Introducing RePipe4710. America's answer to our crisis. RePipe 4710 allows corroding water pipes - many of which are nearing the end of their functional lives - to be replaced without expensive and time-consuming excavation. Our plastic pipe is inserted into a failing, existing pipe through a patented process. We insert a compact and compressed super strong, plastic pipe into the failing pipe and expand it to fill nearly 95% of the old pipe + then it takes the place of the old pipe for the next 100 years. This results in a completely structural, stand-alone, new pipe which is impervious to interior and exterior corrosion. Two US cities are interested in providing a pilot project. Now, we need your help for America’s water companies and town officials to improve their water infrastructure for the 21st century!

After a quick visit to any national news outlet, it becomes clearly evident: the water crisis in the US is reaching emergency levels. Earlier in 2016, Flint, Michigan became the first major American city in some time to make national headlines due to a city-wide water infrastructure failure. Similar water safety issues are occurring from coast to coast with no end in sight.  

In fact, the mayor of Jackson, Mississippi recently informed his residents to be prepared for a Flint-like catastrophe. Jackson, which loses 40% of its water through leaking or broken water mains, is just one example of a municipality using 75-100 year old pipes to transport water.

US civil engineers recently gave national water infrastructure a “D” grade. A notch below even the “D+” quality of our roads and bridges.

The issue spawns from our continued reliance on outdated systems and capitally intensive improvements.

Made of cast iron, old pipes are nearing the end of their useful lives - due to:

• Corrosion on the inside from the drinking water.
• Corrosion on the outside from ground water and acidic soil.

As a result, approximately 2.1 trillion gallons of fresh drinking water are lost in the US annually. With water main breaks numbering over 800 times every day, municipalities are spending $3 billion to repair old mains and losing $10 billion in good, clean water annually.

Municipalities are currently desperate for more affordable and effective solutions. The "status quo" of digging up and replacing old pipes is dangerous, disruptive, time consuming, and very expensive. Americans have become so accustomed to clean drinking water that we've ignored this issue and forgotten how essential that "liquid gold" is for life.

Enter RePipe4710: the new water main product that is a pipe offering the strength, reliability and affordability to carry America’s drinking water into the 21st century.

The RePipe4710 product is a folded plastic pipe that is inserted into failing cast iron pipes and re-rounded with steam and pressure to form a new durable pipe. Think of it like a drinking straw that can be folded in half and then inserted into another straw.  In fact the super strong pipe is made from the same super strong material, high density polyethylene or HDPE, as the milk jug in refrigerators all across the country.

Unlike traditional "dig and replace" repair solutions, RePipe4710 can be integrated without digging up entire streets and highways. The savings are 30% or more and this makes water main replacement much more affordable for America.

RePipe4710 requires only entry and exit points in order to access the existing pipe. Sewer access points can usually be reached through manholes. Water mains do not use manholes, so the traditional method for replacing failing pipes was to dig up the entire pipeline. RePipe4710 is a vast improvement over that expensive method and only requires a minimal amount of digging.

Benefits to municipalities:

• Preserves their streets from not having to dig up old pipes.
• Minimal interruption within the community.
• Considerable cost-savings.
• Time + effort savings.
• Lasting reliability for 100 years.
• Installs easily with reliable water delivery

The RePipe4710 solution:

RePipe4710 folded pipe also can be used in sanitary sewers and for natural gas mains. There are pilots already planned for drinking water and sanitary sewers.

HDPE is elastomeric, giving it outstanding strength characteristics and the durability to last well beyond 100 years. Fittings are  "electrofused" to the pipe in a manner that creates a completely leak-free network of plastic pipe that will not corrode.

In terms of putting the RePipe4710 pipe to use, once we have an entry and exit point, the rest is actually quite simple. Think of connecting two plastic straws together. In order to do this, you would fold one straw in the shape of a "C", giving you the ability to slide it into the other straw. RePipe4710’s  innovation works in a similar manner and we call the folding process “deforming.”

A pulling cable is first run from the exit point to the entry point. The cable is then attached to the RePipe4710 folded or deformed pipe and a winch pulls the cable + folded pipe through the old, degrading pipe until the RePipe4710 is in alignment. Finally, after adding in appropriate levels of pressure and steam, the RePipe4710 pipe flexes out of the "C" shape and re-rounds into the fully-expanded pipe shape. The smoothness of RePipe4710 allows for increased flow.

So, how is this technology applied to actual cities, you ask? Municipalities are constantly on the lookout for more affordable pipe-fixing solutions.

