nir-vana innovation network

The family-owned company is based in Austria and has been active for more than 35 years in technical insulation and the development and production of systems and solutions for insulating heating and cooling pipes. Its range of products includes pre-insulated pipes, fittings and valves, mineral wool pipe shells, polyethylene insulation tubes, (underfloor heating) floor insulation systems, and a complete program of pipe insulation with special solutions for the industry.

Especially the company’s flexible production lines allow for a high degree of customization and enable them to respond quickly to changes in the market. In addition to the broad offering of standard solutions, they regularly produce customer and/or application-specific pre-insulated pipe systems.

Pre-insulated pipe systems:

• PUR-insulated pipe system: (PE-Xa carrier pipes insulated with a unique combination of polyurethane foam (PUR) and polyethylene foam (PEX)) - Combines the most desirable attributes of two different pre-insulated pipe technologies into a single system solution: outstanding flexibility, saving on installation costs, superior energy-saving insulation performance.

• PEX-insulated pipe system: (PE-Xa carrier pipes insulated with PEX-foam) - Designed for flexibility and ease of installation. Their excellent and durable insulation quality supports the overall energy-saving performance of hydronic distribution systems.

• Solarflex (corrugated stainless-steel pipes insulated with EPDM rubber (= ethylene propylene diene monomer rubber) or mineral wool for the underground variant) designed for quick and easy connection of thermal solar collectors with the heat pump or a storage tank.

The company offers all the above pipe systems with a comprehensive range of dedicated couplings and accessories, providing their partners with total system solutions. The accessories allow for quick, easy, and uncomplicated installation and connection.

Product applications: district heating and cooling networks, domestic hydronic heating and hot sanitary water, renewable energy utilization (biomass/biogas CHP installations, heat pumps, central wood and pellet boilers, …), potable water, snow and ice melting systems, drainage and waste water, specific industrial process piping, solar thermal systems.

The company is acting on the European market through distributors, wholesalers and through contractor projects too. For further differentiation, the company is searching now especially for importers and wholesalers in the heating and plumbing market. They are looking for strong and well-connected distribution partners, who offer coverage and availability, direct access to expertise, greater ease of ordering and more accessible customer service and technical support in the local language and context.

Advantages & innovations

The innovative district heating and cooling pipe systems convince through: • high flexibility for easy installation • cost savings by minimizing transition and connection elements • superior, energy-saving thermal insulation Product characteristics: • carrier pipes heating: PE-Xa/ PN6/ SDR11 • carrier pipes Sanitary: PE-Xa/ PN10/ SDR7.4 • EVOH (ethylene-vinyl-alcohol-copolymer) Oxygen barrier in accordance with DIN 4726 (with marking for a clear distinction between flow and return) • max fluid temperature: + 95 °C • high-grade corrugated HDPE (high density polyethylene) outer casing for enhanced mechanical protection and excellent system flexibility The light and flexible pipes are suitable for local and district heating/cooling applications and can simply be laid in curves and around obstacles. As a result, fewer preformed connection pieces are required, reducing both installation costs and the risk of leakage. PUR-system: • core insulation, made of closed-cell Polyurethane foam (PUR) • edge insulation, made of PE-X closed-cell insulation foam with an aluminum vapor barrier • dimension depending, full coil lengths: from 85 m up to 340 m The company combines highly flexible PE-X-insulated systems with the superior insulation performance of PUR-insulated solutions. As a result, the company’s unique product is up to 50% more flexible in comparison to classic PUR-systems and has up to 50% lower heat losses than PE-X foam insulated systems. PEX-system: • single, double and quadruple systems • multiple layers cross-linked, microcellular PE-X foam with water-repellent closed-cell structure (water absorption < 1 % vol.) • full coil length, all dimensions: 100 m Solarflex: • single or double pipe systems • applications: solar thermal systems; solar collector connection lines • above and underground applications • corrugated stainless-steel pipes insulated with EPDM rubber or mineral wool • coil lengths up to 100m

Stage of development

Already on the market

Partner sought

On the European market, the company is selling their products through distributors, wholesalers as well as directly through contractor projects. The company is looking for importers and wholesalers in the heating and plumbing market. The type of partnership is a distribution services agreement. As an effective means of further differentiation, the company is looking for a strong and well-connected distribution partner, who offers coverage and availability, direct access to expertise, greater ease of ordering and more accessible customer service and technical support in the local language and context. Profile of regional distribution partners: - Have an established sales network or are willing to establish a reliable sales network in the local heating & plumbing market - Be willing to develop in-depth product and application expertise in pre-insulated piping solutions - Have the capacity to hold suitable product stock and associated handling equipment to respond promptly to the daily demands of the local “Short-Cut” market - Agree to conduct active marketing and promotional efforts within the assigned region to develop both the “Short-Cut” and the “Project” business