Ginn announces four Bahamians have received certification as HDPE welding technicians. They will use their skills to complete an extensive irrigation system on the two championship golf courses. Pictured from left to right: Dion Sweeting, Travis Cole, Irrigation Manager, Damien Smith, heavy equipment operator, Mark Hazell of HDPE Inc., Levardo Ellis and Eugene Roker, Alan Boatright, Director of Golf Irrigation.

West End, Grand Bahama Island –With $36 million to be spent on the shaping, landscaping and maintenance of the Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus golf courses at Ginn sur Mer, a high-tech and durable irrigation system is vital. Wade Smith, Senior Vice President of Ginn Golf Division is proud to announce that four Bahamians are at the forefront of this new technology being used for the first time in The Bahamas.

Because a strong irrigation system is necessary to ensure the highest quality of golf courses, Ginn sur Mer has chosen to use high-density polyethylene (HDPE) PVC pipe which is the strongest pipe available to withstand the environmental conditions typical to The Bahamas. The pipe comes in 40 feet lengths and ranges from three inches to 30 inches in width. The pipes are joined by a process called heat fusion welding, whereby, matching pipes are prepared by cleaning and facing. The pipes are then simultaneously melted with a hot-plate heater to 400 – 450 degrees Fahrenheit. The heater is removed and the melted surfaces are pressed together and held under pressure. As the molten materials cool, they mix and fuse into a permanent, monolithic joint. The pipes have a 20 year minimum lifespan and will form the basis of the irrigation system.

Levardo Ellis, Damien Smith, Eugene Roker and Dion Sweeting recently completed training and have been designated certified HDPE Welding Technicians with the capability of training new employees. One dozen additional welders will be hired to assist in completing the task. When completed, the total amount of underground welded pipe will total 200,000 linear square feet. The pipe will be covered by three feet of fill. This will make up the irrigation system.

The newly certified HDPE welding technicians demonstrate the process of building the underground irrigation system for the Ginn sur Mer golfcourses which involves joining high-density polyethylene pipe through a heat fusion process. When the irrigation system is complete it will consist of 200,000 linear square feet of welded pipe underneath the two golf courses. Pictured from left to right: Levardo Ellis, Mark Hazell, Damien Smith.

“We are very proud of Levardo, Damien, Eugene and Dion,” said Wade Smith. “These employees have a keen interest for learning and are enthusiastic about their work. Now that they are certified HDPE welding technicians, I am confident that they will be exceptional trainers.”

“It is a great experience to learn this procedure which is new to The Bahamas,” said welder Levardo Ellis. “The learning process takes time and alot of precision to ensure that everything is done right.”

As described, the heat fusion welding of the HDPE pipes process requires welding machines valued at more than $50,000 each. Currently, the team of welders is using two machines and with one more to be purchased.

“My part comes in with the machine and making sure that the pipes are setup for the welding and the fusion process,” said Damien Smith, a heavy equipment operator at Ginn and now a certified HDPE welder.

HDPE is a very new process that was started in Europe and is now making its way to the United States. Ginn sur Mer is the first company to use HDPE welding in The Bahamas.

“This process is the way to the future and I am privileged to have received training,” said Dion Sweeting, certified HDPE welding technician. ”I can use these skills anywhere in the world.”

The two championship ocean-front golf courses are a major feature of the 4.9 billion Ginn sur Mer project and are being designed by legendary golfers Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer.  The two courses will meet at a grand clubhouse offering amenities and activities including dining, locker rooms and spa services. The golf courses are expected to be finished in 2009.