Long-term city projects require the ability to stand up to harsh weather environments. Discover how using structural plastic lumber will help increase profitability over time, decrease life-cycle cost and hold up to extreme environments.
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An outdoor dining area was added to the Indian Creek Yacht & Country Club, where guests can enjoy the views of the Chesapeake Bay area, using plastic lumber. This project is a great example of how using plastic lumber can drive profitability and serve as a long-term structural product.
The Santa Cruz Harbor is a full-service marina in mooring and berthing. This bustling harbor has charters offering sailing, fishing, whale watching, eco-tours, kayaking and more. With many activities out of the water as well, including restaurants, an RV park, beaches and retail shops, the Santa Cruz Harbor is a destination spot for both locals and tourists. When a Tsunami hit Japan in 2011, the effects reached the Santa Cruz Harbor 5 hours later. With massive amounts of damage to boats and the harbor itself, it was crucial for the Harbor to be rebuilt quickly and use material that could stand the test of time and weather.
Project Date:
2011
Customer Overview:
The Santa Cruz Harbor, completed in 1964, acts as a community resource, serves as a marine rescue and offers educational opportunities. The harbor provides permanent mooring for approximately 1,200 wet-berthed and 275 dry-stored vessels to both residents and tourists.
The damage from the Tsunami, according to city officials, cost over $22M. Due to the devastating damage and the amount of traffic the Harbor receives, a quick turn-around, durable and cost-effective solution was needed.
Schrader Co. Sales, LLC, a Bedford Technology manufacturing representative, partnered with Bellingham Marine, a premier marina contractor, to find the right product for the reconstruction of the Harbor after the damage and state of emergency got FEMA involved with the project. That partnership led them to FiberForce® by Bedford Technology.
The project itself had many requirements; the material needed to perform exceptionally well in extreme environments and have a low life-cycle cost. Another requirement was a quick turnaround time because of the heavy traffic the Harbor receives on a daily basis.
The engineering team had used plastic composite lumber in previous projects and was aware of its benefits including longevity, durability in harsh environments and low-maintenance costs and effort. Due to similar requirements for this particular project, finding the right structural composite plastic lumber was the next step. They found the right solution in FiberForce® by Bedford Technology.
FiberForce® by Bedford Technology was the product line that was chosen because the composite was reinforced with fiberglass shreds for added rigidity and strength. Partnering with Schrader Co. Sales, LLC, Bellingham Marine used structural reinforced HDPE composite plastic lumber to rebuild over 20 docks and 470 berths of the Harbor.
FiberForce® by Bedford Technology has exceeded expectations. Over 6,000 ft. of docks and finger piers (see below) have been rebuilt using this product. Since initial installation in 2011, the Harbor still looks brand new. The docks and piers are still fully intact and have proven to last through all of the busy traffic and weather conditions.
Plastic lumber is a valuable alternative to wood for agricultural industry applications. The value comes from the low-maintenance requirements, durability, long life-cycle and ease of installation.
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Looking for a trade show focused on parks and recreation in Illinois? You’re in luck. Join Bedford Technology at the IAPD/IRPA Annual Conference in Chicago, January 18-January 19. See you there!
This blog covers a phrase that has been growing strength internally within our company and is now being extended to the general public…that being Why Not? – Plastic Lumber. We have been asking ourselves for many years…why not use plastic lumber in certain applications. This grew last year into an internal marketing campaign where we asked our employees to submit their ideas and photos for a contest. Out of this campaign came some interesting ideas including: beds, stair steps, cattle troughs, shelving, rolling carts, etc. Enough good ideas were introduced, that we said why not? – expand this out to the public.
There really is no limit to the possibilities of using Bedford Technology’s recycled HDPE plastic lumber (in most applications) to replace wood or other alternative materials in the market. In many cases, we have superior products, which include SELECTFORCE®, FIBERFORCE® and BARFORCE® Plastic Lumber that looks great and is long lasting and resistant to: rotting, splintering, water damage, termites (pests), etc. Our recycled plastic lumber also doesn’t require painting and is very low maintenance (compared with traditional wood.) Bedford Technology’s Hard Tool product is a high quality, carpenter friendly product that can be drilled, sawn, cut, routed and worked just as wood lumber and comes in a variety of colors, making it more useful in commercial playground equipment, park and recreation applications, signage, boardwalks, decks, piers, parking curbs, landscaping boards and any harsh weather environment applications. With all this information, we ask the question again…Why Not use Plastic lumber?
Bedford Technology’s SELECTFORCE®, FIBERFORCE® and BARFORCE® recycled HDPE plastic lumber serves as a replacement to traditional parts made from injection molding, rotational molding, vacuum forming, aluminum extrusion, lumber profiles and wood profiles. Bedford Technology can also design a plastic lumber product to suit your specific application, including custom molded products (ie: pipe supports, bench frame shapes, lids). Contact us today at (800)721-9037 and talk with one of our knowledgeable sales representatives. Visit us online at www.bedfordtech.com, “Like” us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/bedfordtechnology or follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/plasticboards.
