Sunday 17 December 2017

Growth Factors and Drivers in FRP Pipes Manufacturing


In manufacturing we are always on the lookout for a better material, one that can withstand any environmental condition, is flexible enough to be shaped as we want, is durable and gives us good value for money. FRP products tick all these boxes. This is why it has been a hugely popular product ever since manufacturers found a way to mass produce it in an economic manner.

One of the most commonly found FRP product is the pipe. FRP pipe manufacturers supply to a range of fields, from industrial to construction. It has also emerged as one of the most favored alternative in these fields, slowly overtaking more conventional material like steel and aluminum. This is despite the fact that FRP can be more expensive than these metals.

Growth in FRP Market
Experts in India predict a robust growth for FRP pipes in India. This is a simple echo of the global upward trend. The global industry is expected to grow at a CAGR of 3.1% in the 2015-20 time periods. The trend continues despite the recent slowdown in the global marketplace. The recovery of international market is only expected to boost it further.

The dominating end use industries in the FRP pipe manufacturing sector will be:

1. Oil & Gas industry
2. Retail Fuel
3. Water distribution
4. Wastewater management
5. Chemical/Industrial products
6. Pulp and Paper

As we can see most of the industries mentioned here deal with corrosive elements, such as oil, seawater and wastewater. In such areas FRP pipes are often the only viable alternative. Other materials like steel and aluminum do not have the corrosion resistance property or the durability. 

Globally, the major market for FRP pipes remains North America. It is followed by Europe and then the Asia Pacific region. However, the biggest boost in growth will come from Asia Pacific region which will soon lead the demand in FRP market. This is mostly because the region contains a number of emerging economies, which are engaged in furious industrialization and development of their infrastructure. Both these activities drive their FRP demands.

Drivers of growth
As mentioned above, growth in FRP pipe manufacturing seems linked to infrastructural and industrial growth.

Demand for better water distribution:
As a number of economies worldwide are now emerging, the demand within their population for better water distraction is inevitable. Coupled with this is the increasing health awareness. Consequently, governments are looking for pipes that are durable, can withstand constant water passage, underground conditions and be strong enough the supply. FRP pipes fit the bill perfectly.

Development of wastewater management:
Along with better water distribution, the need for effective and efficient wastewater management has also increased. In India alone there are a number of wastewater plants under construction. FRP pipes are often the only option for carrying the highly toxic wastewater.

Shale gas exploration:
Gas exploration again requires the transfer of oil and other natural extracts in liquid or viscous form. The challenge here is the high corrosive nature of the liquid. Even highly corrosion resistant materials slowly deteriorate over time. Hence, FRP pipes are often the only option available. With the rise in demand for natural gas, the demand for FRP pipes will also go up. 

Expanding offshore oil and gas industry:
Rising global demand for oil is driving up the expansion of offshore oil and gas industry. Here the FRP offers the only viable long-term solution not just because of the corrosive effects of oil and gas, but also because of the seawater that adds to the highly corrosive environment.

While the demand for water and wastewater management is driven by the developing economies of the Asia-Pacific region, the demand in oil exploration usually comes from North America and the Middle East. Apart from these factors the increasing urbanization and construction activities across the world are also adding to the rise in demand for FRP pipes.

Efforts by the FRP pipe manufacturers, such as introduction of onsite FRP pipe manufacturing facilities, lowering production costs and increasing customization has further added to the demand for FRP pipes. Many manufacturers are now also focusing on the rehabilitation of FRP pipes to lower its environmental impact.

Conclusion

With increasing urbanization and the ever increasing demand for oil and gas, FRP pipe manufacturers will continue to see robust growth.

Friday 29 September 2017

How FRP Pipes Have Become Part of the Urban Landscape


FRP or fiber-reinforced plastic is a polymer matrix that has been reinforced with fibers like all composite materials, FRP combines the qualities of both the components to make a superior combination. The plastic by itself is weak, but when combined with fibers, it achieves a far superior tensile strength and stiffness.

