2022 Key Trends to Keep Engineers a Step Ahead By Mike Vellano
We’ve been fortunate to shore up our materials so that we can offer an uninterrupted flow of products, including geopolymers, which have lately become difficult to obtain. However, some job site managers are panic buying materials based on mid-2022 allocation concerns and challenges. Some companies have even stockpiled a four-month supply of liner. The higher prices, shortages from over-purchasing supplies and existing supply chain disruptions will continue to be felt until 2023. Embrace New Approaches Given this reality, alternative approaches to conventional issues will gain traction in the new year. Consider that many regions are still using very traditional applications for pipe repair, such as cast-iron pipe for plumbing applications and ductile pipe for water applications. Given the ongoing global supply chain challenge, doing things the way they’ve always been done not only puts projects in jeopardy, but it also prevents job sites from using the optimal solution. Engineers and contractors can position their customers to thrive in the coming year by broadening their customers’ horizons to consider different or new methods that offer field-proven performance and can increase design life by more than 50 years. Now is the time to break away from the confines of legacy techniques and embrace a new method, such as a semi-structural repair rather than a structural repair. When it comes to large diameter pipes, there are at least five unique repair options to consider when evaluating what is best to restore that asset. This gives engineers incredible flexibility
There’s never been a more exciting – or challenging – time to be part of this industry. We’ve witnessed significant disruption across all sec - tors of construction, which has added tremendous complexity to both below and above ground projects. Although the ripple effects of 2020’s global shutdowns will continue through the coming year, knowing how to anticipate and navigate these challenges will help minimize their impact on customers. Fortunately, several key industry-shaping tech- nology trends for 2022 will enable engineers to make strategic shifts The state of the global supply chain is the foremost thought in the industry. From a traditional perspective, supply chain conversations typically center on the availability of curing agents and other materi- als. However, what we’re seeing today extends beyond the availability of specific materials. In some instances, a material might be available, but the package used to transport it is not. Slowdowns at ports around the world are also constricting the ability to transport materials to the job site. and help push jobs forward. Supply Chain Disruption
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DECEMBER 2021 csengineermag.com
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