Pultrusion enables continuous process for production of composite profiles, in our company fiber reinforced polymers or GRP, with constant cross section and mechanical properties tailored to specific purposes.
Learn more in this animation video.
Pultrusion is our manufacturing process which is a continuous process ensuring a constant cross section and a consistent quality that can be reproduced. In principle, the pultrusion process is simple and has been used since the 50s in its basic form.
The raw material in our pultrusion and what make up our composite profiles are fibreglass threads and mats and a resin – typically polyester. In our pultrusion process, this results in a combination of a corrosion-resistant, strong and light material, perfect for bearing constructions for industrial purposes and building.
Learn more about the most common industries where our fibreglass building profiles are being used.
Every time you buy from us, you get the same high quality. This is the most obvious advantages of our manufacturing process. It enables us to produce a consistent high quality - reproduced time after time with mechanical properties tailored for the specific cross section and purpose.
Our pultrusion process enables a good working environment for our employees. In this matter our pultrusion process differs from traditional pultrusion having a fully enclosed process that keeps evaporation of solvents at a minimum. In a traditional pultrusion process the fibres are impregnated through an open resin bath.
The unique possibilities the pultrusion process enables in our manufacturing process gives our product a unique combination of advantages not found i other traditional materials. Therefore our fibreglass profiles provide a cost effective alternative to traditional building materials. Learn more about the 10 most important advantages of GRP here
At Fiberline, pultrusion takes place by continual reinforced material being pulled through a guide where the fibres are placed precisely in relation to the constant cross section of the profile. The fibres are then led through processing equipment where they are impregnated with the matrix material. The combined mixture of fibres and matrix is pulled on through the heated equipment where the profile is cured in its final geometry. The fully cured profile is then pulled forward to a flying saw which cuts the profiles into defined lengths.
The actual combination of reinforcement in a profile, in other words, the type and number of continual fibres, as well as the type and dimensions of complex weaves and mats are arranged in a way that facilitates visual checking when the fibres and mats are positioned in a profile. Precise positioning of fibres and mats in relation to the cross section of a profile is very important to the properties and qualities of the finished product.
When the reinforcement is pulled into the processing equipment, the matrix is added by injection. Pultrusion by injection is advantageous in controlling and checking the reinforcement; it speeds changing from one profile to another, and eases matrix changes during a process. The degree of impregnation of the fibres is another decisive factor for the properties of the finished product, and the injection method used by Fiberline always ensures the best possible impregnation. The injection method is a fully enclosed process which keeps evaporation of solvents at a minimum. This ensures a good work environment in comparison with traditional pultrusion, in which reinforcement is led through an open vat containing the matrix.
After the fibres are impregnated with the injected matrix, the entire product moves forward to the next zone in the pultrusion process where heating takes place and where curing of the profile is accelerated. The final curing takes place in the last section of the processing equipment. A profile is thus fully cured and stable in form when it leaves the processing equipment. The pulling power that overcomes friction in the processing equipment – and thus the driving force in the pultrusion process – is provided by pullers placed outside the processing equipment. Pulling can be done by either belts or reciprocal pullers. During the last phase of the pultrusion process, the desired length of the profiles are determined, and the profiles are shortened by a saw mounted to move at the same speed as the profile being pulled out of the equipment. This ensures a continual pultrusion process.
The pultrusion process enables material properties and profile design to be optimized for each individual project. Learn more about our standard solutions here or contact our customer support to learn how we can help you with strong, corrosion free solutions for building and industry.