These qualities enable us to mould FRP into pipes. FRP pipes are widely seen in industrial, commercial and residential properties. Because of its unique properties it finds wide usage in a range of fields, from aerospace to the construction industry. Although FRP is sometime confused with simple thermoplastic pipes like PVC, it is very different. The additional reinforcement of fibers give it a completely new character.

History

Although FRP is seen as a modern day product, it actually has a pretty old history. The history is FRP begins when scientists and entrepreneurs realized the existence of polymers and decided to blend two physically different elements for a composite element. The first such composite polymer was bake lite, introduced in 1909.

But it was later in the 1930s that interest in fiber reinforced plastic grew, thanks to the aviation industry. Soon various structures were made, from sheets to boats and planes. But it was still very much at an experimental stage. It was only after production technology and new products were invented/discovered that the mass production of plastics became possible, eventually surpassing steel.

Centrifugal casing and then filament winding brought in the industrial processing if FRP pipes. The process was refined to enable the production of small diameter pipes. Soon production picked up to come up with industrial quantities. It proved to be a big boon for industries like the oils industry where steel was proving too susceptible to corrosion. Soon the production and output was standardized with national and international standards.

FRP Pipes Today

Today fiber reinforced plastics have become so commonplace that they are almost a part of our landscape! They are used in many different ways gratings, cable trays, pipes, roofs, ducts, doors and different equipments. FRP pipes, once used mainly in the oil industry, have grown far and wide beyond that.

FRP pipe has high usability in a range of applications, from carrying water distribution networks to carrying flammable liquids. Let us look at some of these fields:

In wastewater management: Sewer water is highly corrosive and alternative pipe materials such as concrete, steel and aluminum is eventually corroded by its continuous flow. FRP, on the other hand, has a high resistance to such corrosive liquids. Although concrete still remains more prevalent here, FRP pipes are slowly making a wider appearance.

Oil and gas industry: What makes an FRP pipe ideal here is its high resistance to corrosion, ability to withstand pressure and its imperviousness to environmental factors like extreme temperatures. Unlike steel and aluminum, FRP does not get corroded over time while carrying crude oil and other such gases and oils. It can withstand high pressure applications that can go up to 4000 psi. It means that we can use it for carrying highly compressed liquids and gases. Since oil is often excavated in rather inhospitable terrains, such as under seabed, in desert or in the Arctic Circle, the FRP pipe’s resistance to environmental conditions also becomes important. It is often the preferred conduit in these extreme conditions. It can be buried under the earth or underwater without any fear of corrosion. Hence, FRP pipes have wide functionality in oil exploration, excavation, recovery and distribution.

Water distribution network: FRP pipes are already a common sight in many properties. Their light weight and durability means that these can easily be used to fit water systems in residential and commercial properties. However, they are yet have a better penetration in the municipal water systems where steel and concrete are used more often. But FRP’s ability to withstand corrosion and hydraulic pressure means that it can be a more suitable alternative. Many FRP pipe manufacturers are now working on facilitating a FRP pipe-based infrastructure.

Conclusion
Many manufacturers are now focused on the future of the FRP pipe. Given its many advantages, FRP can have a much deeper penetration in a number of industries and fields. Its anti-corrosive properties coupled with its high durability makes it ideal for carrying a number of liquids in extremely inhospitable terrains. 

Wednesday 27 September 2017

Why You Should Invest in FRP Products



FRP products India


Fibre-reinforced plastic or FRP products are becoming increasingly common across various industries. Composed of a polymer matrix that has been strengthened with fibres, FRP products are incredibly strong. The fibres are typically made of glass, basalt, carbon and aramid. Occasionally other material such as wood, asbestos and paper is also used. 