Bedford Technology has the capability to create custom molded parts and this blog will offer more explanation and information about this exciting process. Our custom molding process can produce thick, non-rectangular (custom) parts, when coupled to molds similar to typical injection molds. Thick wall parts mean a heavier weight which makes them more stable and easier to fasten and connect to. The custom molding process allows for: relatively low cost tooling, moderate piece part cost and a low to moderate volume product. Bedford Technology prides ourselves on our ability to design custom shapes or profiles, by utilizing our proprietary engineered technology. Whether it is a new design or secondary work, our skilled sales and engineering team are here to serve you. Work with us to solve your specific need. The only limitation is the limits of our collective imaginations.
The process for deciding on a custom molded part include first looking at the scope of the project. Evaluating its end potential and the need or benefit of designing a custom molded part. Secondly, we look at whether this is a one-time purchase or will it be an ongoing residual order of product. The cost will be affected and determined primarily off of this key component. Thirdly, we evaluate detailed engineering specifications or drawings. Before beginning to produce any piece we evaluate all angles and possibilities before making molds or prototypes.
Bedford Technology has produced a variety of custom molded parts in the past including: hexagonal molds, “C” frames, “T” frames, roofing boards, bollards, wedges, bike curbs, speed bumps, parking curbs, bench ends, round lids, square lids, as well as many others. We have the tooling, engineering department and knowledge, and the capability to produce any size, shape or design (some limitations do apply – contact a sales representative for more information or details.)
Bedford Technology is a unique company that offers three distinct plastic lumber manufacturing techniques: Molded (Hard Tool), Continuous Extrusion (CE) and Multi Stage Extrusion (Multi-X). Within these very unique processes Bedford also has a wide range of brands that include: SelectForce®, FiberForce®, BarForce®, SeaPile®, SeaTimber® andSeaCamel®. Each of these exclusive brands offer an alternative solution to standard wood lumber profiles in the marketplace today. Bedford Technology has the plastic lumber solution for your project or application and the secondary work to finish it off right! Give Bedford Technology a call or visit our website today and experience the Bedford difference!
Bedford Technology’s plastic lumber serves as a replacement to traditional wood profiles, wood piles, concrete piles, steel piles and hollow piles (fiberglass). Contact Bedford Technology today at (800) 721-9037 and talk with one of our knowledgeable sales representatives. Visit us online at www.bedfordtech.comand sign up for our email list, “Like” us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/bedfordtechnologyor follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/plasticboards.
Bedford Technology’s recycled plastic lumber products are used frequently in the Parks & Recreation departments across the country. This blog explores Replacing Wood options within the parks industry.
The parks and recreation industry calls for strong, durable plastic lumber products that will last and take a beating, but be easy to clean. They also need lumber products resistant to graffiti and that are splinter free. We have seen many instances where our plastic lumber products are replacing contemporary wood in a variety of applications. Replacing rotted wood on existing outdoor furniture is a great application where plastic lumber is the better alternative. Plastic lumber will not rot or decay, is insect and weather resistant and will hold up to heavy daily use. Bedford Technology proudly supplies a “green” solution in the form of recycled plastic lumber to parks all across the U.S. for use in a variety of applications.
Our SELECTFORCE® and FIBERFORCE® Hard Tool products have a foamed core end-cut appearance, textured surface finish and comes in a variety of colors, making it more useful in commercial playground equipment, park and recreation applications, signage, boardwalks, decks, piers, parking curbs, landscaping boards and any harsh weather environment application. SELECTFORCE® and FIBERFORCE® Hard Tool Plastic Lumber looks great and is long lasting and resistant to: rotting, splintering, water damage, termites (pests), etc. SELECTFORCE® and FIBERFORCE® plastic lumber also doesn’t require painting and are very low maintenance (compared with traditional wood.) SELECTFORCE® and FIBERFORCE® Hard Tool products are a high quality, carpenter friendly product that can be drilled, sawn, cut, routed and worked just as wood lumber.
Bedford Technology’s SELECTFORCE® and FIBERFORCE® recycled HDPE plastic lumber serves as a replacement to traditional parts made from injection molding, rotational molding, vacuum forming, aluminum extrusion, lumber profiles and wood profiles. Bedford Technology can also design a plastic lumber product to suit your specific application, including custom molded products (ie: pipe supports, bench frame shapes, lids). Contact us today at (800)721-9037 and talk with one of our knowledgeable sales representatives. Visit us online at www.bedfordtech.comand sign up for our email list, “Like” us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/bedfordtechnologyor follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/plasticboards.
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