TPT March 2025

This not only lowers installation costs, but increases the speed of deployment, allowing more to be installed in the same time frame, enhancing overall revenue. Composites also excel in corrosion resistance. In harsh marine environments, where wide diameter tubes might serve as structural support for piers, composites can have a service life that surpasses that of traditional materials like wood or steel, which can begin to corrode within five to ten years. While building standards and codes account for the expected durability of these materials, composites can offer a longer lifespan, translating to lower maintenance and replacement costs compared to metals. Future applications The role of wide diameter composite tubes is set to expand significantly as demand for sustainable infrastructure solutions grows. Their high strength-to-weight ratio makes them ideal for applications such as pedestrian bridge supports or in the rehabilitation of existing structures, offering a durable and low maintenance alternative to traditional materials. In robotics, the use of wide diameter tubes in large scale manipulators is expected to increase, with composites enabling the creation of lightweight yet robust structures. Similarly, in aerospace, these tubes could become integral to support structures for aircraft and spacecraft, contributing to weight reduction while maintaining strength. As engineering embraces these innovations, wide diameter composite tubes are becoming essential across projects from water infrastructure to modern aerospace due to their strength and durability. To see how these advancements can impact your projects, visit www.exelcomposites.com/composite-solutions/ composite-tubes/ and discover the benefits of composite materials.

Lauri Turunen, product manager for tubes, Exel Composites

This continuous production process involves drawing reinforcing fibres, such as glass or carbon, through a resin matrix and curing them in a heated die to create lightweight, durable profiles with exceptional precision. Pultrusion significantly reduces material waste and ensures consistent quality, making it an efficient and reliable solution for producing high performance tubes. For instance, glass fibre has a density of around 2.5g/cm 3 , approximately 75 per cent less than steel at 7.85g/cm 3 , despite possessing superior strength. This gives composites an edge over other materials. Although glass fibre may come at a higher material cost, its lighter weight makes it quicker to install and requires few personnel, ultimately lowering labour costs and speeding up project timelines. A case in point is EasyStreet Systems, a company that uses and installs composite utility poles for smart infrastructure projects. By opting for lightweight composites, it can reduce the installation time, and the number of staff required, with many poles being installable by a single person. About Exel Composites Exel Composites is one of the largest manufacturers of pultruded and pull-wound composite profiles and tubes and a pultrusion technology forerunner in the global composite market. Its forward-thinking composite solutions made with continuous manufacturing technologies serve customers in a wide range of industries around the world. Customers can find its products used in applications in diverse industrial sectors such as wind power, transportation and building and infrastructure. It prides itself on its R&D expertise, collaborative approach and global footprint. Its composite solutions help customers save resources, reduce products’ weight, improve performance and energy efficiency and decrease total lifetime costs. Headquartered in Finland, Exel Composites employs more than 600 people around the world and is listed on Nasdaq Helsinki.

Exel Composites Plc pilvi.tahtinen@exelcomposites.com www.exelcomposites.com

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TUBE PRODUCTS INTERNATIONAL March 2025

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