Pennsylvania State Senator Gene Yaw toured Advanced Drainage Systems’ (ADS) pipe plant, discussing fair and open competition issues. Senator Yaw visited the ADS manufacturing plant here to gain an understanding of how large diameter thermoplastic pipe is made and to discuss issues of fair and open competition for products used in federal and state projects, the use of recycled plastics in pipe manufacture and ADS’ education initiatives. ADS manufactures high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and polypropylene (PP) pipe – often used in horizontal directional drilling installations – up to 60 inches (1,524 mm) in diameter for storm water drainage and sanitary sewer systems. “It was quite an experience to see pipe that is 1.5 m in diameter being made and to find out that even a standard 6 m piece of that pipe is very strong but also light enough to be easily moved and installed by the crew on a job site,” said Senator Yaw. “When open competition is allowed, material costs for public projects can drop dramatically and also provide the best possible product. “Across the country, open competition could save $22.3 billion for storm water in pipe material costs during the next 10 years. In s...