R&D Investment Paying Off for Ragasco

Ragasco, one of the world’s leading producers of composite lpg cylinders, will conclude 2008 with a record-breaking turnover and number of cylinders manufactured, says the company. Year-end lp gas cylinder output is estimated at more than 900,000 units.

The company’s 2006 investment in plant manufacturing capacity has provided its anticipated return, says Ragasco, and it expects to lift its capacity further in 2009 to over 1,250,000 cylinders.

Ragasco is finalising the design of a new lpg cylinder, available in early 2009, intended as a 10kg butane cylinder, although it will be approved for all types of lpg.

“Ragasco maintains an aggressive effort and funding for research and development in order to continuously improve the quality of the Complet composite lpg cylinder and to seek new business,” said Morten Balle, regional export manager at Ragasco. “One of the most important achievements for the company in 2008 relates to the periodic retest interval of the Ragasco Complet composite lpg cylinder.

“In both Germany, which is the country of origin for the notified body, and Norway, which is the country of origin of the manufacturer, we have defined the interval as 10 years. The definition has been made in accordance with ADR part 4, P200, section 3d and ADR part 4, P200, section 9c,” he said.

“The interval was decided based on extensive testing and safety statistics from the market. In particular, the test programme was designed to eliminate any doubt that Complet composite lpg cylinders could suffer fatigue effects of long time and cyclic pressurisation.

This definition of the retest interval is approved and relates strictly to Ragasco’s composite lpg cylinders and not to other manufacturers of composite cylinders in the market,” he said.
The retest process must conform to EN14767 – Periodic Inspection of Composite Cylinders for Lpg. Ragasco is working together with cylinder owners, third party re-testers and other relevant parties to define the process and present it to the applicable authorities in other countries.

Contact Ragasco on +47 61 151600 www.ragasco.com

< Back