FRP Composite Utility Poles

› Solutions › Electrical Infrastructures › Utility Poles

Wagners Composite Fibre Technologies (CFT) produces the most durable, safe and environmentally friendly new composite utility poles for energy infrastructure across Australia, New Zealand and the world. A utility pole made from Wagners Fibre Reinforced Polymer (FRP) meets all stiffness requirements. Other added advantages are that an FRP pole will be inert which means they will not react chemically to their surroundings making them resistant to rot, rust and corrosion caused by moisture, chemicals and UV radiation.

FRP poles are able to withstand severe weather, including high winds, and have a long life expectancy due to their incredible structural integrity, making them an extremely competitive option for the utility industry. Get started in solving your utility pole needs and contact us today.

From Pultrusion to Power On

Wagners CFT produces the most durable, safe and environmentally conscious utility poles for infrastructure asset owners around the world.

Our uniquely pultruded FRP utility poles are safer than traditional poles because they do not conduct electricity, thereby reducing risk associated with shock or electrocution, especially during the installation phase. As they are non-conductive, FRP utility poles are also the clear choice for areas with high electrical activity such as near transformers and high voltage power lines or substations.

Being 50 percent lighter than poles made from traditional materials, FRP utility poles are safer to handle, transport and install. This leads to improved health and safety for both workers and the community during installation, reduced wear and tear on equipment and improved transport efficiencies.

Watch the video to find out more.

Benefits of Choosing FRP

Durable – with an expected 80-year design life
Inert – fully resistant to rot, rust and corrosion
Resistant to termites and acid sulfate soils
Lightweight, making it safer to handle, transport and install
Modular by design so can be assembled off-site and craned or trucked into place saving you onsite time and expenses whilst reducing weather impacts to your project
Cost effective – with reduced maintenance and replacement cycles resulting in significant savings over the lifetime of the structure
Non-leaching, so will not release harmful substances into the environment making it suitable for areas of high conservation value
Plus structures made from FRP contribute to decarbonisation in construction and reducing global warming through less embodied carbon

Read more about Wagner CFT’s Environmental Product Declaration (EPD).

Added Benefits of FRP Utility Poles

FRP products can withstand extreme weather, high temperatures and are even fire resistant. A composite pole is recognised as maximising network security and resilience. FRP composite poles are extremely durable with an expected 80-year design life. For comparison’s sake, steel poles, wood poles and concrete poles generally last much less, especially in highly corrosive environments. Wagners FRP utility poles are also non-leaching which means they are perfect for areas of high conservation value as they will not leach nasty toxins and chemicals into the environment.

Wagners’ Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) demonstrates our commitment to environmental transparency and decarbonisation in construction; with our FRP utility poles providing a carbon conscious alternative to traditional materials. Superior return on investment is achieved through its long service life owing to reduced maintenance and inspection requirements.

At Wagners, our Research and Development team are always testing and trialling our products including performing cantilever tests to ultimate failure to show the strength and stiffness of our utility poles. Our tests have assured us that we have the strongest composite utility poles on the market.

Utility Poles Brochure

Installation tips, benefits for linesmen and pathway to network security

Discover installation tips, benefits to linesmen and the pathway to network security as Wagners CFT talk to Wolff Power General Manager, Colin Dennis about installing FRP utility poles.

Dennis explains techniques Wolff Power has developed for the installation of FRP poles, how easy it is to transition to FRP from traditional poles and the many benefits to linesmen including improved safety and efficiencies during installation as well as long term positive business outcomes.

Watch the video now for more detail.

More information

Low Maintenance Requirements

Our composite structures are uniquely suited to withstand the harshest environments while providing a low maintenance, long life asset. FRP is a durable, safe and environmentally friendly material with an expected 80-year design life in its application as a composite utility pole.

One of the great advantages of FRP infrastructure is its reduced ongoing maintenance requirements compared to steel and timber. This is often expressed as the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) of a structure.

Installing FRP Utility Poles

Being 50%+ lighter than traditional poles, FRP utility poles are safer to handle, transport and install leading to improved health and safety for workers during installation, reduced wear and tear on equipment with improved transport efficiencies and potentially lower transportation costs. Being light weight has the added bonus of being easier to transport into remote locations that would normally be hard to access.

Our uniquely pultruded Fibre Reinforced Polymer (FRP) utility poles are safer than a traditional steel, concrete or timber pole because they are made from materials that are non conductive, reducing the risk associated with shock or electrocution, especially during installation. This makes FRP utility poles the clear choice for areas with high electrical activity such as near transformers or high voltage power lines and substations.

Existing equipment and processes are fully compatible with FRP installation so there’s no need to upgrade or expand existing assets. Long-term, lighter equipment can be utilised to install utility poles which translates to reduced future capital expenditure. Onsite fitting and installation are no different to traditional timber poles with the ability to drill fixtures in-field, ensuring a quality fit every time.
For further information download our Wagners CFT Utility Pole Brochure.

Manufacturing process for utility poles

The manufacturing process of utility poles at Wagners CFT starts with our unique pullwinding – where the glass is pulled through the die. We use a resin injection process before the material is pulled through the heating die, where the resin is cured, producing a product that is fully solid. At the end it is cut off by a saw to the length required.

The pole processing team then sprays the poles with a fluoropolymer coating and are baked to cure the paint. After that, the end caps are put on and any required product information is stencilled on the pole and then it is ready to be delivered for installation.

What makes FRP the right choice?

At Wagners CFT, we utilise a pull winding process called ‘pultrusion’ to manufacture our FRP structural profiles. These profiles mirror the geometry of traditional circular and square hollow sections, but are composed of fibreglass reinforcements and vinyl ester resins. FRP is an exceptional material that surpasses steel in strength while meeting all stiffness criteria.

Our FRP structural profiles boast an impressive Elastic Modulus of 40 (E40), significantly higher than that of our competitors. Furthermore, with an unrivalled glass content of 76%, our pultruded FRP structural profiles rank among the strongest in the world. We have established a reliable network of primary raw material suppliers globally, ensuring we produce the most robust FRP structural profiles for our customers while maximising cost efficiency.

Working with Wagners

Wagners CFT has produced more than a million FRP electrical crossarms for network operators over the past 20 years. Building on our reputation of quality, safety and reliability, the collective characteristics of Wagners CFT fibreglass poles for the utility industry will further enhance and maximise network security and resilience for asset owners and customers into the future.

Wagners CFT are also able to help with providing electrical cross arms and light poles.

Have a project in mind?

Book a project deep dive with us and work through your projects plans and problems with the experts!

Request a Project Deep Dive

Composite Utility Poles

Solutions