New, Pre-Fabricated, Plastic Endwall System Offers Solutions to Labor-Intensive Drainage Installations Building a suitable endwall for drainage pipe can often be a challenge. Concrete works well, but is expensive and time-consuming to install. Other treatments, including block, stone, and ties, are easier to install, but often result in maintenance problems down the road. Now, a Pennsylvania company, Hartman Products L.P., has developed the first, lightweight, pre-fabricated endwall system made entirely of plastic. Early installations of the HartmanEW System are showing great promise in solving many problems associated with traditional endwalls. One of the first installations was completed in O'Hara Township, PA, a suburb of Pittsburgh. According to Township Engineer, Bob Robinson, the HartmanEW was "easier to install and a lot more economical than other endwall systems." It took two men approximately an hour to install the system in O'Hara, and Robinson says, "It's working just fine." Rob Nymick, Chairman of the Center Township PA Board of Commissioners, has purchased eight units and says, "There's a big installation savings compared to concrete." "One person can pick up the HartmanEW System and set it in place, while the rest of the crew continues to dig the trench line and install pipe. In order to install concrete endwalls, I would have to pull three guys off the trench line." Mike Hurdzan, Hurdzan/Fry Golf Course Design, Columbus, OH, believes the new system will provide an attractive method for handling drainage on golf courses. "I think they are a very attractive and inexpensive alternative to stone endwalls." Says Hurdzan. "I also like the fact that they adapt to different size pipes from 12" to 18" in diameter." Bruce Hartman, founder of the company, says "the system is easy to install, costs less than traditional endwalls, and requires virtually no maintenance once in place. It is made of linear, low-density polyethylene, a rugged plastic that can stand up to lots of abuse. The system has a hollow base that can be filled on site with a variety of materials - from sand to concrete." Major applications include highway and roadside drainage systems. However, the HartmanEW System has a cut stone design, making it an attractive alternative to traditional endwalls on golf courses, home landscaping, in parks, rails to trails, and other recreational areas. It is available in three colors - light sandstone, dark sandstone and gray. The system consists of four pieces - 1) a base section which serves as the main body of the endwall and has an opening for 18" plastic or 15" concrete pipe; 2) an additional section to adjust for height and depth requirements (of the pipe, roadway, etc.); 3) a lid section; and 4) a ring adapter for 18", 15" or 12" diameter pipe. Plastic, concrete or metal pipe can be used with the system. The system's lid is designed to accommodate DEL florescent striping. Dimensions of an assembled unit are 3' high x 5' wide x 1' deep. The height of the system can be adjusted to fit most applications by simply adding additional sections between the base unit and the lid. Sections are sold separately, but the overall price of the standard unit is less than $500. Sections easily fit together and are held in place by screws. The only tool necessary for assembly is a cordless screwdriver or drill. A standard four-piece unit weighs less than 100 pounds. Hartman Products L.P. manufactures the patented HartmanEW System, which is headquartered in Pittsburgh, PA. Bruce Hartman is the founder and President of the Company. For more information, visit the company's website at www.hartmanew.com; phone (412) 968-5774; email Bruce Hartman at Bruce.Hartman@hartmanew.com or write to him at Hartman Products, 103 Emily Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15215.