Orenco and FiberCore Forge U.S. License Deal to Expand InfraCore Composite Technology

 

Orenco Composites (Roseburg, Ore., U.S.) has signed a license agreement with FiberCore Holdings (Rotterdam, Netherlands) for the application of FiberCore’s InfraCore technology in the U.S. This collaboration allows Orenco to increase its market share in the U.S., and by applying its extensive knowledge in the engineering and production of large composite products, it will also grow applications for the InfraCore technology.

“InfraCore Inside was developed in the Netherlands,” says Eric Ball, Senior Vice President of Orenco Composites. “Now, we’re combining this innovative technology with our state-of-the-art manufacturing capabilities to create uniquely robust composite structures. Bridges with InfraCore Inside are distinguished by incredible adhesion throughout their structure. They require only a minimal foundation, and because they’re relatively lightweight, they’re easy to install. These bridges are sustainable, reliable, virtually maintenance-free, and designed to last over 50 years.”

According to Simon de Jong, co-founder/CEO of FiberCore (the developer of InfraCore Inside), “The InfraCore technology has successfully solved one of the major challenges of the fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) community: making delamination of FRP sandwich structures — especially due to fatigue after impact — inconsequential by creating a continuous structural connection of glass fibers between the top and bottom of the structure. The construction contains no internal glues or bolted connections. The strength comes entirely from the fibers, which themselves are much stronger than steel. Besides bridges and lock gates, our technology is used today in ship construction and offshore wind energy projects. This year, we expect to start our first project in the aerospace industry. Our cooperation with Orenco shows yet another application of our versatile technologies.”

 

Orenco Composites is a division of Orenco Systems, Inc. (Sutherlin, Ore., U.S.)The company’s engineers are nationally recognized experts in the fields of fiberglass product development and manufacturing. Research, product development, and sales support are handled out of a 26-acre (10.5-hectare) facility in Sutherlin, Oregon, USA. Orenco’s three state-of-the-art production facilities include over 400,000 square feet (37,000+ square meters) of manufacturing space.

Orenco Composites uses filament winding and two types of closed-molding processes – resin transfer molding (RTM) and vacuum infusion – to produce high-quality, FRP composite parts. The company has taken the fiberglass technology developed for wastewater markets and created high-quality buildings, basins, tanks, and enclosures for telecommunications, utilities, railroad, aviation, food preparation/handling and many more industries. Orenco Composites also offers design, development, and manufacturing for custom OEM products.

InfraCore technology is developed and patented by FiberCore/NL and has been proven in more than 1,000 bridges, including many heavy-traffic bridges, and lock gates worldwide. InfraCore technology offers a standardized and modular structural approach that enables cost-effective (both OPEX/CAPEX) FRP structures that are heavy-duty load-bearing yet lightweight, maintenance-free, damage-tolerant and scalable. InfraCore Co. is now developing and marketing new cross-sector product-market combinations based on InfraCore, in collaboration with strategic partners in maritime, off-shore, oil & gas, energy, and other industries worldwide. InfraCore technology is already implemented in the EU-SUREbridge project and in the EU-RAMSSES project (heavy-duty ship structures, rudders for sea vessels, and interior walls on cruise ships).