Our DURAFLOW and SurePEX pipes are produced in modern German and Austrian production facilities from high-performance raw materials. This ensures consistently high quality and a long service life.

For higher operational safety, we offer exclusively PE 100-RC and PE-Xa materials with high resistance to slow crack growth compared with normal PE 100 materials.

Old and damaged piping systems made of traditional materials such as cast iron or clay pipes are frequently reconditioned with long-lasting and simple-to-install PE pipes. Due to the cost effectiveness of trenchless laying methods such as milling, ploughing, relining and horizontal directional drilling, sand-bed-free laying methods are gaining importance for new installations. For sand-bed-free installation we recommend DURAFLOW and SurePEX pipes, which were specifically developed for this purpose.

With the Full Notch Creep Test the resistance to slow crack growth is tested. DURAFLOW pipes made of PE 100-RC material prove with 8,760 h a 30 times higher lifetime according to the PAS 1075 classification. SurePEX pipes made of crosslinked polyethylene (PE-Xa) confirm the excellent properties: SurePEX pipes reach 65,000 h under the same conditions — an even higher service time.

PE (polyethylene) complies in its composition with the relevant food regulations (according to BGA and KTW guidelines). Furthermore, the PE pipes and fittings have been tested and approved for potable water suitability.

A higher flexibility enables rapid and simple pipe installation. Especially for house connections (OD 25 mm – OD 63 mm) good bending ability is the key to a short installation time and cost savings. The flexibility of PE often allows for direction changes without fittings.

Flexibility depends on both the pipe type and the temperature:

• SurePEX (PE-Xa): exceptionally high flexibility — the pipes remain easy to shape even at low temperatures, which is a particular advantage in the house connection range.
• PE 100 / PE 100-RC: good flexibility in warm conditions; as the temperature falls, flexibility decreases and forming requires more force.
• PE 100-RC with PP protective layer: considerably stiffer — even at summer temperatures forming requires greater force, and at low temperatures shaping without tools is hardly possible.

The comparison of the two materials in the FRANK piping system is qualitative: the source states the relative ratings without numerical values.

• Resistance to slow crack growth: DURAFLOW (PE 100-RC) offers the highest resistance to slow crack growth; SurePEX (PE-Xa) is insensitive to slow crack growth. In the Full Notch Creep Test, DURAFLOW reaches 8,760 h and SurePEX 65,000 h under the same conditions.
• Temperature resistance: DURAFLOW up to 60 °C, SurePEX up to 95 °C maximum operating temperature.
• Flexibility: SurePEX remains highly flexible even at low temperatures; DURAFLOW is flexible in warm conditions and requires more force as the temperature falls.
• Strength: both materials are shown at a comparable level in the source comparison — no numerical values are given for this property.
• Creep modulus: both materials are likewise shown at a comparable level, without numerical values.

Material data with standards and units (E-modulus, tensile stress at yield, elongation at break, notched impact strength, creep resistance) is listed in the material properties table in the technical data section.