The team received the prestigious award for developing “Bendable Thermoplastic Composite Reinforcements for Concrete” through the MILDGLASS research project co-funded by the Transportation Research Board of the National Academies of Sciences. These readily bendable thermoplastic composite bars and cables revolutionize the durability and the logistics of reinforced and prestressed concrete construction. The winner was announced at JEC World 2019 exhibition on March 13, in Paris, France. Click here to see the award presentation video.
“I am honored to be a part of this incredible team. Winning this year’s JEC Innovation Award is a great incentive to continue pushing for creative solutions to the challenges of sustainability and resilience in a rapidly changing environment,” said Marco Rossini, a PhD candidate in the University of Miami College of Engineering Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering (CAE) and key investigator for MILDGLASS. “As a student and a researcher, the visibility we gain from these initiatives and from the collaboration with industry and federal partners is invaluable.”
“One of the main concerns of the worldwide construction sector is the aging and corrosion of infrastructures,” said Antonio Nanni, a professor and chair of CAE. “The replacement of steel reinforcement and prestressing cables with composites creates structures that are stronger, lighter, cost-effective and, most importantly, corrosion-free!”
For the past 15 years, the JEC Innovation Awards have brought in 1,800 companies worldwide. More than 175 companies and 433 partners have been rewarded for the excellence of their composite innovations.
“The JEC Innovation Awards program is emblematic and recognizes pioneers in composite innovation,” explained Franck Glowacz, innovation content leader at JEC Group.
JEC Group is the world’s leading company dedicated to the development of business connections and platforms supporting the growth and promotion of the composite industry. Arkema is a global manufacturer in specialty chemicals and advanced materials operating with 20,000 employees in close to 55 countries. The company manufactures the thermoplastic resin Elium®. SIREG is a manufacturer of specialized composites products and structural solutions serving customers worldwide. The company gives special attention to the environmental sustainability of its processes and products and is always ready for changes in the market and industry. The NCHRP addresses issues integral to Departments of Transportation (DOTs) and professionals at all levels of the government and private sector. The Group provides practical, ready-to-implement solutions to pressing problems facing the industry.