Because of their many qualities, FRP products India are used in a wide range of industries. These include automotive, aerospace, construction, and marine. These products have replaced the more traditional steel and aluminium. For most manufacturing industries, FRP products have simply too many qualities to be ignored.

Lightweight: One of the biggest advantage of FRP is its light weight. FRP has the lowest weight to strength ratio among other similar manufacturing material. At the same strength it weighs one seventh of steel and about half the weight of aluminium. The lightweight matters when we are dealing with installations, such as overhead tanks. It can be even more useful when we have mount the product on an existing structure, as in the case of pipes or when it carries an otherwise heavy material. FRP’s strength with weight ensures that the overall weight can be kept at the minimum.

Resistance to corrosion: Because of their composition, FRP products are naturally resistant to corrosion. Most of their usage is seen in environment where other materials often fall short. They are often used to carry highly corrosive industrial chemicals and in extreme environmental conditions. These products can be submerged or be exposed to fumes, spills and splashes without any effect. Their corrosion resistant property is dependent on the resin content in the product and its laminate. Higher the resin, the more resistance it displays.

Low installation cost: The light weight of the FRP products India also makes it easy to install, bringing down the costs. This makes a significant difference when the product has to be mounted. The light weight means that one can use very basic equipment and manpower to mount it. All associated costs like cutting, welding and lifting are brought down.

Strength: Combined with the light weight, FRP’s strength is a great advantage. It means that we can use a material that is incredibly strong, yet light enough to be carried easily. This is why FRP is even used in ballistic armour. In areas where strength beats every other factor, FRP is used widely, such as in the automotive and aerospace industry.

Economical: There are other elements that show remarkable corrosion resistance as well as weighing light. These include materials like Hastelloy,titanium, Carpenter 20 and Monel. But these are relatively much more expensive. FRP is usually available at extremely economical prices, which is why it is seen in a much wider range of industries when compared to other similar high-grade material.

FRP is also economical in the long run. There are almost negligible maintenance costs because FRP does not rust, erode or chip away. It strength means that it also stays for a long time. Compared to other materials, there is rarely any need for regular maintenance here.


Flexibility: FRP is also very flexible. Combined with its strength, we have a material that can be moulded into many shapes — from elbows for pipes to big structures like tanks. It is also very economical to work with.

Ability to withstand impact: The strong FRP has the ability to withstand considerable impact, making it more than able to withstand heavy wear and tear. It is often deflected during mounting and installing without losing its shape. This means one has access to a material that can undergo rough and intense use without incurring heavy repair costs.

Fire resistant: Depending on the resin quantity and quality in its composition, the FRP will also show high resistance to heat and fire. This makes it suitable for automotive and aerospace usage. It will not melt, catch fire or get deformed. Its ability to keep its composition and shape intact means that it can be used extensively in area where we work with these two elements — fire and heat.

Conclusion

FRP products are fast replacing a number of traditional materials in manufacturing. Its combination of strength, lightweight, flexibility and resistance to heat and corrosive materials means that it has a wide applicability. It also puts it far ahead of the competition. 

Monday 15 August 2016

Manufacturers Explaining Properties of FRP for Strengthening


FRP material is a composite material that is gaining its roots in the construction industry. Manufacturers of FRP gratings India are acquiring more clients for their products and services due to their properties like lightweight, corrosion resistance, high tensile strength, and easy to implementation.  These properties make the FRP material ideal solution for strengthening method of reinforced concrete structural elements. In this article, we will discuss the benefits of FRP usage as composite materials.

Reinforced concrete structures’ strengthening is critical for many reasons like earthquakes, inadequate strength-strain properties, etc. In addition to traditional ways to strengthen the components like jacketing, externally bonded steel plates, etc. advanced composite material has become major component for strengthening of RC structures. Use of FRP materials for strengthening has increased in past few years.

