GRP

Steel

Aluminium

Timber

Excellent Corrosion Resistance

Can be designed to suit most chemical environments.

Low Corrosion Resistance

Subject to oxidation and corrosion.Requires painting or galvanizing.

Low Corrosion Resistance

Subject to galvanic corrosion. Requires anodizing or other coatings

Low Corrosion Resistance

Can warp, rot and decay from exposure to moisture, water and chemicals. Requires coatings or preservatives.

Lightweight

(Up to 80% lighter than steel & approx. 30% the weight of aluminium)

Extremely Heavy

Requires heavy lifting gear to manoeuvre.

Lightweight

(about 1/3 that of copper or steel)

Dependent on size

Extremely High Slip Resistance

Relinea’s integral grit finish offers the highest degree of slip resistance ever measured for a walking surface, even in wet or oily conditions.

Little or No Slip Resistance

A major health & safety risk for companies.

Little or No Slip Resistance

A major health & safety risk for companies.

Little or No Slip Resistance

A major health & safety risk for companies.

Non-Conductive

No earthing required.

Conducts Electricity

Earthing required.

Conducts Electricity

Earthing required.

Non-Conductive

No earthing required.

High Strength-to-Weight Ratio

Stronger than steel on a kg-for-kg basis.

High Strength

Heavy in weight to achieve its high strength properties.

Low Strength

Dependent on Size

To achieve reasonable strength properties product sizes have to be extremely large.

High Impact Resistance

Will not permanently deform under impact.

Medium to Low Impact Resistance

Can permanently deform under impact.

Low Impact Resistance

Easily deforms under impact.

Medium to Low Impact Resistance

Can permanently deform under impact.

Easily Field Fabricated

Can be easily field fabricated using simple carpenter tools with carbon or diamond tip blades. Lightweight for easier erection and installation.

Fabrication more Complex

Often requires welding and cutting torches. Heavier material requires special handling equipment to erect and install.

Fabrication more Complex

Welding, brazing, soldering or mechanical joining required.

Easily Fabricated

Fabricated using tools such as jigsaws and circular saws.

Maintenance Free

GRP has a design life of 50 yrs.

Constant Maintenance Required

Due to rust, damage, or re-painting. High cost implications.

Constant Maintenance Required

Due to rust, damage, or re-painting. High cost implications.

Constant Maintenance Required

Due to rot, decay, re-painting, or insect attacks. High cost implications.

Long Term Cost Savings

Lower installation and maintenance costs in industrial applications = very low lifecycle costs.

Low Cost, High Maintenance

Lower initial material cost, however costly to maintain. High lifecycle costs.

Low Cost, High Maintenance

Lower initial material cost, however costly to maintain. High lifecycle costs.

Low Cost, High Maintenance

Lower initial material cost, however costly to maintain. High lifecycle costs.

Good Ergonomic Properties

The innate elasticity of GRP provides comfort to workers as it has a slight ‘give’ underfoot.

No Ergonomic Properties

Steel does not provide comfort underfoot. Can lead to back ache for workers who are on-foot for long periods of time.

No Ergonomic Properties

N/A

Good Ergonomic Properties

Provides comfort underfoot

Transparent to EMI/RFI transmissions.

Can interfere with EMI/RFI transmissions.

Can interfere with EMI/RFI transmissions.

Transparent to EMI/RFI transmissions.

Pigments added to Resin

The pigments provide colour throughout the part. No maintenance required. Bespoke colours available.

Painted or Dyed for Colour

To maintain colour and corrosion resistance, repainting may be required.

Painted or Dyed for Colour

To maintain colour and corrosion resistance, repainting may be required.

Primed and Painted for Colour

To maintain colour and corrosion resistance, repainting may be required.