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RICO is quality and RICO vouches for it! RICO has given its customers a 3-year guarantee on all its products for almost 10 years. Action speaks louder than words. The guarantee in itself gives our customers a general and unique security. This security is now being extended even further with the RICO fully comprehensive insurance cover. It is acknowledged that RICO products are insured against everything except wilful intent, ageing, wear and war in the first 3 years. Here the facts in brief:

 
Insurance against unforeseeable damage especially due to:

1. Operating errors and carelessness
2. Short-circuits, overcurrent or overvoltage
3. Theft or burglary
4. Fire, lightning or explosion
5. Damp and water
6. Storm, frost, ice or flooding
7. Design, material or execution defects where the RICO warranty does not apply

What damages are not insured?

1. Damage caused by wilful intent
2. Damage due to ageing or wear
3. Damage due to war, civil war, insurgence, nuclear energy and nuclear radiation
   

Three good reasons for your security:

1. Best possible protection of your investments when purchasing
2. Always the best premium and lowest percentage excess
3. One phone call is usually enough and you can carry on working

What does the insurance cost?

Call RICO or better still your direct sales representative or send an e-mail to RICOVollkaskoSchutzbrief@rico-gmbh.de
 
Here you will find further answers to frequently asked questions about the fully comprehensive insurance cover online:

to the FAQs fully comprehensive insurance cover

Crawler FW 300 Tractor

History:

In 2005/06 RICO GmbH began expanding on the English market. The company was them faced with the new task and at the same time the challenge of developing a large trolley which can travel unflushed drains DN ≥ 400 on tractor tyres.

This task was new in the sense that the classic RICO equipment is basically designed for inspecting only flushed, i.e. cleaned, drains which are usually free from obstructions. In unflushed drains on the other hand frequent “surprises”, unexpected obstructions and poor grip of the wheels are to be expected. These application conditions therefore demand a totally different design concept for the trolley

• large wheels with stud profile for good traction on uneven and soft ground
• large floor clearance
• ability to climb over obstructions, with high torque reserves of the drive
  
• low centre of gravity and wide, low construction for good positional stability and protection against tipping over

Preliminary tests soon revealed that such properties could only be achieved with a totally new design because the concept of the existing trolleys was highly unsuitable for these tasks. A name for this new trolley was soon found: FW 300 Tractor. It has very distinctive features:

• large wheels ( “tractor wheels“, i.e. wheels with tractor tread ø 272 mm ), climbing ability, ability to climb over obstructions ( height of approx. 10 cm )
• high torque, much bigger motors, more powerful gears and axle drive
• high floor clearance ( ≥ 75 mm; FW Tractor has 78 mm )

Only one feature in common with the existing trolleys was consciously retained: the ED concept and ED electronics from the FW 200.

Other important design features for this new trolley were dictated by practical conditions:

• The FW 300 Tractor could not be longer than the existing FW 200 to avoid difficulties entering the shaft.
• Use with 6 wheels (in small pipe diameter) also possible, 6 wheels in order to easily be able to climb over smaller obstructions on which the trolley could jam in the middle .
• Design principle: wider rather than high >>> favourable centre of gravity, stability
• Drive as simple, robust and uncomplicated as possible, this meant:

1. motor, planetary gear on one axis
2. axle drive by robust bevel gear without additional axle reduction following
3. driving of the second axle by a chain instead of several spur gears in the gear case, therefore
   • lighter construction
   • lower losses in the force transmission ( = higher efficiency )
4. motor gear unit can be lifted up for easier servicing
5. improved thermal motor/housing coupling, longer life as a result

• Also:
  low weight because approx. 35 kp traction force are enough to easily pull 600m of single-wire cable. Unnecessary surplus weight only stresses the trolley and makes it cumbersome ( mass ) so that the climbing ability suffers. For this reason, the housing of the FW 300 Tractor is made of aluminium instead of VA or brass. The FW 300 Tractor is therefore lighter than the FW 200.
• Widening ( due to reinforcement of motor / gear ) as low as possible to be able to fit into small diameter pipes.
• Compatibility with as many existing electrical and mechanical modules in and around the FW 200 as possible, namely

1. lectronics, size, power: motor voltage max. 48V, motor current max. 4A, control ED: identical data
2. lift, camera: attachment, assembly, control identical.
   

The FW 300 Tractor has already been used successfully by Environmental Techniques Ltd. in North Ireland and was the absolute eye catcher among the exhibits at the Sales and Service Partner Convention on the 13th and 14th of September 2007 in Neu-Ulm and the Drain Trader Show in Cheltenham on the 5th and 6th of September 2007. With the Crawler FW 300 Tractor RICO GmbH has reached

More than 30 years of RICO

RICO was founded more than 30 years ago. Today RICO is one of the renowned, internationally active providers of TV inspection technologies for the public and private fresh water and waste water sector.

RICO has one of the largest product portfolios. The necessary inspection techniques are available for pipe diameters from 20mm to DN. Pushin and tractor systems, satellite and well systems 2000 are included. RICO uses state of the art filming and scanner technology. The RICO RPP® hybrid technology is unique and unbeatable in terms of potential analysis accuracy and equal productivity gain (access speed to the inspection results). A branching technique which enables reliable layout planning is offered in the household connection sector. RICO allows growth. The RICO products are highly compatible and therefore offer the possibility of integrating extensions and further technological developments with comparatively low investment as a rule.

A wide network of service points and sales partners supports RICO customers. RICO wants to offer the experts who have to inspect and evaluate the fresh water and waste water pipes the greatest possible benefits – and RICO sets high standards for itself, its products and the industry.

07/2009

RICO: Always better with the original cable

We frequently come across non-original RICO cables which attempt to make up for their possible deficits with a particularly attractive pricing. We want our customers to equip their topclass systems with the original cable and have therefore published our special price list since the IFAT 2008.

Particularly important: If any dealer sells a cable at a cheaper price, we will reimburse our customers 100% of the price difference plus an additional 25% of the difference in the form of a gift voucher!

Make use of this offer in the interests of topclass quality.

Inspection of land drainage pipes
with the RICO branching unit

The RICO branching unit presented as a new product for the first time at the IFAT 2008 (see cover photo) is an extension to push-cable inspection systems which enables inspection of previously inaccessible side drains in the mains and land drainage sector. The branching unit is mounted on the end of the pushcable behind the inspection camera for this purpose and allows it to be steered in the direction of the side drain concerned by rotating and panning the camera mounted on the front to subsequently push it in for inspection. To support the orientation in the drain pipe when using the RICO branching unit, it has the convenient “zero position” operating function with which it can be turned and panned automatically from any position in straight ahead as well as horizontal and vertical direction. The branching unit can be used in pipes with DN 100 to 200 and enables the normal branching angles. The RICO branching unit can be used in connection with all RICO push-in cameras, especially with the panning-rotating SR 50 camera which allows a complete allround inspection in the appropriate side drains. In addition the RICO branching unit can be used in connection with the FW 150 satellite inspection tractor.

The new TINY 8 remote control (see photo) which unites a new operating concept with extended fully programmable functions and a contemporary, robust exterior design serves to control the branching unit and the SR 50 mounted on the front in exclusive push-in operation. This remote control conveniently combines all the previous control functions for the TINY in connection with the SR 50 and also enables switching between control of the SR 50 and the branching unit. All functions are shown on an integrated display. Together with an appropriate software package a full inspection and the creation of three-dimensional ground plans are possible.

The RICO branching unit and the software are convincing in operation by easy handling, the full visual range, no objects in front of the camera so that fully panning of the muffs through 360° as well as a full tilt range of +/-135° are possible. Finally the branching unit is easy to retrofit and convert. This technology satisfies the regulations of the Land Building Directive of Nordrhein-Westfalen.

TV Inspection with the RICO RPP® Hybrid Technology

The RICO RPP® Hybrid Technology*) operates with the unique connection of a scanner representation of the pipe (fish-eye recorder unit) with the recording of the pipe inspection taken with the panning/rotation camera (10x optical zoom) proved by the experience of many years.

*) US patent, European and US patent pending

Fig. 1: The RPP® hybrid camera which carries both the 10x optical zoom recorder unit and the fish-eye recorder unit on the swivel head.

(I) RPP® stands for RICO Picture Processing. This RPP® hybrid technology alone allows the advantageous combination of the features listed below.

1. The drain is recorded permanently, without gaps (at approx. 20cm/s) (fish eye lens).
   
2. The damage can be measured (length, width, area) conveniently by mouseclick (fish key, zoom lens, fold-out pipe view).
   
