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GRP Laminates Ltd - Working with the Marine, Leisure and Construction Industries

About GRP Laminates Ltd.

> Awards
> What is GRP?
> Useful Web Links

Awards

GRP Laminates Ltd. has been successful, since it began in April 2000. In this time, the company has received numerous awards, as listed below:

Sunseeker Supplier of the Year

At the 2003 Southampton Boat Show, GRP Laminates Ltd were presented with the Silver award for 'Sunseeker Supplier of the Year' - "...for excellence in Quality, Delivery, Cost Management, and Customer Service."

Awards

The Isle of Wight Chamber of Commerce awarded GRP Laminates Ltd as "Small Business of the Year 2003."

GRP Laminates Ltd also received an 'Island Skills and Learning' Award in 2003.

"GRP Laminates has been awarded an ISLA in the category of “ Commitment to Management and Business Development"

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What is GRP?

GRP - meaning Glass Reinforced Plastic, is a plastic resin (usually polyester or epoxy) strengthened by glass-fibre mat or fabric. The term is often used (rather inaccurately) to include plastics reinforced with materials other than glass; carbon fibres, for example, or aramids such as Kevlar.

Polyester Resin is a treacly liquid which, when activated by a suitable catalyst (hardener), sets to a hard, rigid plastic. As a liquid, it naturally adopts the shape of its container - hence it can be poured, painted or injected into a mould, and, once cured, will reproduce the shape of the mould.

The hardened plastic is fairly brittle so glass-fibre materials are added to give considerably increased strength, just as steel rods are used in reinforced concrete.

The combination of polyester resin and glass-fibre produces an incredibly versatile material – strong, durable, weatherproof, waterproof, and non-rusting. Easily moulded to virtually any shape, highly adhesive to a wide range of materials, and capable of making structures of almost any size.

The resin can also be used alone, or with fillers, to make castings which accurately reproduce the finest detail of the mould.

There are numerous instances where GRP can be used as a viable alternative to traditional materials, such as steel or wood, and in many cases, GRP is a more appropriate choice.

The range of items which can be made with these materials is almost unlimited; boats, catamarans, canoes, marine components, vehicle bodywork, shower trays, storage tanks, cladding panels, theatrical props, garden ponds, sculptures, replicas, architectural mouldings, and many more…

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