, as Ian explains. “We collaborate with four key companies to supply various elements, drawing on their areas of expertise and capacity. Our aim is to ensure that we have the appropriate quality, test and inspection criteria in place before work starts. We are researching new methods for welded joints with the steel pipework that could reduce the number of fittings required, which will help our clients lower their material costs. All of this occurs against the backdrop of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (UK CBAM), which is set to be implemented in January 2027.
This has focused FTPS’ efforts on manufacturing in the UK during this AMP period, to minimise the additional taxes that will be applied through CBAM. Not everything can be made here however, and we anticipate a surge in orders toward the end of this year and a busy 2026,” he expands.
Infrastructure solutions
Since our last conversation a year ago, FTPS has completed several projects, including HS2 and the Tees Strategic Main. “For HS2, we have been involved in multiple diversions, including five large-diameter steel pipe supplies. We have provided coated and lined steel DWI 31.4.a water pipes and fittings for drinking water, along with Canusa heat shrink sleeves and pipe spiders. Spider, or spacer, solutions allow for one pipe to be installed through a tunnel and can be applied to a range of materials to be installed under structures. We used APS roller and Kwik-ZIP skid solutions on five diversions in North Warwickshire and South Staffordshire, all involving large-diameter water mains moved to accommodate HS2 along with numerous smaller diameter pipes for water, gas and other utilities in ducts along the route for key clients: South Staffs Water, Severn Trent Water, Affinity Water and Thames Water. We regularly collaborate with designers, contractors and their clients, who are responsible for the infrastructure.
“At the same time we have delivered more than 75 kilometres of 800mm DWI-approved water pipe and 1250 fittings to Anglian Water’s SPA project, and phase one of the Tees Strategic Main for Farrans and Northumbrian Water, which consisted of 32.5 kilometres of 800mm and 900mm diameter pipe, along with approximately 650 fittings. This project involved crossings and tunnels, using spacers, and pipe bridges where we supplied bespoke pipework tailored to meet the requirements of the design,” Ian ends.
Ian’s review of the past year gives us a fascinating insight into FTPS’ dedication to improvement and its willingness to invest to be ready for AMP8. The business is ideally placed to effectively execute important projects in the water infrastructure sector, and we look forward to sharing another exciting update from the company in the future.