The Foundation of a Strong Weld: Why Pipe Preparation Should Never Be an Afterthought
In the world of thermoplastic piping, strength, precision, and consistency are non-negotiable. Whether you're working on a water treatment plant, a chemical dosing system, or a high-purity installation, the quality of your pipe welds can make or break your system’s reliability. And yet, one of the most critical stages of the process is also one of the most overlooked: pipe preparation.
At IPS Flow Systems, we’ve seen first-hand how rushed or inconsistent preparation can lead to costly rework, compromised joint strength, and unnecessary delays on site. That’s why we’ve partnered with ASAHI to bring a powerful, easy-to-use solution to market: the ASAHI PREP Tool – now available to buy or hire exclusively through IPS.
Why Pipe Prep Matters More Than You Think
Thermoplastics like PE and PP are widely used for their chemical resistance, flexibility, and ease of installation. But they come with a unique challenge – natural oxidation. The moment these materials are exposed to air, an oxidised layer begins to form on their surface. It’s invisible to the naked eye but can significantly affect the strength and integrity of the weld if not removed properly.
Standard practice often relies on manual scraping or light sanding, which can be inconsistent and difficult to control across multiple installers or job sites. Enter the PREP Tool.
The ASAHI PREP Tool: A Smarter Way to Prepare
The ASAHI PREP Tool is a simple yet powerful manual device designed to perform three essential preparation steps in one operation:
- Oxidation Removal – Ensures a clean bonding surface by thoroughly removing the oxidised layer from the pipe.
- Bevelling – Adds a consistent bevel to the pipe end, improving insertion ease and ensuring better weld quality.
- Insertion Depth Marking – Accurately marks the correct insertion depth directly on the pipe for consistent, repeatable results.
With no power supply required and a maintenance-free design, the tool can be used on any job site, in any environment – whether in the field or in a workshop. It’s also designed to comply with DVS Type B socket welding standards, making it ideal for high-integrity applications in chemical processing, water treatment, and beyond.
Time is Money – and So is Consistency
Beyond weld strength, one of the biggest benefits of the PREP Tool is time savings. By combining three preparation steps into a single process, installers can complete weld preps in a fraction of the time. And because the tool is designed to be “impossible to misuse”, you remove the variability that often creeps in when using manual tools or untrained hands.
In short, this is about reducing rework, increasing efficiency, and delivering more consistent results across teams and projects.
A Flexible Approach: Purchase or Hire
At IPS, we understand that different projects demand different levels of investment. That’s why we offer the complete ASAHI PREP Tool kit – covering 20mm to 63mm – available to both buy and hire. Whether a customer needs it for ongoing installations or a short-term project, we’ve made it easy to access this time-saving solution without compromise.
Setting the Standard for Best Practice
As industry expectations rise and projects become more complex, good practice in installation is no longer a luxury – it's a requirement. The ASAHI PREP Tool is more than just a product; it represents a step forward in how we approach preparation, quality control, and overall system integrity.
For our customers, it’s not just about getting the job done. It’s about getting it done right.