The BEKAPOLE is a GRP Pole range and 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.
BEKAPOLE Glass fibre reinforced polyester (GRP) pole range
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. BEKAPOLE Success Story
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Applications
The BEKAPOLE has virtually unlimited applications. It can be manufactured to any requirement relating to the number and configuration of luminaires to be mounted, inclusive of any special colour.
Perimeter security
Main roads
Urban roads
Sports facilities
Parking area lighting
Flag poles
Various decorative lighting applications
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Key Advantages
Light Weight The low mass saves handling, transport and erection costs during installation: • Low handling costs: No extra equipment needed to load or offload the poles • Low transport costs: Save on transport costs due to the poles' low weight and the higher stacking height on road freight • Low installation costs: No extra equipment is needed to erect the poles
Vandal Resistant High impact strength of polyester gel coat and glass filament wound structure and material offering no scrap value, therefore very low risk of theft.
Non-Corrosive No above- or below-ground corrosion in salt climates or acid soil.
Corrosion of steel pole
Maintenance-Free No corrosion or decay ensures that the surface coat of the pole will not require maintenance.
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Longevity Over time, BEKA Schréder fibreglass poles will outlast wood, concrete, steel and aluminium under similar climatic conditions.
Versatility A wide range of spigots, floodlight mountings, baseplates and decorative arrangements ensure a product for almost every application.
Non-Conductive Perfect electrical insulation prevents accidental electrocution by faulty wiring.
Low Inertia A reduction in personal injury and damage to vehicles in road accidents.
High Bending Strength Engineered to withstand a wind pressure of 500 Pa inclusive of 0.20m 2 luminaire area with less than a 5% deflection of the mounting height. This relates to a wind speed of 103.9km/h. Any higher wind speeds must be calculated separately.
Sustainable The manufacturing process for glass fibre poles is much kinder to the environment than metal or concrete products.
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Myths “Glass fibre poles whip around in the wind...”
Due to the unique process of glass filament winding, standard BEKA Schréder GRP poles are designed to withstand a wind pressure of 500 Pa on a projected luminaire area of 0.20m 2 . Some of our most satisfied customers are situated in coastal environments subjected to high winds. All BEKA Schréder GRP poles are designed and manufactured with a safety factor of 2,5.
“Glass fibre poles are deteriorated by sunlight...” The ultraviolet rays in sunlight will deteriorate only unprotected glass fibre. This has been eliminated by pigmenting the resin and the application of a polyester gel coat with UV inhibitors to the surface of the pole structure.
“Glass fibre poles cannot support big headloads...” Each BEKA Schréder glass fibre pole is individually engineered by factoring in the weight, projected area and windloading requirements of the installation site. The most demanding installation is easily achieved by a pre- engineered BEKA Schréder glass fibre pole.
“Glass fibre poles are made out of plastic...” BEKA Schréder glass fibre poles are manufactured by the filament winding process where continuous glass rovings are fed through a polyester resin bath and wound at an even tension onto a rotating mandrel, resulting in a mass glass to resin ratio of 70:30, making full use of the tensile strength of the glass filament which is more than that of steel.
Hinged glass fibre pole
Winched glass fibre pole
Heavy duty access door cover
Glass filament windings
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Manufacturing
A mechanised manufacturing process utilises a fully automated track mounted roving machine as both the glass filament windings and resin are applied. This sophisticated high quality manufacturing method optimises the usage of materials, thus considering costs, resources and our environment. The filament winding machine is operated at calculated speeds whilst moving alongside the rotating mandrels to achieve maximum winding angles. BEKA Schréder GRP poles are manufactured through the filament winding process whereby continuous glass rovings are fed through a polyester resin bath and wound at an even tension onto a rotating mandrel, resulting in a mass to resin ratio of 70:30 and making full use of the tensile strength of the glass filament which is more than that of steel. After the winding process has been completed, the glass filament structure is cured and then removed from the mandrel for surface preparation. A base coat of polyester resin that complies with the requirements of SANS 1749 is applied, thereafter the cured structure is further machined to receive a final gel coat that is applied to a uniform thickness of between 250 and 500 microns. In the mechanical assembly process, the pole is machined to provide holes for baseplate hookbolts, cable entries, access door openings, as well as any other details required. Spigot arrangements and surface baseplates, where required, are moulded into the pole and secured in position with locking screws. Throughout the manufacturing process, the pole is subjected to stringent quality checks and tests.
