POLO-KAL – a modern yet classical solution celebrates its 60th anniversary
A modern yet classical solution came into being in 1957: POLO-KAL.
As one of the first European producers of PVC pressure pipes, POLOPLAST has influenced the Austrian plastic pipes market from the very beginning, showing great commitment and pioneering spirit. These were the early days for the production and application of plastic materials. Were POLOPLAST’s pioneers aware that in creating POLO-KAL they would initiate a history of decades of success? Probably not. A building drainage system made of plastic - this was an absolute novelty to the market in 1957. Positioned as premium product from the very beginning, POLO-KAL has developed to become one of the best known brands in building drainage and the paragon of high-quality, sound-protective waste disposal pipe systems.
POLOPLAST opened the Austrian market for plastic pipes; others merely followed. Soon, not every grey building drainage pipe was a POLO-KAL pipe by POLOPLAST. Development potential was very much in demand, and a lot of intensive research was conducted. Sound and fire protection was an important issue, traditionally mostly connected with cast iron pipes. POLOPLAST discovered an entirely new method and technology of production - the multi-layer technology - thanks to which plastic pipes became equally competent in this matter. A quantum leap was made in 1990: the manufacture of highly sound insulating building drainage pipes POLO-KAL 3S in white: Three pipe layers each fulfil different functions, thus achieving perfect sound and fire protective competence.
But POLO-KAL 3S was only the first step. Thanks to the multi-layer technology, suddenly there were so many new possibilities. Not much later, it was decided to abandon the grey ABS product range and to launch the three-layer sound insulating POLO-KAL NG pipe made of PP in 1994. And this was done without any significant transitional period - as POLOPLAST was so confident of this “New Generation”. It was designed to be unique at first sight. In the meantime, the dove-blue colour has become an unmistakeable feature of the appearance of POLO-KAL NG pipes and is protected by copyright.
Since then, POLOPLAST has set new standards for plastic building drainage pipes several times. POLO-KAL XS, which was introduced into the market in 2013, incorporated a further step towards even higher user friendliness. The strongest asset of the fourth generation of POLO-KAL is its space-saving slim socket. The new funTEC technology reduces the connecting forces to such an extent as to make pipe connecting absolutely smooth - without any lubricant. The Monotec socket makes sure that it is impossible to forget or incorrectly insert a sealing ring during assembly, and sealing rings cannot go missing. The ruler imprinted on the pipes and a special pipe cutting tool make cutting to length fast and easy and save chamfering, another advantage of this system.
Innovation and technical competence (of application) have been important to the success story of POLO-KAL, but the great partnership with wholesalers, plumbers and design offices is also a vital component of its success. Because, at the end of the day, it is mostly the plumbers, the actual final customers who decide on the success of POLO-KAL.