Polyester Raw material

The Egyptians used glass fibre reinforcement in the fabric of clay jars to stop them breaking during transit, but it wasn’t until the 1930s that GRP as we know it today was discovered.

Mass production was accidentally discovered (in 1932) when a researcher directed a jet of compressed air at a stream of molten glass, and produced fibres; four years later, a suitable resin for combining the fibres with plastic as developed.

WW2 saw the material be used widely in aircraft, due to its transparency to microwaves, and in minesweepers as it leaves no magnetic footprint.

Its characteristics have led to its use in cabinets for electrical and telecoms applications, boats, sports cars, MRI scanners, PCBs, and a raft of building components.

Long service life

High strength to weight ratio

Fire retardant

UV resistant

Lightweight and easy to handle

Strong and durable

Electrically non-conductive

Radar/radio wave transparent

Non-corroding

Aesthetically pleasing

Flexible and versatile

Easy to repair

Recyclable at end of service life

These properties and many more offer significant advantages over other materials like concrete, steel, other metals and non-reinforced thermoplastics e.g. nylon, polypropylene, ABS.

Through Hot compression moulding. This process consists of a polyester being placed into an open mould cavity, before then being closed in by a top plug, in order for the material to contact all areas of the mould.

GRP cabinets & boxes are made from Glass Fibre Reinforced Polyester.

Thermoset polymers as polyester are formed by a chemical reaction, initiated by adding a catalyst, which causes an irreversible hardening of the resin. This is coupled with reinforcement, achieved by the incorporation of glass fibres in the form of fine long strands during the production process.