subject: GRP grating is the smart choice [print this page] For all industrial uses like gratings and floorings, people have traditionally turned to metals like steel for their proven strength and dependability while accepting their many flaws and weaknesses. Now internationally rising prices of metals like steel have made the prices of many industrial products like gratings climb alarmingly and managers and accountants alike are looking for an alternative to these pricey industrial fittings.
This is where a product commonly known as fibreglass reinforced plastic (FRP) or glass reinforced plastic (GRP) comes in. GRP has been around for a long time but advances in its composition and in high strength moulding techniques in the last few years have made new fittings made out of GRP highly competitive compared to steel fittings in most areas. It also drastically reduces prices of the raw materials and the finished products.
GRP is specially advantageous for all manner of industrial application because of some of its inherent properties. GRP is super strong and very light. It weights about half as much as equivalent steel components and is much stronger than them. It can resist drop and crush impacts of a much greater force than steel and one major advantage for all factories is that GRP has great resistance to all manner of chemicals and corrosive substances unlike steel which needs coatings, paints and treatments to withstand chemicals and just plain corrosion from moisture in the air. These treatments cost a lot of money and take a lot of man hours to apply. Also they have to be reapplied regularly at least once a year to keep the metal safe. GRP gratings and other fittings require no such care or maintenance which translates into major savings in cost and time.
Due to its light weight and ease of machinability GRP is very easy to cut and work with. No heat or specially hardened cutting tools, saws or blow torches are required to work with it. GRP can also be manoeuvred into position without any heavy lifting equipment. Just one or two workers can normally fit GRP solutions with ease. This reduces costs and the chances of any accidents by a large percentage. GRP is also transparent to radio transmissions unlike metals, so less wireless equipment is needed. In fact things such as wireless radios and cellular phones will get much better reception in factories fitted with GRP grating and floorings. GRP is truly the material of the future for all industrial applications.
