Innovation driver for drinking water systems

Potable water usually flows through lead, copper or steel pipes until the end of the 1980s. Then plastic pipes began to be used. At that time, the recently introduced multilayer composite pipes were a new technology in the sanitary industry. Several layers of plastic and metal are combined. These pipes combine the advantages of both materials: the stability of metal and the corrosion resistance and straightforward handling of plastic.

Geberit was one of the pioneers when the company launched the Mepla composite pipe system – short for metal-plastic – in 1990 as a recognised plastics processor. It marked Geberit's first foray into the drinking water market.

Premiere: Press fittings for plastic pipes
Geberit is constantly improving the system. Originally, the Mepla pipes were connected with metal screw fittings. This is unhandy and time-consuming, especially for larger pipe diameters. Geberit engineers therefore applied the proven principle of press connections to plastic pipes and launched press fittings for multilayer composite pipes on the market in 1992 – a world first. However, the industry was initially extremely sceptical about press fittings – initially made of metal, later of plastic. Plumbers first had to be convinced of the new technology of pressing plastic pipes. Geberit achieves this with comprehensive training and demonstrations of the simpler and faster installation technology.