A Concrete Idea

As the application deadline for the Atlantic Innovation Fund approaches, ACOA celebrates the power of thinking outside the box

MONCTON, NB, June 14, 2012 /CNW/ - At first glance, the connection between making rope for the fishing industry and leading innovation in concrete reinforcement may not seem that apparent. But it's a natural creative leap for Polysteel Atlantic which promises to revolutionize construction projects everywhere.

In 1993, East Coast Rope Ltd. of Sydney, NS began establishing their identity in the market with Polysteel^TM ― a rope product superior in durability and strength to traditional manila or polypropylene ropes, and made through a unique process that turned resin pellets into fibre.

Four years later, the company created a sister company to their traditional rope business, Polysteel Atlantic, Ltd., acquiring a larger facility and state-of-the-art equipment that enabled them to triple their production capacity.

They continued to focus on research and development, pioneering a number of trademarked commercial fishing and aquaculture products, including a specialized rope designed to reduce whale entanglements.

"If you're not innovative, you get left behind in the competition," says Sean Burke, Vice President and General Manager.

"As a North American manufacturer, we're not always cost competitive with some overseas markets. So to remain at the front, we need to bring higher value products to market."

And that's just what they did back in 1999.

"We were looking for a way to use the by-product from rope production in a commercial application, rather than disposing of it in the landfill," explains Sean.

With some 'outside the box' thinking, and help from researchers at Dalhousie University and ACOA, they developed a synthetic fibre that could serve as an alternative to the traditional steel fibres, wire mesh and lighter rebar used to reinforce concrete. This product has been used in applications such as highway barrier walls, heavy industrial flooring, septic tanks and mining tunnels.

They've been successfully manufacturing and exporting the fibre ever since.

Meanwhile, with support from ACOA's Atlantic Innovation Fund (AIF) they've also been working on the development of the next generation of their fibre product, which looks to replace the heavier steel reinforcement needed in infrastructure such as highway and bridge components as well as multi level building construction.

It's an innovation that could offer considerable advantages over steel by being easier to use and having a lower carbon footprint.

"We are entering a time when many existing structures, such as bridge and overpasses, need replacement," says Sean. "This will be a huge potential cost to society, so this is a great time to be making structures that will last longer."

Now that's a concrete idea surely designed to go places.

Apply now for the AIF Competitive Round 2012

The Atlantic Innovation Fund encourages partnerships among private sector firms, universities, colleges and research institutions to develop new products, processes and services.

If you are an Atlantic Canadian business, university, college, or a research institution interested in applying to the Atlantic Innovation Fund, you must first submit a mandatory letter of intent by Thursday, June 28 (2:00 p.m. AST) and then a detailed project proposal byWednesday September 26 (2:00 p.m. AST).  For more information, see how to apply.

Did you know?

• Since 2006, the Atlantic Innovation Fund (AIF) has committed close to $464 million in assistance to 199 highly innovative research and development projects across the region.
• Since 2006, the AIF has helped leverage close to $518 million in additional R&D funding from other private and public sources.
• According to Statistics Canada, R&D is growing in Atlantic Canada with experts pointing to the AIF as a key driver.

 

 

Image with caption: "Atlantic Innovation Fund Competitive Round 2012 - Interested in applying? Letters of intent are due June 28 and proposals September 26 (CNW Group/Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA))". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20120614_C8332_PHOTO_EN_15118.jpg

Image with caption: "Polysteel's innovative rope product is superior in durability and strength to traditional ropes (CNW Group/Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA))". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20120614_C8332_PHOTO_EN_15120.jpg

Video with caption: "Video: Launching lifeboats safely can mean the difference between life and death, but there's never been a consistent way to safely train workers at sea. Until now...". Video available at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6UdWNZYyuo&feature=youtu.be

Video with caption: "Video: Lending a hand to someone in need takes spirit. But making a hand takes innovation, and that's just what Dr. Kevin Englehart and his team of engineers are realizing in the creation of a new prosthetic hand...". Video available at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UNy2NQvXBUo&feature=youtu.be

For further information:

For further information about applying to the AIF please contact your nearest regional AIF coordinator.

For general inquiries, contact:

Jennifer Goostrey, Manager, Client Services
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
[phone]
[e-mail]