Strengthening Techniques for Concrete Reinforced Structures:

The major objective of repairing is to restore the function of the deteriorated or damaged parts of non-structural elements. Strengthening theory can be explained as the process of enhancing capacity of the damaged components of the structural concrete to its genuine design capacity, or enhancement over the original structure strength. Strengthening of reinforced concrete structures is critical due to many reasons-

•    Earthquake hazards
•    Accidents  like fire, explosion
•    Reinforcement corrosion
•    Incorrect calculations and project applications
•    Unsuitable material usage
•    Inadequate lateral reinforcement
•    Poor workmanship
•    Extra storey
•    Over loading

Do you know the Advantages and Disadvantages of Composite Materials?

Composite materials are advantageous. Some of benefits of using these materials are-

•    High strength to weight ratio
•    Air condition, corrosion and chemical resistance
•    High workability
•    High stiffness to weight ratio
•    Easy formability
•    Low transport cost due to lightweight
•    Low heat conductivity
•    High impact strength
•    Electrical insulation and conductivity

As it is said that there is nothing that comes only with positive side, there are some negatives of composite materials. We will discuss them now.

•    Manufacturing cost is high.
•    Materials are brittle.
•    Materials need refrigerated transport and storage and have short life.
•    Composites need to be contaminant free before repair.
•    Dry composites should be used for repairing as all resin matrices and some fibers absorb moisture.

Matrices are second major components used in composite materials. Their main function is to hold the fibers together, transfers loads and protects the fibers from external influences. Some important properties of matrices materials are-

•    Reduced moisture absorption
•    Low shrinkage
•    Low coefficient of thermal expansion
•    Reasonable strength
•    Good flow of characteristics
•    Low temperature capability
•    Dimensional stability
•    Excellent chemical resistance
•    Flexible to transfer load to fibers

Manufacturers of FRP Gratings India have just explained important properties and advantages of FRP materials. These composite materials are used for fabrication of FRP profiles. If you have queries related to FRP materials or you want to source some FRP gratings, contact manufacturers and suppliers today.

Tuesday 7 June 2016

Why People Prefer Frp Pipes Over Other Pipes?

FRP pipes are used in sea water, water transportation, sewerage, gas, petroleum, chemical etc. these pipes compete with the conventional materials like epoxy coated ms, ductile iron, hdpe, pvc. FRP pipes are non corrosive in nature with long life and a proper selection of resin; this is the main advantage of FRP pipes. These have an inherent advantage of highly corrosive resistant to sea water, cold water for power plants, brine solutions and chlorine/acid. These can be operated at high temperatures continuously. The installation can be done at sea-level or above the ground.


FRP means FIBREGLASS REINFORCED PIPING system. These systems are tested by FRP pipe manufacturers India for their durability and values in stony environments and brutal applications for decades.

The following are the reasons why people prefer FRP make over other pipes:

1)      FRP pipe manufacturers make sure that they FRP pipes which last for a minimum of 50 years. In the entire life time of the pipe, the inside smooth surface never gets damaged.

2)      There is nearly 5-10% difference in the cost as compared to the steel pipes and also these are much better on the cost front as well unlike the pre-stressed cement concrete variety.

3)      These pipes are only 25% of the weight of a steel pipe and also to speed up the installation. These pipes are available up to a length of 12m. Thus the installation process is easy for the FRP pipe manufacturers and handling the pipe is also easy compared to the steel ones.

4)      These pipes can maintain the most demanding structure at the critical tolerances and the piping applications.  The materials with dimensional tolerance and stringent material stiffness are used.

5)      These pipes have low thermal conductivity. This helps in low temperature losses. This also eliminates condensation. There is no need for thermal insulation in addition.

6)      The piping system is corrosion resistant both inside and outside. Hence they can be used for handling saturated brine, dilute acids, organic solvents and many other corrosive chemicals. As it is null corrosive, there is no need for additional lining and exterior coating.

7)      Due to the low friction factor, the pumping cost is very low and a lot of energy is saved during the life cycle of pipe.

