Sustainable Infrastructure Systems (SIS, Adelaide, Australia) provides sustainable infrastructure projects to diverse customers around the world. With more than 20 years of experience, SIS is also a market leader in providing sustainable alternatives for oil and gas, mining, aviation, aquaculture, ships and ports, transportation and logistics, and agricultural applications.
SIS is establishing a manufacturing partnership with FiberCore Europe (Rotterdam, the Netherlands), Europe's most successful manufacturer of lightweight fiber-reinforced composite bridges and highway decks. FiberCore Europe's InfraCore Inside technology is a global leader in the manufacture and installation of fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) bridges and gates, producing composite structures that meet all standards and government requirements, while providing 100 years of practical maintenance-free service life. More than 900 bridges and gates have been installed from the Netherlands, Belgium, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Sweden, Norway, China, the United States and now Australia-from bicycles and footbridges to the longest span composite bridges in the world.
SIS and FiberCore Europe will jointly form a national centre for manufacturing innovative lightweight composite bridges, including the construction and delivery of sustainable FRP structures in Australia and Oceania. SIS will leverage the strategic distribution capabilities of its partners in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Perth, and establish manufacturing partnerships in Australia, China, North America and Europe. SIS and FiberCore Europe have completed the manufacturing, supply and installation of four FRP composite golf bridges in Australia. InfraCore internal technology is now implemented in shipbuilding, offshore installations and general industry.
Next steps for Australian FRP bridges
"The next step is to bring the production of these FRP bridges to Australia under a manufacturing license agreement with FiberCore Europe," said Nick Wotton, director of structure at SIS. "This will greatly reduce our customers' freight and delivery times, and will completely change the way Australian bridges are manufactured and installed. In the spirit of the company, our goal is to have all structures capable of producing up to 40% of recycled consumption by 2021. Post-waste plastic. "
Wharton has been involved in the Australian sustainable products sector for 24 years, mainly through recycled plastics and recycled wood-plastic composite products and structures. He is responsible for designing and building Australia's first bridge made entirely of recycled wood-plastic composites and is considered a pioneer in the use of recycled plastic in sustainable products in Australia, including being awarded the 2008 Best Green Award at the Australian Infrastructure Awards Product by product.
FiberCore was commissioned by the province of Noord-Brabant to construct the 37-meter clamped compound bicycle bridge on the Gemert Noord-Om highway project in the Netherlands.
Wotton has formed a team of highly skilled professionals, including designers, engineers and product developers. "We now have an agreement with FiberCore Europe to build a manufacturing plant here that uses recycled ingredients to create fully recyclable locally manufactured bridges, deck panels and road decks with a 100-year design life. If processing recycled materials has no manufacturing purpose The circular economy does not work at all. Our bridge we plan to use a large amount of post-consumer waste plastic, otherwise these waste plastics will be sent to landfills. "
Wharton said SIS is currently negotiating with other progressive Australian companies and individuals with a view to further building partnerships. "There are many advantages to low-weight FRP bridges," he explained, noting that site safety risks can be minimized. "Bridge construction is done outside a manufacturing facility in a controlled environment, which also improves quality, predictable costs, and minimizes the complexities that may occur during on-site construction. Off-site production also reduces Interference with railway infrastructure. "