3. The optical zoom lens enables an unsurpassable resolution in comparison with the fish eye. The camera can be focussed exactly on the appearance to be recorded.
   
4. Muff gaps are scanned and measured fully automatically by pushing a button (optical zoom).
   
5. All inspection results are available in compliance with standards (e.g. EN 13508-2) at the end of the inspection run.
   
6. Comparison of multiple inspections is possible even after many years (fold-out pipe view).
   
7. An experienced operator only needs one day extra training to operate RPP®.
   

Fig. 2: The viewer representation. The graphic, the familiarly intuitive zoom view, the fold-out of the corresponding place in the pipe with measurements and the to-tal overview of the reach.

The zoom images (optical zoom in the panning/rotating camera) are real, familiarly intuitive and superior to the fish eye in their resolution. They show a film so that flowing water is clearly visible. They are proven and meet all the pertinent standards for evaluation for many years.

In the scanner representation (generated by the fish eye recorder unit) measurement is extremely simple and the completeness of the image is unbeatable.

Finally, the scanner representation (folded-out pipe) allows the customer a considerable improvement in productivity in the management, observation and evaluation of the images. 'One glance' suffices to recognise and assess the condition of a reach even in a comparison of many years.

Fig. 3: The folded-out pipe of a reach at 'one glance'

(II) Remark: All views processed by software (industrial image processing (IIP), Machine Vision) which are generated on the basis of initially real images are calculated, virtual images. This also applies when two or more recorder units can used in combination. However, every computing step can lead to data losses, i.e. generate phenomena which do not match the real image. A particular problem here is that these phenomena are no longer recognised as such in the image as a rule and therefore remain hidden to the viewer.

RICO has discerned this problem and found a solution in the realization of the worldwide unique RICO RPP® Hybrid Technology. Thanks to the well proven panning/rotating camera (with 10x optical zoom) an unchanged real high quality video recording is always available. As these recordings are not treated with any kind of image processing, information loss hereby is precluded so far. If the images of the panning/rotating camera are not available, the view of the video recording will have to be replaced by computed and therefore possibly faulty film representations.

Fig. 4: Detailed view of a foldedout pipe for measurement, with the inclination evaluation added.

(III) With a software-controlled muff routine (radial scan) the panning/rotating camera can be controlled so that, with the support of the zoom, the muffs are scanned automatically, the views computed onto the plane, the muffs placed next to each other for comparison, the gap measured and the measurement result output.

Fig. 5: The muffs of a reach shown next to each other and with the result of the fully automatic gap measurement added. In the example the muff gap is an average 9 mm wide at a standard deviation of 5 mm and a maximum muff gap width of 15 mm. 92% of the pipe circumference could be used for the measurement. No perfect detection was possible for the remaining 8% so that these were not used for the calculation. This happens for example when there is water in the gutter.

(IV) Is the unique RICO RPP® hybrid technology affordable?

Since the IFAT 2008 in Munich which also marked the 30th anniversary of the founding of RICO it applies for example that: the RICO RPP® hybrid technology is installed free for 12 months on buying a RICO HIGHLANDER camera tractor. After these 12 months expire a single, reasonable fee is due. This means that the RPP® hybrid technology is as inexpensive as it is unique.

Fig. 6: The RICO RPP® workstation in the utility model protected (untested protection right) vehicle equipment RPP®-HIGHLANDER.

(V) The RPP® hybrid technology was presented in 2003 for the first time at the ENTSORGA Cologne. More than 40 RICO RPP® hybrid systems were delivered to Germany, Italy, Croatia, Liechtenstein, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Rumania and Switzerland.

07/2009

Fairs 2009

The RoKaTech attracted a large public, the fair in China impressed with an excellent atmosphere and keen demand, Berlin is a must in communal sales.

Kassel - RoKaTech 2009

RICO mit seinem sehr gut besuchten Messestand auf der RoKaTech im März 2009

Berlin - "Wasser Berlin"

RICO auf der "Wasser Berlin" 2009

Guangzhou - "Water China 2009"

Auf der erfolgreichen "Water China 2009" in Guangzhou zusammen mit
unserem Vertreter Ming SUN und seiner Mitarbeiterin Lucy.

Dubai - "WETEX"

RICO auf der "WETEX" 2009 in Dubai

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