AIT unveils new operating division

25 Feb '21

4 min read

Pic: Advanced Infrastructure Technologies

Advanced Infrastructure Technologies (AIT), a provider of innovative fibre-reinforced polymer (FRP) composite solutions, has unveiled a new operating division - AIT Manufacturing. The new division adds to AIT’s two existing divisions. With three divisions, AIT can help supply FRP composite solutions from rebar to bridges, and continue innovate in composites.

AIT’s two existing divisions are AIT Bridges, a composite bridge supplier that utilises technology developed at the University of Maine’s Advanced Structures and Composites Centre (ASCC), and AIT Buildings and Structures, a marketing division for all non-bridge related composite solutions. AIT Manufacturing specialises in the fabrication of FRP composite reinforcing solutions for the infrastructure industry.

AIT Manufacturing is located in North Randall, Ohio. AIT Manufacturing currently manufactures five products: GBar, GBolt, GMat, GCage, and GWall. GBar is the first, fully threaded, glass FRP (GFRP/BFRP) bar available to the market, and GBolt is a nut and coupler system designed for GBar. GMat and GCage are pre-assembled cages and mats using GBar, and GWall is an earth retaining wall system that is primarily designed as a seawall.

AIT Manufacturing is also a distributor of MiniBars and BasBar from ReforceTech. MiniBars are high-performance concrete structural macro-fibres, and BasBar is a basalt FRP composite rebar designed to reinforce concrete structures.

“AIT Manufacturing sets out to be the leading manufacturer of FRP composite reinforcing solutions for the infrastructure industry. This would not be possible without the FRP expertise that AIT and the ASCC brings,” said Charles Robertson, group president, AIT Manufacturing. “Ohio has established itself as a composites industry hub, and we are looking forward to joining the list of successful businesses in the state. We are currently in production building inventory for Q2 deliveries; please reach out if we can supply composite solutions for your next project.”

For over a decade, AIT has been developing FRP composites for the infrastructure industry. AIT was founded after licensing the "Bridge in a Backpack” technology from UMaine’s ASCC. AIT has worked hand in hand with the ASCC to further develop and test the GArch and GBeam composite bridge systems, and other composite solutions. This partnership has propelled AIT to be a champion of composites knowledge. Learning about all the benefits of composites, AIT set out to deliver more than just composite bridges. AIT then created its first operating division, AIT Bridges, with the idea of introducing more specialised composites divisions in the future.

Now with three divisions, AIT can help supply FRP composite solutions from rebar to bridges, while continuing to develop composite innovations with the ASCC.

As a member of the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure, AIT is trying to create a more sustainable infrastructure industry by way of structural FRP composites. Introducing a composite manufacturing division with five products initially, creates more composite solutions for more sustainable infrastructure projects. AIT has also rebranded itself with a new corporate website and is increasing efforts to promote the benefits of FRP composites in infrastructure. AIT’s corporate website showcases the business, its operating divisions, and more information on sustainability.

“We are excited to announce the addition of AIT Manufacturing to AIT’s operating divisions. AIT has been creating composite solutions in infrastructure for over a decade, and now we are able to provide a more comprehensive range of offerings for the industry,” said Brit Svoboda, chairman, and CEO of AIT. “It is imperative that we start using more composites in infrastructure to increase lifespan and decrease costs. We need more sustainable materials that leave a smaller carbon footprint, and composites do just that. We look forward to continuing to lead in driving more sustainable products and solutions to the market.”

“We congratulate AIT on its continued success and will continue to support its growth through new product development, composite materials design, manufacturing and testing,” said Dr. Habib J Dagher, executive cirector, UMaine ASCC.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (SV)