JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #74 - July 2012 - 23

developed countries, but it should grow in the coming years with the investments planned in the pipe and, probably, wind energy sectors. Apart from infrastructure applications, the government’s support of the use of GRP materials in other sectors, and energy in particular, will increase. The GRP pipe sector keeps growing both worldwide and in Turkey. While GRP pipes have been used for years in Europe, America and the Middle East, they either are unknown or just recently started to be used in several other countries worldwide. This creates an advantage for the GRP pipe market. Due to benefits such as their quick and easy installation, their maintenance-free 50-year service life and their cost competitiveness, GRP pipes are starting to be increasingly commonly used. The trend towards GRP materials is getting stronger in all fields as their superiority is being recognized in many applications, as exemplified by their growing use in sectors such as aviation, energy or automotive. The successful references gained in different projects in the pipe sector will promote the choice of GRP pipes. Both the firms operating in the sector and the Turkish Composites Manufacturers Association will sustain their activities in this respect. n
More information: www.kompozit.org.tr Pictures are courtesy of SUBOR Boru Sanayi A.S.

Pre shipment preparation of pipes with different diameter in SUBOR plant

the main reason why the Turkish GRP market exhibited a higher growth rate than the global average (3.5-4%). The number of firms using machine-intensive technologies is growing steadily in Turkey and the market is moving from open moulding methods to more mechanized processes.

materials are sometimes preferred to GRP. In this context, stricter controls are required, especially on small-scale manufacturers. The market share of the manufacturers who produce in compliance with the standards is decreasing due to the introduction of low-quality, low-price end products. The requirements of many standards and regulations applicable to the sector are not met, so that a number of quality problems are experienced. In order to solve this issue, the Turkish Composites Manufacturers Association has started to examine the applicable global standards and to adapt the GRP product standards which will be drawn up in the EU to Turkey on a synchronous basis, in conjunction with one of its members, the Bosphorus University.

Manufacturing waste is another problem in the GRP sector. To find a solution, the Turkish Composites Manufacturers Association is continuing the study initiated in 2008 with its members, which should be finalized in 2012. Due to the crisis, the measures taken by the government and the firms failed to generate the expected dynamism in the composite sector, as is the case with all other sectors. However, the measures which will be taken for the automotive, construction and infrastructure sectors will be a driving force for the composite sector. GRP manufacturers should also benefit from tax measures and loans from the government.

Quality issues
However, as Turkish GRP firms are making efforts to lower their production costs and increase their profits, some product groups do not meet quality standards, resulting in a shorter lifespan of the end products and a number of problems. This undermines the market prestige of materials which are durable and easy-to-use, while showing high performance and good resistance properties. Due to these short-term profitability targets, substitute

What does the future hold for the sector?
The GRP use per capita in Turkey is still behind that of No74 July 2012

/ jec composites magazine 23

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JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #74 - July 2012

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #74 - July 2012