Key project details from the MeritPress™ stainless press fitting and valve installation at Darigold's food-grade processing facility in Pasco, Washington.
MeritPress™ Fittings & Valves Products| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| End User | Darigold |
| Location | Pasco, Washington |
| Facility Size | Equivalent of 7-1/2 football fields |
| Contractor | JRT Mechanical, Inc. |
| Wholesaler | Consolidated Supply Co. |
| Product Used | MeritPress™ Stainless Press Fittings & Valves |
| Pipe Sizes | 2" and down |
| Applications | Domestic water, process water, sanitary sewer, compressed air, steam and steam condensate, hot/cold glycol |
| Safety Feature | Visual Indicator Press Ring (VIPR)™ |
Consolidated Supply Co. is a fourth-generation family business serving the Pacific Northwest since 1928. They have 21 locations with over 500 employees. Consolidated Supply's corporate mission is to provide their customers with friendly & high-quality customer service that mirrors their penchant for high quality products. JRT and Consolidated have been working together for several years.
JRT Mechanical, Inc. started out as a local plumbing company in 1992 in Battle Ground, Washington. Today, they are a leading mechanical company with over 160 employees and two locations. JRT's services include plumbing, HVAC, mechanical insulation, gas and hydronics & service.
Darigold has been in business since 1918 serving local communities with dairy products that keep families strong. Today, they partner with family farms in 4 states (Idaho, Montana, Oregon & Washington) to product 26 million pounds of milk/day. Their focus is on consumer products and ingredients.
Pasco, Washington - In 2022, Darigold broke ground for their new location located in Pasco, Washington. Pasco is the equivalent of 7-1/2 football fields according to Darigold's Chief Executive Officer, Allan Huttema. This location is ideal because it is close to their local family farms; and for ease of distribution, near highways, maritime ports and railroad.
The Pasco plant processes butter and protein powder for use in baby formula as well as other uses.
JRT's role with this piping project included both plumbing and mechanical piping: domestic water, process water, sanitary sewer, compressed air, steam and steam condensate and hot/cold glycol.
Engineers and architects were looking for a product that:
Did not have a harborage point where the pipe meets the pipe fitting
Was readily available
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Had a reputation for its reliable lifespan
As a result, Merit Brass' MeritPress™ stainless steel press fittings and valves were chosen because they were the only system that addressed the projects' overall needs.
“For a project like Darigold's Pasco facility, we needed a piping solution that delivered speed, safety, and reliability. MeritPress™ in stainless helped us reduce labor hours, eliminate hot work risks, and meet the high sanitary standards required for food-grade processing. It was the right choice for our team and the client.”
— Cody Clements, Project Manager, JRT Mechanical
Faster time to project completion
Labor cost reduced
Installation safety improved
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Project Challenge | Welding small bore pipe requires a lot of labor. JRT was looking to reduce the time to complete the project, enhance safety by reducing the dangers of welding and reduce the overall cost of labor. |
| Solution | Press fittings were chosen; specifically, MeritPress™ in Stainless. These stainless steel press fittings were used for any stainless steel piping 2" and down for water and compressed air. |
| Outcome | As a result, the cost of labor was reduced as well as the time it took to complete the project. |
Throughout the Darigold project, everyone remained committed to not only project completion; but project safety. As a result, when JRT used the MeritPress™ stainless press fittings, they consistently marked the fitting with the insertion depth on the pipe. They also had the installers initial all fittings after they were pressed. This was in addition to Merit's Visual Indicator Press Ring (VIPR)™. The VIPR provides an added confirmation of a complete press due to the presence of the band around the ends of the fitting. The VIPR is color-coded to the application (e.g. green for water, yellow for gas, etc.).
JRT used grinders to cut and prep the pipe and Milwaukee press tools to press the fittings. When cutting pipe, JRT's team always used face shields.
Project success starts with understanding the needs of the end user and ensuring that you align yourself with a team that is:
Explore product information, technical documents, educational videos, and blog articles for MeritPress™ Stainless press fittings and valves.
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