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The Leaders in Reinforced Plastics & Non-metallics in Southern Africa

It's a Team Effort

indeximgIt gives me great pleasure to welcome readers to what is essentially a celebration of the achievements over the past four decades of Fibre-Wound. Our business had humble beginnings, but, with the success of each job completed, we eventually found ourselves to be a leader in the GRP (glass-fibre reinforced plastics) field in southern Africa.

Ours is not a business that catches the public eye much: in fact, people are generally unaware of the important role played by our GRP tanks, vessels and piping in industry – and invariably in corrosive and sometimes even potentially toxic environments. Over the past decade, with the growing awareness of the dangers of toxic emissions from mines, mills and other industrial situations, we have seen increased demand for our products. That has also placed a big responsibility on Fibre-Wound's staff. We cannot afford for our products to fail. Virtually every job we undertake brings with it a new challenge – a different medium, a different pressure, a different angle... you name it. The experience, know how and commitment of our staff is a critical factor in our success. We are also highly appreciative of the Fibre-Wound team that has proved its mettle: they are truly a great South African crowd, comprising of a cross-section of races, languages and cultures..

It also gives me pride to say that we have a significant number of long-serving employees: of the workforce of 132, 10 have been with the company for 25 years or longer. We have been fortunate to have many loyal and supportive customers. In the publication we look at many of the projects we have worked on with these companies – thank you to all of you.

In closing I wish to thank our loyal and reliable suppliers, many of whom have participated and contributed enthusiastically in our success. Working harmoniously with our customers and suppliers is, in our view, a critical component for the successful outcome of the projects we undertake

Hilson Wilmot, Fibre-Wound Group C.E.O.

Our Technology

Fibre-Wound's reputation is based on its many years of proven design and engineering expertise, corrosion problem-solving abilities and installation of non-metallic, polymeric and composite materials, products and equipment in the petrochemical, pulp/paper, chlor-alkali, precious metals refining, minerals and metals beneficiation, power generation, water and effluent treatment and allied type industries. Our abilities include:

• Underground applications incorporating corrosion-resistant cooling piping for sea water intakes, plant surface spillage and contaminated water drainage piping,
• High pressure fire mains, corrosionresistant linings to sumps, chambers and collection pits.
• Surface linings and protective coatings to concrete flooring, bunds, plinths and equipment bases.
• Liquids and gas pressure vessels and storage tanks.
• Custom designed and fabricated plant and equipment.
• Piping, ducting, fans, pumps, valves fittings and in-line piping accessories.
• Gas scrubbing and cleaning systems, liquid filters, mist eliminators and strainers.

A variety of reinforced plastics processes are used by the manufacturers of these products, including gel coating and laminating, hand lay-up, spray lay-up, filament winding, centrifugal casting and pultrusion. The type of product determines the choice of production method, and a considerable investment has been made in developing the skills to accomplish this. Materials used include unsaturated polyesters, DCPD polyesters, epoxies, vinyl esters, phenolics and hybrids thereof. Reinforcements include glassfibre as well as carbon and polyaramid fibre and combinations of these.

We are proud of the fact that every major chemical plant in Sub-Saharan Africa has installed some of our products. Over the past five years EPCM (Engineering Procurement and Construction Management) capabilities in medium-sized multidiscipline contracts have been achieved.

The leadership role that Fibre-Wound has played in the industry has gained it recognition and inclusion as a respected contributory member of a number of institutions and committees, including SABS Technical Committees, working group, OHS Act PER working group, Technology Station supporter and the Sasol Polymers Non-Metallics Technical committee.