At first glance, the assets appeared to tell a familiar story: ageing infrastructure, visible weathering, and an assumption that replacement may be required. However, as this inspection demonstrated, visual condition does not always reflect structural performance.

Key findings:
– Assets approximately 45 years old
– Surface dirt, mould, and coating cracks visible externally
– Structural integrity remained strong across all tanks
– Lowest measured PDS: ~60%, well above the critical threshold of 40%
– Asset status assessed as CLEAR for continued service
– Estimated remaining service life >6 years

Importantly, the results were consistent across all five tanks, providing a strong basis for confidence in the overall condition assessment.

These assets had initially been considered for replacement based on age and external appearance alone. By applying detailed inspection and data-driven analysis, the client was able to avoid unnecessary capital expenditure and make more informed asset management decisions.

Originally designed and built by Transfield RPC, these tanks are a clear example of RPC infrastructure designed and built to last, continuing to deliver reliable performance decades later when properly assessed and managed.

Condition assessment is not just about identifying faults. It is about understanding how assets are truly performing and making confident, evidence-based decisions about their future.

If you are assessing ageing infrastructure and want clarity beyond assumptions, contact us on: 02 9624 8900 and we will put in touch with our Asset Services Manager

A highlight of the conference was when our Technical Services Manager, Leigh Spencer, based at our Broadmeadow facility, presented a case study on RPC experience in implementing the new limits for Styrene Exposure. Leigh’s insights sparked valuable discussion on evolving regulatory frameworks and what they mean for businesses operating within the industry.

Events like this play a critical role in advancing industry knowledge, strengthening collaboration, and ensuring we remain aligned with best practices and emerging standards.

Joining Leigh at the conference were Gavin Engelsman, Darren Bishop, Tony Caristo, Diaan Loubser, Vivek Govindaraj, and Dean Whitworth, representing RPC’s ongoing commitment to engagement, innovation, and leadership within the composite’s community.

A great few days of knowledge sharing, networking, and collaboration, thank you to Composites Australia for hosting a fantastic event.

With nearly four decades in the composites industry Leigh’s career has been defined by outstanding technical expertise, leadership, and a strong commitment to innovation. From advancing manufacturing processes and materials science to developing cutting-edge testing capabilities, his work continues to strengthen both industry capability and real-world outcomes.

As Technical Services Manager at RPC Technologies, Leigh has played a pivotal role in mentoring teams, building technical capability, and supporting the next generation of engineers. A strong advocate of our OneRPC culture, he consistently collaborates across the business and supports team members through mentoring and knowledge sharing. His contribution extends across complex infrastructure solutions and the ongoing advancement of composites technology.

We are incredibly proud to have Leigh as part of the RPC team. This is a well-deserved recognition of an exceptional career congratulations, Leigh.

For decades, concrete was the default. Today, RPC through the innovative GRP (Glass Reinforced Polymer) Maintenance shafts are transforming the industry with faster installation, superior corrosion resistance, and significantly longer service life.

At RPC, we’ve been leading this shift for over 20 years. With over 50 years of experience, we’ve delivered some of Australia’s largest and most complex GRP structures. These GRP shaft structures can be installed in days rather than weeks, reducing traffic disruption, labour costs, and on‑site safety risks. Their corrosion‑resistant laminate construction performs far better than concrete in aggressive sewer environments, while remaining lightweight and structurally robust for deep installations. Factory‑controlled manufacturing ensures consistent quality, with integrated vortex structures, drop pipes, and structural liners delivered ready to install.

Designed for a 100+ year asset life, our Australian‑engineered GRP solutions offer a durable, low‑maintenance, and future‑proof alternative to traditional construction. Major water authorities including Yarra Valley Water, Melbourne Water, Queensland Urban Utilities, Brisbane Water, Sydney Water, and Watercare NZ have already adopted GRP for large‑diameter access and maintenance shafts.

We’ve engineered and manufactured the largest and deepest GRP shafts ever produced, up to 7.5 m in diameter and more than 75 m deep, acting as in‑situ cast‑in‑place structures for some of the region’s most demanding projects.

We are proud of the role our GRP expertise continues to play in improving safety, reducing whole‑of‑life costs, and shaping the future of wastewater infrastructure.

