Youfa's "Socket-Type Flexible Joint Anti-corrosion Steel Pipe" passes the highest-level appraisal by the Ministry of Water Resources.

Recently, the "Socket-Type Flexible Joint Anti-corrosion Steel Pipe" developed by Tianjin Youfa Pipeline Technology Co., Ltd. successfully passed the appraisal at a new product appraisal meeting organized by the Comprehensive Business Bureau of the Ministry of Water Resources. The appraisal committee was formed with Cheng Dehu, an expert from the Ministry of Water Resources' South-to-North Water Diversion Project Committee, serving as the chairperson, and Cao Shulin from the Ministry of Water Resources' Hydraulic Metal Structure Quality Inspection and Testing Center as the deputy chairperson. Additionally, the committee comprised ten authoritative experts from the following institutions: Changjiang Survey, Planning, Design and Research Co., Ltd., Shandong Provincial Water Conservancy Survey and Design Institute Co., Ltd., the Water Resources and Hydropower Planning and Design General Institute of the Ministry of Water Resources, Yellow River Engineering Consulting Co., Ltd., Tianjin University, China Water Resources Beifang Investigation, Design and Research Co., Ltd., and Shanxi Provincial Water Resources and Hydropower Survey and Design Institute. After rigorous review, this product was unanimously recognized as having advanced technology, reliable performance, and overall reaching the international advanced level, thus possessing the conditions for large-scale promotion and application. 

At the beginning of the appraisal, leaders from the Comprehensive Affairs Bureau of the Ministry of Water Resources and members of the appraisal committee visited the exhibition hall of Youfa Cultural Center. Subsequently, they conducted an in-depth inspection of the production workshop, where they examined key production processes, core quality control points, and the full quality inspection procedures for core products such as "Socket-Type Flexible Joint Anti-Corrosion Steel Pipes" with single and double gaskets, as well as socket lap welding. They inquired in detail about the product development approach, technological innovations, and practical application scenarios. The delegation highly commended the company's stringent quality control system, advanced manufacturing capabilities, and technological innovation.

During the appraisal meeting, the committee strictly adhered to the "Measures for the Administration of New Product Appraisal of the Ministry of Water Resources." They conducted a comprehensive review of the complete set of technical documentation, including the product development summary report, testing reports, and scientific and technological novelty search reports. The committee also engaged in a question-and-answer session regarding the product's core technical parameters.

Through reviewing technical materials, listening to relevant reports, and examining the research, development, and production conditions, the appraisal committee fully affirmed the various advantages of the product. They recognized its innovative breakthroughs in interface structure design, as well as in the development of forming and anti-corrosion equipment. The committee noted that the product has been successfully applied in multiple major projects, demonstrating significant economic and social benefits. The appraisal committee unanimously concluded that the overall technology of the product has reached an internationally advanced level and approved its certification as a new product by the Ministry of Water Resources.

Prior to this appraisal, the product had already been successfully applied in several national key projects, including the backup water source project for the Beijing Winter Olympics, the supporting project of the Yangtze River to Huaihe River Water Diversion, and the Shanxi Major Water Network Project. It has also received numerous honors, such as being listed in the "2025 Key Promotion Guidance Catalog of Advanced and Practical Water Conservancy Technologies" and the "Ministry of Water Resources Directory of Advanced, Mature, and Applicable Water-Saving Technologies (2025)." Additionally, it was recognized as a "Typical Case of Developing New Quality Productive Forces by Private Enterprises in 2025" (in the category of quality and standardization) and as a "2024 Tianjin Intelligent Factory for Socket-Type Flexible Steel-Plastic Composite Pipes."

From the practical validation through serving major national water conservancy projects to earning multiple authoritative certifications and honors, each achievement embodies the innovative craftsmanship of the Youfa team. This not only represents high recognition of the product's performance and quality but also provides strong support for its broader application in water conservancy pipeline network construction.

The product features a complete "Six-Layer Safety Assurance" system, comprehensively addressing critical challenges in engineering:

Taking DN600 pipes as an example, cost savings exceed 200,000 RMB per kilometer. Socket connections do not require professional welders—ordinary workers costing 300 RMB per day can perform the task, compared to professional welders costing 800 RMB per day. Additionally, the method eliminates the need for 400 RMB per joint sealing materials and reduces the construction period from 20 days per kilometer to just 5 days. The comprehensive cost for DN600 pipes drops from 250,000 RMB per kilometer to 35,000 RMB, delivering immediately visible cost-efficiency.

The "plug-and-stabilize" design eliminates welding procedures. In the Anhui Jieshou project, two teams completed 8 kilometers of construction in 15 days, achieving an average daily installation of 500 meters. Moreover, the installation process does not damage the anti-corrosion coating, eliminating the need for secondary repairs and perfectly meeting the urgent timeline requirements of water conservancy projects.

Traditional welded joints are rigid and cannot release stress, whereas socket joints are flexible. This transforms pipelines from "long beams prone to fracture" into "chain-like components resistant to bending." A single socket joint can deflect at an angle of 1°30′ to 3°30′, effectively absorbing seismic and ground movement stresses.

The installation quality is highly reliable. Plastic-coated steel pipes can operate safely for over 50 years under working pressures below 2.5 MPa, adapting to complex terrains such as slopes and crossings. With low flow resistance and minimal head loss, these pipes also deliver long-term energy savings.

For small-diameter steel pipes (630 mm and below), post-welding internal coating repair is extremely challenging. Limited workspace makes it difficult to achieve uniform and complete internal anti-corrosion coating, often leading to issues such as missed spots, uneven thickness, and poor curing. These defects turn welded joints into the weakest points of corrosion protection, making them prone to corrosion and perforation over time. Socket connections eliminate the need for frequent repairs, reducing repair and replacement costs by over 30% and offering outstanding long-term economic benefits.

The method requires no on-site open flames or hazardous materials like acetylene, eliminating fire risks at the source. The simple operation reduces worker labor intensity by over 50%, minimizing quality issues caused by fatigue and ensuring a safer construction process overall.

In the future, Youfa Pipeline Technology will leverage the product's successful certification as an opportunity, with the Tianjin Youfa Water Conservancy Pipeline Application Research Institute as a driving force, and relying on the group's nationwide and overseas strategic layout, to meet the high-quality development needs of water conservancy projects. Coinciding with the crucial juncture of the "15th Five-Year Plan" for water conservancy's modernization, the nation is vigorously promoting the construction of a modern water network system. Major inter-basin water transfer projects, irrigation area upgrades, rural water supply security, and digital twin water conservancy are releasing massive market opportunities, providing ample space for high-end pipe technology innovation and application expansion.