Towmate Trailers has expanded its LaySAFE® pipe handling solution with the unveiling of a new retrofit capability, bringing modern safety technology to existing pipe trailers – eliminating the need for full trailer replacement.
Covering the full spectrum from 90mm through to 180mm, the retrofit system delivers a full suite of LaySAFE® benefits to older fleets, transforming legacy trailers into safety-first assets.
Originally developed to address the serious risks of stored energy and manual handling injuries in traditional coil pipe installations, LaySAFE® ensures safer and faster installations using a completely mechanical system, with no hydraulics or external power required.
Now, instead of investing in entirely new trailer fleets, contractors can simply retrofit LaySAFE® onto their existing units, improving crew protection, reducing installation time and saving operators up to £4,600 per 100 metres of pipe laid, compared to stick pipe methods.
Mounting concerns around coiled pipe safety have only intensified since the 2023 HS2 incident, which highlighted the dangers posed by uncontrolled pipe release. LaySAFE® offers a preventative solution that improves safety without adding operational complexity.
With LaySAFE® fully approved by Cadent Gas, the UK’s largest gas network supplier, the system feeds coiled pipe through a rear-mounted guide box and a series of rollers that control release, prevent ovalisation and eliminate the guesswork associated with traditional methods. The result is a reliable performance every time, with no recoil, no overstress and no compromise on safety.
Almost exactly a year on from LaySAFE®’s launch in 2024, Steve Bradshaw, managing director of Towmate Trailers, said:
“Asset safety, cost-efficiency and regulatory compliance are all coming under greater scrutiny across the industry. LaySAFE® was designed with these real-world challenges in mind. By removing stored energy risks and simplifying the installation process, we’re giving crews a tool that genuinely makes their jobs safer and easier.
“A year on from launching LaySAFE®, we had repeated calls from contractors who wanted to improve safety across their fleets but were hesitant about the upfront cost of replacing their trailers entirely.
That’s why we’re delighted to reveal this latest offering – a retrofit system that makes it possible to upgrade existing pipe trailers with the full LaySAFE® capability, without needing to start from scratch.
“Our retrofit system is a low-complexity, high-impact upgrade that transforms older pipe trailers into modern, safety-first workhorses. For contractors working with ageing fleets, it’s not just a cost-saving option; it’s a practical way to bridge today’s safety standards and extend the life of equipment they already know and trust.”
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