For your enquiries, please contact us on 02 9624 9800

Among them were Dougal Whyte, Project Manager at John Holland and a familiar face from the Transfield days, Tino Ferrero FIEAust Ferraro, Senior Manager Operations at Acciona who also previously worked with Transfield, and Peter Scheiwe, Project Director at Acciona with a background from the John Holland days.

It was a great opportunity to reflect on the long-standing connections built throughout the industry and the shared project experience that continues to bring people together across the sector.

Our approach is built on close collaboration with clients, quality at every stage of production, and the agility to adapt to evolving project demands.
For more than 50 years, RPC has invested in local manufacturing, skilled Australian teams and innovative engineering that supports critical industries across the nation.

This Australian Made Week, we’re proud to champion the future of Australian engineering and manufacturing designing, building and delivering high‑performance solutions right here in Australia across our manufacturing plants in Corio, Seven Hills and Broadmeadow plants.

The session strengthened alignment across the business by building clarity, connection and commitment. We recognised what has worked, surfaced where we must evolve, and used those insights to sharpen our focus on the capabilities needed for the years ahead.

The session was not only about strategy; it focused on how we lead, how we empower others, and how we adapt as the organisation evolves, grounded in our Vision, Mission and Values.

As we move into the next phase, we are committed to building a stronger, more aligned and future‑ready RPC, delivering consistent value for our customers, partners and people.

At 15 metres in diameter and operating 20 metres below sea level, this cover demanded precision, collaboration and deep composite expertise. Our teams across Australia and Indonesia delivered exactly that.

Our team undertook method trials to confirm the jointing approach that delivered the highest level of safety, reliability and efficiency for the innovative project.

RPC also fabricated copper‑nickel screens that protect marine life and divers, another example of RPC’s ability to deliver bespoke, high‑performance composite solutions.

From early engineering decisions to on‑site assembly, the project showcased the strength of OneRPC:
Our Australian team scoped, designed and engineered the solution
Our Batam team manufactured the GRP components
Our Broadmeadow team tested and rectified components to ensure perfect fit
Our Site team completed the site assembly.

Congratulations to everyone involved. This is the kind of project that shows what RPC can achieve when our global teams come together.

Our Managing Director, Tony Caristo, shares his viewpoint with Composites Australia, unpacking both the opportunity and responsibility while also reflecting on RPCs’ journey expanding beyond Australia.

With over 50 years of engineering excellence and a growing international footprint, RPC is proud to be part of the journey.

Read the Full Article Here: https://lnkd.in/emy9m2Wy

Riser 3 will connect to the outfall tunnel extending from the shore. It will play an essential role in safely returning concentrated seawater to the ocean. Like the two intake risers already delivered, the GRP structure measures approximately 12 to 14 metres in length with an internal diameter of 1.8 metres. It will be installed into a pre‑drilled offshore hole in water depths of around 20 metres.

The first two intake risers have already been successfully installed offshore. Installation of the outfall riser is scheduled to take place shortly, with the client’s crews currently preparing the structure by installing reinforcing steel on the lower section.

To support internal pressure testing, the riser has been fitted with GRP flanges at both the top and bottom, enabling temporary caps to be attached as sealing systems during testing.

With all three risers now delivered and the intake risers already in place, the project continues to advance toward providing a reliable and sustainable water source for Perth’s growing population.

Congratulations to the Batam team and the Seven Hills Engineering and Project Team for their continued collaboration and commitment in reaching this milestone.

Building on the momentum of previous sessions, this off-site focused on improving our processes, refining customer engagement, and strengthening our market approach. Key themes included the expanding role of AI in our industry, deepening customer relationships, and evolving marketing strategies to better support our sectors.

As always, our discussions were open, insightful, and often included humour, reflecting the collaborative culture that drives our team. We explored how to leverage RPC’s 50 years of engineering and manufacturing expertise while adapting to evolving market expectations and new technologies.

We were pleased to welcome Chris Rose and Rabeea Azeem to their first RPC off-site and have already seen the positive impact they bring to the team.
The two days offered a valuable opportunity for team alignment, knowledge sharing, and forward-thinking discussions. Opportunities like this strengthen our strategy and deepen the connections that make our team effective and cohesive.

L to R: Mark Toh, Chris Rose, Tori Wilcox, Rabeea Azeem, Joanne Crowley, Mina Karagikas, Trevor Clarke, Marc Johnstone, Glenn Clifford, Gavin Engelsman, Tony Caristo