THE DIVISIONS DIGEST
The Challenges of Moving to Press Fittings As with any new technology, there are drawbacks to consider when thinking about adopting a press fitting system for your business. By comparing these hurdles to your overall workflow needs and long- term project plans, you’ll be able to assess if upgrading is an appropriate next step.
1. INITIAL INVESTMENT COSTS Ok, so this is a big one for many businesses, and understandably so. But the reality is, moving to press fittings requires an initial investment that some contractors may deem too high to justify. One system runs in the ballpark of $4,000, so depending on how many sets your team needs, your final upfront cost could easily land in the five-digits. 2. TRAINING AND LEARNING CURVE In the grand scheme of things, learning how to solder, thread or weld actually takes far more practice and skill to deliver a solid connection compared to the press fittings method. However, that doesn’t mean there isn’t a learning curve to using the system effectively. Contractors will need time to train with their new press system in order to properly install connections, so we recommend including training in your transition timeline from the beginning.
3. TOOL MAINTENANCE AND COMPATIBILITY With any specialized tool system, your gear will require regular maintenance to get the most out of its lifetime performance. Additionally, you will want to take a look at the other pieces of equipment you work with to see if a Viega system is compatible. If not, there may be more costs involved to replace incompatible pieces. 4. COST OF MATERIALS Compared to the materials needed for traditional methods, Viega fittings tend to be more expensive per unit. This will increase project costs on the front end, which could be recouped with faster, more efficient installation on the back end. Because work speed varies greatly from team to team (even despite speed- enhancing tools), material costs should be factored into the ability of your team and client needs.
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