When Pipelife Polska S.A. needed more pressure testing capacity, they faced a question many pipe manufacturers know well: should they invest in all-new test equipment, or get more out of the equipment they already have?
Their existing SCITEQ pressure testing hardware was still performing reliably. What had changed was the testing requirements. The laboratory needed more advanced software and more pressure sections, so it could run several tests at the same time.
Rather than replace a working system, Pipelife chose to upgrade to SIGMA, SCITEQ’s latest pressure testing platform.
Most of the value in a pressure testing system sits in its mechanical hardware. For Pipelife, that hardware was in good condition, so the real limits were in the control system and the lab’s capacity.
“The existing hardware was functioning well, but we required more advanced software features and expanded technical capabilities,” says Marcin Skalski, Quality Control Specialist at Pipelife Polska. “Specifically, we needed to add more pressure sections to enable simultaneous testing, which significantly increases our laboratory throughput and efficiency.”
Upgrading the control system and adding pressure sections gave Pipelife what it needed. They got higher throughput and modern functionality, and they avoided the cost and environmental footprint of new hardware.
For a busy quality control laboratory, downtime is often the biggest worry with any upgrade. At Pipelife, the preparation done before installation made the difference.
“The upgrade process was smooth and highly professional,” says Marcin Skalski. “The pre-configuration phase ensured that the on-site installation was completed quickly with minimal downtime for our laboratory.”
SCITEQ’s approach is built around this. Kim Køpke, Service Manager at SCITEQ, explains:
“The upgrade process must be completed with minimal disruption. This is why we conduct a thorough analysis together with our customer to ensure the upgrade is specified and configured correctly from the outset. This helps ensure that the transition, including onsite installation, calibration, and operator training, runs quickly and smoothly, allowing the laboratory to return to full operation within hours.”
With SIGMA in place, Pipelife’s laboratory has moved from a traditional standalone test system to a digitally connected testing platform. SIGMA brings:
Looking ahead, Pipelife expects SIGMA’s advanced functionality, transparency and reporting to help them run daily operations more efficiently, with smarter workflows and better data insights, and to keep the laboratory ready for future testing demands.
If your SCITEQ test hardware is still performing reliably but your software, capacity or connectivity needs have grown, upgrading to SIGMA may be the most cost-effective and sustainable way forward.
Read more about how the upgrade works, what it costs and what it includes in our article: Upgrade & Upcycle existing Pressure Test Equipment with SCITEQ
A big thank you to the team at Pipelife Polska for their trust and collaboration.
Contact us for further information: [email protected]
Learn more about SCITEQ SIGMA test software
The case of upgrade & modernize existing test equipment rather than replacing is straightforward. The majority of the cost and the environmental footprint of a pressure testing system sits in its mechanical hardware, not its software. Replacing a system that is mechanically sound simply because its controls have fallen behind means paying for, and manufacturing, the same steel and hydraulics twice.
SIGMA addresses this directly: the existing cabinet is upgraded onsite with new hardware and the latest controller software, while the mechanical core, the part that didn’t need replacing stays in service.
Testing protocols evolve. The liteTANK is designed with this in mind. For applications requiring test temperatures below 20 °C, an optional chiller solution can be added to the test tank —either at initial installation or retrofitted later. This modular approach avoids premature over-investment while ensuring the system remains technically relevant as standards or product requirements change.
We install test systems globally and across industries. Reach out to us to learn more about how we can help you with a pragmatic and cost-efficient test setup.
Learn more about SCITEQ Hydrostatic test systems
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