Aluminum pipe connectors defy storms and seawater

Metalworkers as well as plant managers and planners who have to install seawater-resistant railing systems in coastal areas need durable weather- and corrosion-resistant pipe connectors for this purpose. Such components can be found in the product range of an aluminum foundry.

It is above all the large selection of plug-in and clamp connectors with anodized surfaces from Ernst Brinck & Co. GmbH that offers optimum conditions for the realization of storm- and seawater-proof round tube railings for the stairs, crossings, stages and ramps in ports, industrial open-air sites or public areas. These pipe connectors, made of a weather-resistant aluminum alloy in accordance with EN 573-3 (DIN 1715), are available in numerous different diameters and are offered in single- and double-shell versions. They are installed using likewise corrosion-resistant countersunk screws. Welding work is therefore not required.

Brinck's product range currently includes almost 500 rigid and flexible aluminum pipe connectors and matching pipes. Depending on the design, they are suitable for the realization of railings and guardrails, for the construction of platforms, access steps and shelves or for the construction of holding systems and climbing aids. As a solution for maritime railing construction, the single- and double-shell push-in and clamp connectors with high-quality anodized surfaces are currently proving their worth in particular. They effortlessly defy the extreme weather conditions of coastal regions.

The single-shell variant is characterized by a closed design. Here, the railing tube is pushed through the connector and fixed with the countersunk screws. With the double-shell variant, on the other hand, a front and a rear half section of the connector are placed around the pipe and also fastened with countersunk screws. Due to the "open" assembly, the double-shell connector proves to be particularly flexible when extensions are to be made to existing pipe systems. It allows additional sections to be docked without time-consuming dismantling. It is also recommended for hard-to-reach places in technical systems or building areas.

Brinck's single- and double-shell aluminum pipe connectors are available in both metric and imperial sizes. The metric types have diameters of 25, 30, 40, 45 and 50 millimeters, while the imperial types have diameters of 1.0 inch (33.7 mm),^11/4 inch (43 mm), and 1½ inch, (48.3 mm) and 2.0 inch (60 mm). In addition, Brinck offers all tube connectors in five different surface finishes and powder coatings in any RAL color. When it comes to finishing, railing manufacturers can choose between barrel polishing and mirror polishing, between technical (E6/ EV1) and decorative (E5/ EV1) anodizing, as well as an untreated rough variant. As mentioned at the beginning, the tube connectors refined by anodizing are primarily suitable for maritime applications.

Brinck knows only too well how diverse the requirements of railing construction in the maritime sector can be. For more than 70 years, the North Rhine-Westphalian company has been manufacturing a constantly growing range of aluminum pipe connectors in its own foundry for the realization of interior and exterior railings. When selecting the best possible fastening principle and assembling the right pipe connectors, the customer receives expert support from the Brinck planning service.

This involves a team of technicians who take into account all the design, installation and costing factors of a railing construction project - from specific design criteria and individual special requests to the relevant standards and guidelines. As part of its planning service, Brinck configures ready-to-assemble sets with the appropriate pipe connectors and cut-to-length pipes for all pipe connector series. The company is also able to realize special designs for difficult applications (tight installation space, high hygiene requirements, etc.) or special industry solutions. (OM-11/22)