8)      Due to the absence of corrosion there is not maintenance cost.

9)      It offers versatility in design. By the proper selection of resin system, these can be made fire resistant. This is the responsibility of the FRP pipe manufacturers.

10)  When FRP pipe manufacturers let the pipe go for cyclic loadings, the pipes provide very high resistance to fatigue. This enhances its performance for a longer period of life.
                                      
Applications of FRP pipes:

These pipes are used in sea water, industrial ducting, effluent water, sweet water, water transmission, well casing, chemical & petrochemical industries, industrial process pipeline, sewer fire protection and many more.

Tuesday 10 May 2016

Making The Best Choice for Cable Trays


Have you ever caught yourself in a situation when you want to buy a cable tray for your place, but get confuse between frp cable trays, ladder cable trays, ventilated trough cable tray and other types of products? In this post, we will discuss about different types of cable trays available at manufacturing units and supplier's store throughout the world.

Ladder cable tray

Industries are using ladder cable trays for about 75% of cable tray wiring system installations. Ladder cable tray with no cover allows the maximum ventilation throughout the cables. This helps in dissipating the heat that is produced within the cable's conductors. These cables don't get premature aging symptoms due to excessive operating temperatures.

Its rungs offer convenient anchors for connecting cables in the non-horizontal cable tray runs. This makes the ladder cable tray ideal for single conductor cable installation. You won't get trouble by moisture as it cannot accumulate in cable trays.

Ventilated Trough Cable Tray

You will only pick a ventilated trough cable tray over ladder design for its aesthetics. There is no drooping of small cables in ventilated model.

Solid bottom cable tray

The reason for taking solid bottom cable tray is to avail protection for delicate circuits. A solid bottom steel cable tray (along with steel covers) offers great extend of protection if there are no holes or breaks in the completed installation.

Engineers and designers hired by FRP cable trays manufacturers specify solid bottom cable trays in the belief that all the electrical circuits need to be enclosed by metal. There are hardly any chances of cable failures in cable tray runs.

FRP cable trays

FRP cable trays are innovative and best products so far. They don't need maintenance and are durable. FRP products are made with fiberglass plastic material that makes the range of products stronger and chemical or acid resistant.

Monday 25 April 2016

How the Makers Carry Out Pultrusion Process?


To understand the concept of pultrusion process, you need to know what exactly the process is. Pultrusion is a continuous process used by FRP pultruded sections manufacturers to produce pultruded profiles with constant cross-sections. It includes resin reinforcement phase as well. Resin used for preparation of FRP sections are of best quality and put into a heated die. Once it is set into the die, resin then undergoes a process of curing known as polymerization. When the polymerization process is done, resin pulled out from the die in solid form.
The pultrusion process involves labor use and is generally performed for bulk production of constant cross section profiles.
Manufacturers of pultruded profiles and sections offer custom pultrusion products. The machines they use are larger in size and unmatched in performance. The machines used by foundries are the keys to successfully manufacturing vast size pultruded fiberglass and pultruded carbon fiber. The custom pulrtuded carbon fiber profiles are well-fitted for strength, stiffness, and geometric requests. These are usually used for high stiffness applications that need a modulus of elasticity. Carbon fiber pultrusions can be made with epoxy, Vinyl Ester, or polyurethane resins.
Other flooring products intended with specialized resin
If you are tired of maintaining your present building materials and want to have something that hardly needs any maintenance or downtime and FRP flooring solutions are best to consider. The range includes fiberglass gratings, molded gratings, fiberglass panels, and decking systems, which is intended and designed to rigid standards.
When you need lightweight, low cost solution that hardly needs maintenance and regular checks, you can count on frp grating solutions that are easily available at FRP pultruded sections manufacturing outlet. Fibertech Global is a company that provides premium range of pultruded FRP and GRP products at reasonable rates.

You can visit their website and write to customer support desk about your requirements. Their experts will respond you soon and will share a quote.