JM Eagle, the world?s largest manufacturer of plastic pipe, recently announced it is issuing an unprecedented 50-year warranty against manufacturing defects for its pipe products. This warranty ? unmatched by any other pipe manufacturer ? is a significant first step toward rebuilding the nation?s crumbling infrastructure, according to a company press release.
JM Eagle?s warranty will cover the company?s high-performance polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and high-density polyethylene (PE) pipe used in water transmission and distribution lines as well as forced sewer mains. The warranty will take effect immediately for all new sales of pipe certified to American Water Works Association (AWWA) standards produced by JM Eagle.
?JM Eagle?s new warranty program sets a new industry standard for quality assurance,? said JM Eagle Vice President of Operations Dave Slawson. ?This warranty will give our customers and, most importantly, tax payers peace of mind about the integrity of our company and products.?
Additionally, the warranty will retroactively cover plastic pipe products manufactured by JM Eagle and its predecessor J-M Mfg. since original inception for all new pipe failures. No other pipe manufacturer has matched this claim.
?I have been waiting 20 years for someone to do something of this magnitude to change the plastic pipe industry,? said Roy Thames, President and CEO of Thames and Associates.
In use since the 1970s, plastic pipe can provide benefits over traditional metal, concrete or pipe made from other materials. Plastic pipe?s long life reduces replacement costs to state and local governments.? Plastic pipe?s resistance to rust and corrosion, common with metal pipes, makes it a common choice for carrying clean drinking water to homes and businesses.
?The ultimate beneficiary is the end user who received a product that is of the highest quality and delivers excellent long-term performance,? said Anthony Radoszewski, executive director of the Plastics Pipe Institute.
The company?s comprehensive line of pipe products is certified by the nation?s foremost independent agencies, including Underwriters Laboratories and NSF International. JM Eagle?s plants and pipes are subjected to unannounced inspections and random testing by these agencies and others to ensure the quality of the products. The company?s gross quality claim rate over the last 10 years is below 0.1 percent. This low claim rate underscores the consistently reliable quality of the one billion feet of pipe the company produces each year.
