The Plastics & Composites Division operates in two separate plants:  the Thermoplastics Plant and the Reinforced Plastics/Composites plant.  This division designs, manufactures and fabricates thermoplastic and glass-fibre reinforced plastics products for commercial and industrial uses.

THERMOPLASTICS FABRICATION 

        Thermoplastics are plastics which are processed and formed by the application of heat.  Some types may be welded.  In the thermoplastics plant various forms such as sheet, pipe, fittings are fabricated into various products such as hoods, ducting, fans, stacks, tanks, and pumps.

REINFORCED PLASTICS/COMPOSITES - MANUFACTURING AND FABRICATION

      The most commonly used resin is unsaturated polyester, which is processed as a solution in styrene monomer.  The products use high-strength reinforcements such as glass fibres, which are available in various forms including mat, cloth, rovings and woven rovings. 

      FRP products are used in commercial applications including architectural panels, skylights, decorative panels, roof decks, cooling towers and water tanks.  Chemical-resistant applications are found in many industries including coal, oil and gas, plant cooling systems for power plants and petroleum and natural gas plants, geothermal power plants, pulp & paper plants, pharmaceutical and chemical processing plants, mining and mineral processing plants, textile manufacturing plants, and automotive plants.  Other applications are found in ports, offshore platforms and marine applications.  The products made are tanks, piping, pipe fittings, hoods, ducting, scrubbers, stacks and tank covers. Photographs of large FRP tanks and pipes are shown on the front cover.

        The plant also produces dual-laminate products such as process vessels, tanks, scrubbers, pipe and fittings using a thermoplastic inner liner, which is overlaid with glass-fibre reinforced polyester to enhance the structural strength.