Easy asset mapping with Fusion Assist

3 km wastewater pipeline

Fusion Italia S.R.L, Fusion Group’s distributor and wholly owned sales company in Italy, has won a major contract to supply Fusamatic electrofusion fittings to a project in Lecce province; Lecce is often referred to as the ‘heel of Italy’ and forms part of the Puglia region. The project involves the construction of a 3 km wastewater pressure pipeline running along the south coast of Lecce.

Fusion Assist, Fusion Group’s asset management app, is being used to create a comprehensive record of each of the electrofusion joints on the project, including the GPS location.

The project in detail

Management of wastewater in Lecce is the responsibility of company Acquedotto Pugliese S.p.A. The previous wastewater pipeline had deteriorated to the point that sewage risked being discharged into the environment. In its place, it was decided to construct a polyethylene pressure pipeline to transport the wastewater. Fusion Italia has supplied 125mm, 160mm, 200mm and 250mm low-pressure couplers to the project.

Along the length of the pipeline there are multiple connections to private properties. The properties store their wastewater in tanks, and this is then discharged into the pipeline. As in much of Southern Italy, the terrain is rocky, and construction of the pipeline trench is far from straightforward. When completed, the 3 km pipeline will be owned by the local authority.

In the image above, you can see how the location of installed assets are illustrated in the Fusion Assist app.

Smart fittings and App assistance

The Fusamatic fittings used on the project were supplied by Fusion Italia’s local distributor in Bari. Fusamatic electrofusion fittings, when used in conjunction with a Fusamatic compliant electrofusion control box, automatically set the required electrofusion parameters once the leads are connected to the fitting. All the installer has to do is check that the parameters match the fitting and start the weld cycle.

Fusion Assist is Fusion Group’s free asset management app that works on mobile phones and tablets and can work on both Apple and Android devices. Fusion Assist is designed to enhance traceability of network assets by recording data on each electrofusion installed network asset and can also be used to support with monitoring and reinforcement of installation best practice. The data contained in the barcode and QR code of each Fusamatic fitting is fundamental to the Fusion Assist app. Opening the app on their mobile phone, the installer scans the ISO 12176-4 barcode on the fitting. Fusamatic fittings will prompt the automatic capture of Fusion’s own unique QR code located on the fitting, providing the individual fitting serial number. Together these provide traceability right down to the raw materials used to manufacture the fitting.

Besides traceability data, Fusion Assist also records asset location via GPS, core installation parameters and reference images for that fitting within one central record. Fusion Assist is not restricted to Fusion products, meaning that assets from other manufacturers too can be recorded in the app to ensure the asset owner retains a comprehensive overview. Francesca Nari (Commercial Director, Fusion Italia) is the Fusion Italia lead on the project:

“There is no doubt in my mind that the network owner chose Fusamatic fittings in part because of the network management data provided by the free Fusion Assist app. Whilst there are similar apps available, Fusion Assist is the easiest to use for the installer, especially allowing the ability to track retrospectively, without necessarily being directly connected to an electrofusion control box. Fusion Assist improves quantity, quality and productivity of asset records. The client liked the fact that they were able to record other assets with the Fusion Assist app, including the pipe and other fittings.”