Composite utility poles may eliminate toxic waste

APPLICATI R@ European team to demonstrate benefits of A PROJECT build

(FRP)

used in conditions involving ous

gate

underway

gramme

and in

Netherlands

the

rently

and

to investigate

includ-

assess

Indust-

behaviour

Structural and

Resins

KEMA,

joined

to

demonstrate benefits a

the

of FRP

primary,

water

in

will

Ministry

the

be the of

Public

Works

Dutch

The

wooden

lock

at Spiering-

Transport,

of the Netherlands. intended

Water

lock gate,

of two

doors

sluis in the South-west

and

Management. consists

of the

develop

the adheand

which

doors,

railing pultruded

two

according

4 m x 8 m, will replace

the

Since it is

will

grating

FRP this

and

be produced

will

be installed

repair under

the existing

condi-

materials

establishing long

term

is very

in

materials and

for

because and,

traditional

the

suitable

application

of

unlike

it does

not

eco-

of the FRP lock gate with

and steel concepts.

Ben Drogt, steel

The

environmental

also be compared

wood

construction such as wood,

concrete,

and

aspects will

of the

used.

nomical

its durability,

FRP and if all goes to schedule

gate

later this year.

to have a full FRP

gate,

each

lock

region

to

technology

behaviour

Heading

project

impact and

the

immersed

and

structure

tions, The Spieringsluis lock gate in the Netherlands is to be rephced with a composite structure.

full

structure.

the

sion

has

forces

cur-

underway

ing

DSM.BASF

pro-

is

Belgium, ries,

with

A research

A group

institutes

continu-

contact

water.

in

of companies

PPG

if

plastic lock

Europe.

frequent

maintenance

a frbre

reinforced is

require

to

, engineer

design and

FRI? lock gates

Structural

DSM.BASF

Resins; tel: +31-

38-4569-408.

Composite utility poles mav eliminate toxic waste d

WOODEN leaking

utility

toxic

soon be a thing replaced

will

make the

pole.

president

of Powertrusion

International

Arizona, ny

of the past if

Turner,

CEO

2000

may

by a composite

Dr Daryl and

poles

chemicals

lighter

a chemical

after

In addition

waste

the pole

rots.

to the environ-

concerns

caused

the use of chemicals,

by

it has

ite pole

will

and cheaper erect.

make

be the

stronger utility

pole,

ty poles

than

the utilities

companies

are working

with

will

most

environ-

friendly

replace-

available.

At present utility

poles

treated

with

for domestic

announced

tained

while the power

and

an

Lasting

up to four times

are chemically

as long as a wooden

pesticides

light weight,

corrosion

tant

of the compos-

have shown

that these

Plastics June 1998

benefits

is still

reducing

the

to utility

reinforcements

are

to

its new product.

investment exceed

is expected

$25

Letters

of intent

signed

with

been

companies

Fiber

in

York,

Philippines,

is

and China.

In each joint ven-

ture plans

call for an invest-

and

the

resin from

North

Mexico,

million. have

New

Dan

Made

designs

and

Glickman,

trusion 2000

by the pultrusion the pole is offered

India,

the

the Middle

East

ment of $3-4 million.

Carolina,

USA.

five

and market Total

for seven

to manufacture

from

isopolyester

process

plans

products

Reichhold,

pole, the resis-

main-

has recently

Industries,

E-glass USA,

wooden and

The

sion take on the revolutioncould drop to close to zero.

the

on, substantially

ary new

number

Powertrusion joint ventures

Glass

this

techniques.

that the pole is more

Powertru-

pole,

by comparable

installed

use. If that

10% less than

made

easily

workers.

pole,

poles

means

year in the US to make utili-

composite

used

approximately

it also

says that

that five mil-

and

As the materials

are non-conductive

risk of electrocution

been estimated

it easier

to transport

lion trees must be felled each

also

Reinforced

the

and

and

studies

into

the poles are in

manufacture

other

ment

use, creating problem mental

Inc,

leak when

compa-

any

mentally

ground

USA, whose

the product, new

pesticides

in

costs

tel: +l-602-951-8111;

+l-602-948-4352.

Power-

International:

fax: