BEKAPOLE Success Story
In the late Seventies, BEKA Schréder was approached by the authorities in Namibia to find a solution to the corrosion which was damaging the then conventional materials used for lighting poles, such as steel, wood and concrete. Namibia is not only one of the world’s most atmospherically corrosive environments, but it also has large tracts of land with highly corrosive soils. The resulting research into non-corrosive materials has culminated in the choice of the glassfibre reinforced polyester (GRP) pole. This material exceeded the expectations of the authorities, as it not only offered the answer to the excessive corrosion, but also offered convincing strength properties combined with an appealing finish and design. BEKA Schréder subsequently bought the expertise and machinery for the manufacture of filament wound GRP poles from a leading German manufacturer and, since commencement of production in July 1978, has manufactured several hundreds of thousands of GRP poles for the African subcontinent and beyond. BEKA Schréder has perfected the process by adopting the latest technology. In 1989 BEKA Schréder became the first manufacturer to be awarded the ISO 9002 accreditation for its quality management of its pole and luminaire manufacturing plant. BEKA Schréder’s production is constantly subjected to the stringent quality demands which this accreditation implies. Through its commitment to consistent quality, BEKA Schréder has become one of the world’s leading manufacturers of GRP poles. BEKA Schréder’s GRP poles are used for highways, main roads, residential streets, sportsfields, decorative lighting, area lighting, post-top lighting, perimeter security, parks and gardens, as well as for flag poles. The BEKAPOLE, as it became known, is used not only for its resistance to corrosion, but is preferred by architects, developers and local authorities for its aesthetic appearance, strength, ease of installation and inherent safety for road users.
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