News Release WEFTEC 2012 – Page 2 of 3

For immediate release:

October 1, 2012

CertainTeed, Vermeer Partner to Showcase Certa-LokÔ Restrained-Joint PVC Pipe and AXISÔ Guided Boring System at 2012 WEFTEC Conference

(Valley Forge, Pa.) – CertainTeed and Vermeer Corporation are partnering to showcase the latest technologies and techniques for trenchless pipe installation at WEFTEC, Sept. 29 to Oct. 3 in New Orleans. Specifically, CertainTeed will highlight its complete line of Certa-LokÔ restrained-joint PVC pipe alongside key components of the Vermeer AXISÔ system at booth #7846.

“CertainTeed’s field-proven Certa-Lok spline-locking technology and Vermeer’s AXIS guided boring system have changed the game when it comes to replacing or repairing both force main and gravity sewer systems, as well as potable water infrastructure,” said John Coogan, channel marketing and communications manager for CertainTeed’s Pipe & Foundations Group. “AXIS’ laser-guided technology and Certa-Lok’s strength and ease of assembly work together to ensure trenchless projects achieve precise grades and stay on schedule with minimal disruption to the community.”

In response to growing recognition of the economic and environmental advantages of trenchless pipe installation and replacement, CertainTeed recently expanded its Certa-Lok offering to include an integral bell option on its 4-, 6- and 8-inch C900 pipe. The company also added a 14-inch diameter C905 option. All Certa-Lok pipe features a mechanical joining system, which utilizes a combination of precision-machined grooves and a nylon spline to provide exceptional tensile strength in pulling or pushing operations. Rounding out the design, a flexible elastomeric gasket provides a solid pressure-certified hydraulic seal.

Unlike HDPE or fusible PVC pipe, Certa-Lok pipe products do not require costly on-site fusion operations and can be assembled in real time as pullback continues, eliminating the need to string out several hundred feet of pipe within or beyond the work zone.

The Vermeer AXIS laser-guided boring system is a pit-launched trenchless installation method designed to achieve pinpoint, on-grade accuracy while eliminating many of the difficult steps associated with other installation techniques. It is optimized for pipeline installations up to 350 ft. in length, which is ideal for manhole-to-manhole projects. Most importantly, it is fully capable of maintaining precise on-grade accuracy, which is critically required for gravity sewer pipe systems.

A closed-circuit camera integrated into the drill head allows the operator to constantly monitor the line and grade of the bore via a laser guide. As the bore continues, displaced soil is vacuumed out through a hollow section in the drill head, eliminating the need to suspend drilling to manually handle spoil.

“The need to replace and expand sewer and potable water systems presents a vast challenge and opportunity,” said Jason Zylstra, marketing manager for Vermeer. “The existing network of pipelines has been stressed by population growth and urban sprawl, and much of this network is nearing the end of its useful life. Vermeer’s AXIS system and Certa-Lok restrained-joint PVC pipe present a cost-effective solution for bringing the nation’s infrastructure in line with current needs and keeping it strong for years to come.”

CertainTeed, a leader in the PVC pipe industry, engineered the first completely non-metallic, corrosion-resistant restrained-joint PVC piping system more than 40 years ago. Since then the company’s pipe product offerings have expanded to include a variety of application-proven Certa-Lok restrained joint pipe products, including C900/RJ & RJIB, YelomineÔ, CertaFloÔ GreenlineÔ, CertaSetÔ and Certa-ComÔ. For more information, contact CertainTeed at 866-CT4-PIPE, or go to www.Certa-Lok.com.
About CertainTeed
Through the responsible development of innovative and sustainable building products, CertainTeed, headquartered in Valley Forge, Pa., has helped shape the building products industry for more than 100 years. Founded in 1904 as General Roofing Manufacturing Company, the firm's slogan "Quality Made Certain, Satisfaction Guaranteed," quickly inspired the name CertainTeed. Today, CertainTeed® is North America’s leading brand of exterior and interior building products, including roofing, siding, fence, decking, railing, trim, foundations, pipe, insulation, gypsum, ceilings and access covers.

A subsidiary of Saint-Gobain, the world’s largest building products company, CertainTeed and its affiliates have more than 6,000 employees and more than 65 manufacturing facilities throughout the United States and Canada. Recognized as a 2009 and 2010 ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, CertainTeed earned the 2011 and 2012 ENERGY STAR Sustained Excellence Award, the highest level of recognition for outstanding contributions to protecting the environment through energy efficiency. The group had total sales of approximately $3.2 billion in 2011. www.certainteed.com

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