FIBREGLASS PARTS | FIBREGLASS MOULDS, HOUSINGS, PLANTERS, BOXES | GRP MOULDS, PLANTERS, HOUSINGS & BOXES
GRP Manufacturers / Fibreglass Moulding
A P Hollings are active in all aspects of GRP from producing our own patterns and plugs in house, from hand lay up of bespoke one off prototype through to low volume quantities of mouldings. Our patterns are made in a variety of, or combination of materials that include MDF, Melamine, Ureol tooling board and Epoxy tooling board.
GRP components require finishing and to achieve this, trimming /router masks and fixturing is designed and made in house. We can undertake the fitting of inserts to full assembly of GRP parts, together with client free issue parts.
As with many other composite materials, the two materials act together, each overcoming the deficits of the other. Whereas the plastic resins are strong in compressive loading and relatively weak in tensile loading, the glass fibres are very strong in tension, but have no strength against compression.
Fibreglass & Composites- the only logical choice!
Want to be sure that when selecting a company to support you, the right first time principle is achieved. Then look no further than our family business established 62 years offering a wealth of experience and specialisation originally in the pattern making side of the GRP process giving that confidence in knowing that, what we do, with what you want, always achieves or exceeds our customers expectations.
You have come to the right place for fibreglass manufacturers
- Friendly Customer Care
- Skilled team of Craftsmen
- Prototyping for 1 off concept
- Complete in house tooling
- Low to Medium GRP Production
- Hand laminating
- Vacuum Bagging
- Autoclave service
Applications & components
The patterns are made either by using our large CNC machine or using traditional hand making methods by our own time served skilled team. GRP suits the manufacture of a wide range of parts, depending on the application of the end product. But the capability of GRP to withstand the most severe climatic or hazardous conditions and its non- conductivity of electricity makes it an obvious choice for many.
GRP components require finishing and to achieve this, trimming /router masks and fixturing is designed and made in house. We can undertake the fitting of inserts to full assembly of GRP parts, together with client free issue parts.
ISO9001-2000 quality accredited
As a ISO9001-2000 quality accredited company, we have supplied products in many areas of industry :-
- High Voltage Zones (steps&ladders)
- Sign Shop Display,
- Point of Sale (POS) s & Signage
- Petro. Chem.
- Nuclear
- Transport Seating, Cladding and Interiors
- Bus Shelters
- Marine
- Medical
- Construction
- Electrical
- Electronics
- Defense
- Aerospace
- Automotive
- Motor Cycle Fairings
- Environmental
- Machinery Covers
- Machinery Guards
Questions & Answers
Glass Reinforced Plastic or GRP, as the fibreglass process is usually called, defines the glass fibres as reinforcing the plastic or resin.
This will ensure that the finish cured fibreglass part will be able to be removed from mould. Resin ‘gelcoat’, which is the material which gives most fibreglass parts that high gloss appearance is applied in 2 coats over the release wax, then allowed to become ‘tacky’. At this point, tissue type glass can be brushed into any fine detail areas, then repeat layers of glass and resin are built up to part thickness. Each layer rollered to be sure that the liquid resin has fully impregnated each layer of glass and that any air entrapment is removed.
The desired thickness of part would be pre- determined to achieve the strength required over the total area or by increasing glass and resin in localised areas for high strength. Normally the fibreglass in mould will be fully cured and dry within 10 hrs, at which time the parts will be ejected via air pressure applied through discreet locations or just by flexing the part
Traditional wood materials are also used to make the simpler less contoured patterns offering a low cost option. But whether machine or hand made the resulting pattern will have patient super finishing applied. This pattern will be used to make the structurally supported master mould, from which one or more fibreglass parts will be laid up.
The gelcoat, which is pigmented resin to any desired colour from the RAL or Pantone range, within manufacturers range or matched from customers master sample In addition to the finish from in mould gelcoat, spray finishes can be applied that can achieve metallic effects, the finish can be matt if required by finishing the pattern matt. This will then also give the same matt surface finish to the master mould.