Capabilities
Strongwell manufactured its first pultruded products in 1956. In 1959, the Company produced its first ladder rail and has since produced over 1 billion feet of that product. The company was the first to develop a line of standard structural shapes (EXTREN®) and one of the first to offer pultruded grating in the 1970’s. Through the years, Strongwell has developed hundreds of other proprietary and custom products for many markets throughout the world. Each new product has contributed to the knowledge base that now goes into every Strongwell product. This wealth of experience is mirrored in Strongwell's diverse in-house capabilities.
Explore some of these departments' capabilities:
Technical Capabilities
With a 10,000 square-foot on-site R&D laboratory and full-time R&D staff, Strongwell can perform most testing procedures, material qualifications and quality experiments in house. These resources provide Strongwell, its customers and suppliers technical expertise that is unmatched in the pultrusion industry. Below is a summary of Strongwell's technical capabilities.
Decades of experience in mechanical testing of common to exotic reinforcements.
Deflection testing a composite crossarm.
Composites analysis capabilities including Finite Element and Classical Laminated Plate Theory using in-house generated lamina data.
Rapid Prototyping: In-house 3D printing capabilities offer Strongwell’s R&D lab the ability to quickly create test fixtures and concept prototypes.
Dedicated laboratory pultrusion machine managed and operated by a full time Research & Development Engineer and dedicated machine operator.
Competency in conducting Design of Experiments to reduce testing time.
Material testing machines capable of loads as high as 120,000 lbs-force.
Full Scale Testing Machine: 3-Point Bend Test Machine capable of applying loads up to 30,000 lbs-force on 22-foot clear spans.
Environmental Chamber for elevated temperature coupon testing.
Weatherometer and material conditioning capabilities including programmable UV, temperature and condensation.
Laboratory machine shop to prepare ASTM test coupons and custom test specimens.
Custom design and testing capabilities, including custom fixture design and setup, custom laminate designs and access to Strongwell’s in-house machine shop to fabricate test fixtures.
Dedicated environmentally controlled Mechanical Test Lab
Dedicated environmentally controlled Electrical Test Lab
Rheology/DMA to determine glass transition temperature and other viscoelastic properties of resin mixes as well as solid composites.
Differential Scanning Calorimeter (DSC) to study the cure kinetics of resin and the degree of chemical reaction.
Viscosity and cure (180°F gel) testing capabilities for neat resins and resin mixes.
Color matching capabilities for resins, finished pultrusions and topcoats.
Fabrication Capabilities
Strongwell excels at fabrication from simple material preparation (sanding, cutting, routing, drilling, coping, and painting) to full assembly or pre-assembly. Experienced fabrication personnel make extensive use of CNC drills and routers and other computer controlled equipment to assure accuracy and efficiency. This capability becomes a de facto increase in an allied fabricator's capacity and ability to deliver large volumes of fabricated products in a timely manner. See below for some of Strongwell's stand-out fabrication capabilities.
Computer automated hole drilling and length cutting
CNC automated cutting/routing
Waterjet CNC
Automated Acoustic Panel Drill
Assembly capabilities range from simple connections to fully assembled structures.
Hand Operated Drill Press
Gritting options include a variety of coarseness/skid resistance.
Painting processes include: automated and hand spraying, rolling, and brushing.
Engineering Capabilities
Compared with other pultruders, Strongwell employs exceptional technical on-staff strength in all applicable engineering disciplines. The Company manufactures its pultrusion machinery, tooling, and dies, and hosts a full-service machine shop and chrome-plating operation in house. This translates to customers being able to work with Strongwell as a full-service provider for any pultrusion needs. Registered professional structural engineers design structures or provide technical design support to customers. Mechanical engineers design equipment, tooling, and perform FEA analysis on real or proposed pultruded parts. Electrical and systems engineers design the systems and electrical components that make the equipment efficient. Chemical engineers and chemists assure that the many resin systems used by Strongwell are right for the job. Graduate engineers also hold key positions in sales, manufacturing, quality assurance, and general management.
2D Modeling:
Clear and accurate 2D representations using industry-standard software like AutoCAD
3D Modeling:
Realistic and detailed 3D models with Advance Steel, allowing you to visualize your designs as if they were right in front of you.
Full Assembly Drawings:
Detailed assembly drawings that provide a complete visual guide for the construction process, ensuring every component fits perfectly.
Shop Detail Drawings:
Accurate shop detail drawings that include all necessary dimensions and specifications for fabrication
Insightful Sections:
Detailed section views that provide a deeper understanding of the structure
Connection Detailing:
Precise detailing of all types of connections to ensure structural integrity and efficiency
Efficient Material Usage:
Detailed bills of materials that list all components required for the project, aiding in efficient resource management and cost estimation.
Accuracy & Building Code Compliance:
Ensuring that every drawing and model is accurate to prevent costly errors during construction while adhering to all applicable local, national, and international building codes and standards to ensure safety and durability.
Seamless Coordination:
Effective project management practices that ensure timely completion and coordination among all stakeholders.
No Room for error:
Rigorous quality assurance processes to ensure that every line, dimension, and specification is spot on, preventing costly mistakes and guaranteeing the safety and longevity of the structure.
If you have additional questions about Strongwell's in-house capabilities, please contact us.