Page 56 - Industrial Plants

FRP vs. steel
Fibreglass structures have several advantages
compared to galvanised or stainless steel structures:
• Corrosion resistance, they withstand acidic or
basic chemicals for a long time within a good
temperature range, without paint or additional
treatments;
• Mechanical strength which, in relation to the
weight, is superior to that of steel;
• Electrical isolation, since they are made of a
material that does not conduct electricity;
• Absence of earthing, since they are made of an
insulating material;
• Radio-transparency, i.e. the ability not to interfere
with the transmission of waves within a wide range
of frequencies;
• Lightness, they are on average 75% lighter than
steel structures, so they weigh down very little on
the support structures and facilitate transport and
installation operations;
• Resistance to atmospheric agents, they cannot be
damaged or deformed by the elements, UV rays
and temperature changes.
In addition to these technical qualities, they can be
installed easily and quickly, because they are structures
that are easy to handle manually, and they can also be
worked on site and require no maintenance. FRP structure

“M.M. meets the needs of safety M.M.’s range of products with high chemical resistance
and reliability with fiberglass/FRP is ideal for application in chemically aggressive

(Fiber Reinforced Polymers) products environments such as those typical of the metal
for stairs, walkways, handrails, and production industry by electrolysis.
fences, offering advanced solutions In fact, the electrolysis process involves the use of large
with advantages like corrosion tanks of acid solutions at high temperatures, which
resistance, lightness, and electrical create environments in which galvanised steel cannot
insulation, outperforming steel in guarantee safe conditions for the operators, not even
many aspects for a short time.

For the Portovesme Glencore Group plant, located in
Portoscuso, in the Italian region of Sardinia, our
M.M.’s FRP structures are innovative and reliable customer, the installer Cosermo Española, was supplied
solutions for the requirements of the Oil&Gas and with FRP structures customised in terms of resin and
renewable energy sectors. Thanks to their strength and colour both to support the new acid ducts and to create
versatility, they are widely used for the construction of walkways between the process tanks, replacing
key infrastructures, capable of guaranteeing high deteriorated steel beams.
performance and durability. In the Oil&Gas sector, M.M. has also delivered walkways
and pedestrian areas in refineries. The customer
Melones Oil Terminal Inc., a Panamanian hydrocarbon
FRP for Oil&Gas storage company, needed to install pipeline crossing
M.M.’s fibreglass gratings and structures can be used systems complying with the regulations of the sector.
both in the oil and gas and in mineral extraction Since these structures are exposed to an aggressive
industry. M.M.’s products are resistant to corrosion, environment, due to the effect of seawater and salty air,
moisture, low temperatures and temperature changes, and also due to the presence of hydrocarbons, the
and they are suitable for applications in extreme climatic customer required a solution that was highly resistant to
conditions. external agents and at the same time self-extinguishing.

INDUSTRIAL PLANTS - May 2024
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