RePipe4710 has the solution and we have two pilot projects set to begin in 2017:

An eastern Pennsylvania town with a population between 20,000-30,000 operates a water company for itself and surrounding towns. The 115 miles of currently-utilized water mains have been in service for 60-80 years, some as many as 100 years, and are rapidly approaching the end of their functionality. A durable, leak-free replacement is desperately needed, and leading water authorities clearly see the benefits that a trenchless solution like ours offers. They've planned a two-city block pilot for the middle of next year.

A city in Connecticut with vast utility infrastructure, operates thousands of miles of water and sewer pipes for itself + 8 other suburban areas. An already-deteriorating 40-mile stretch of sewer piping is in need of critical attention as it's being crushed and will fail within years. Currently faced with spending up to $2.6 million per mile for traditional repairs, the utility team is excited to move forward with our new solution. A 1,500-foot test run of RePipe4710 is slated for installation next year, showing our versatility and application even into sewer pipes.

We've come quite a long way since deciding in 2012 to move forward with a trenchless water main replacement. Check out some of the more impressive milestones we’ve accomplished:

Pilots are pending. The aforementioned pilot projects with the eastern Pennsylvania and Connecticut towns have been secured and will provide us with valuable proof of concept.
 

Other social proof established. We're also actively speaking to and negotiating deals with numerous other organizations, municipalities, and professionals. The US Navy is highly interested and recently hosted us at the Pentagon; in addition, we've secured $150,000 in backing and support from the state of Pennsylvania.

IP protection secured. Originally applied for in 2013, we've now secured our first patent protecting our method of in-situ pipeline replacement and associated products. More patents on our product are pending.

Supply chain coming together. We've established a partnership with a respected West Virginia plastic pipe manufacturer to fold round pipe according to RePipe4710’s specifications. Our prototype is ready for manufacturing.

The press is catching on. RePipe4710 has generated positive press mentions from the Emerald Planet and the Central Penn Business Journal, the Lancaster Newspaper,(LNP) and the online portal LancasterOnline with more to come.

With the RePipe4710 prototype ready, we are post-product, and in the pre-production stage.  Capital is now needed in order to secure the equipment needed to deform pipes at mass production volumes. With our pilot projects on deck and infrastructure failing, there's a sense of urgency to head to mass production.

Moving forward with the two aforementioned pilot projects is crucial to our growth as a business.  The pilot projects will bring in a significant amount of revenue - giving us the flexibility to continue business while initiating our future development efforts.

Our long-term future development plan is centered on integrating RePipe4710 into other industry verticals:

• The sewer industry, as sewer lines are also old and calling for replacement.
• Gas lines, which are corroding at a similar rate despite carrying different substances.

The RePipe4710 story originates from the extensive industry experience of our founding visionary, Tim Nippes. Tim realized a substantial need for innovation to solve our failing infrastructure problem and from there crafted our affordable and effective RePipe4710 solution.

Tim Nippes, CEO/Founder - Our leader has spent his entire career building and rebuilding America’s road, bridge and tunnel infrastructure. Over 12+ years specifically in the water industry, Tim has built and sold two heavy general construction management companies, gaining valuable experience along the way. After exiting from his most recent venture, he opted for the creation of RePipe4710 instead of retiring and hasn't looked back since. He's got full reign over daily operations and product leadership.

Dana Hoffer, EVP/Co-Founder - Dana is a seasoned engineer who specializes in business development. Past corporate experiences have seen him take roles with IBM and Accenture, including building a valuable relationship with the EPA. He also brings valuable entrepreneurial experience to the RePipe team. Dana was a key figure in securing our pilot projects and the US Navy opportunity, and will remain a key business development asset going forward.

Barry Blundin, VP Government Relations/Co-Founder - During his 25 years with Bank of America, Barry built top-level relationships with major water authorities in municipalities like Baltimore, Philadelphia, and Pittsburgh. This makes him the ideal executive to serve in this role while also assisting with business and product development.

George Gerz, VP Supply Chain / Industry Relations - Likely no professional knows more about folded pipeline renewal products and the trenchless water main renovation industry.  In 1994 George joined a regional pipe lining company and drove sales from $2 million to $40 million while establishing himself as a go to resource in the water industry in the mid-Atlantic United States. George knows the competition as he has worked for many of the leaders in the trenchless industry.  His next move?  He joins RePipe4710 to bring his experience to make RePipe4710 the de facto leader in trenchless water main renewal.