Automated track mounted winding machine
Accurate, consistent computer-controlled winding process
Winding of glass filament
Drilling machine
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Design & Construction Details
Material The pole is constructed by the filament winding process to achieve optimum results for strength and rigidity. The filament winding process is continuously applied with uniform tension onto a rotating mandrel, resulting in a minimum mass glass to resin ratio of 70:30. The surface is seamless, smooth and tapered. Finishing coat The material of the finishing coat is a gel coat that complies to SANS 1749 and is applied to a uniform thickness of between 250 and 500 microns, providing a weatherproof, UV-resistant, flame-resistant and impact-strong surface in the colour specified. Mechanical properties A standard pole supporting a luminaire with a wind surface of 0.20m 2 may not have a pole top deflection of more than 5% of its height above ground when subjected to a basic wind pressure of 500 Pa. A safety factor of 2.5 times the total maximum windload is applicable. Material system The pole is manufactured in accordance with SANS 1749 under the ISO 9002 quality system.
Access opening If an access opening is required, the cut-out is covered by an access door cover manufactured from glass filled nylon impregnated in the same colour as that of the surface coat. It is secured to the pole by two stainless steel Allen head captive screws into M4 brass inserts embedded in the pole. Cable entry A cable entry with a minimum diameter of 34mm is provided at a minimum depth of 400mm below the ground surface. Glandplate A hot dipped galvanised glandplate, suitable for gland no. 0 or 1, complete with terminal block and DIN rail for a miniature circuitbreaker, is provided and is mounted to a bolt provided in the access opening. Baseplate Poles for direct embedment in the ground can be provided with a square hot dipped galvanised baseplate complete with 2 x hot dipped galvanised steel hookbolts and nuts. Base-mounted poles have a hot dipped galvanised flange plate that can be bolted to a foundation which is designed to withstand the forces the pole will experience in service.
Century City Square, Cape Town
Hout Bay Harbour, Cape Town
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Colour Chart (For indication purposes only)
Pigment Paste Colour
Comparative RAL Colour
K100 White K200 Black
RAL 9003 RAL 9017 RAL 5012 RAL 5017 RAL 3020 RAL 6005 RAL 6001 RAL 1018 RAL 1001 RAL 1023 RAL 8025 RAL 8017 RAL 7045 RAL 7016 RAL 7047 RAL 9022
K302 Paris Blue
K340 Strong Blue
K100 White
K200 Black
K302 Paris Blue K340 Strong Blue K400 Signal Red
K530 Mid Bruns Green K541 Brilliant Green K600 Canary (Light) Yellow
K400 Signal Red
K530 Mid Bruns Green
K600 Canary (Light) Yellow
K541 Brilliant Green
K640 Sandstone K641 Traffic Yellow K705 Dark Earth
K705 Dark Earth
K713 Chocolate Brown
K640 Sandstone
K641 Traffic Yellow
K713 Chocolate Brown K913 Mineral Grey K916 Charcoal K918 Birch Grey K919 Pearl Light Grey
K916 Charcoal
K913 Mineral Grey
K918 Birch Grey
K919 Pearl Light Grey
Zimbali Lakes Resort, Ballito
Hermanus Waterfront, Hermanus
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Spigot Options
Spigot Mounting
PDP-015-001
PDP-015-002
PDP-015-003
PDP-017-001
PDP-017-003
PDP-017-005
PDP-017-007
Floodlight Mounting
PDP-021-003
PDP-021-004
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Bracket Options
Decorative Lantern Arrangements
PDP-025-001 - Type A
PDP-025-001 - Type B
PDP-025-001 - Type C PDP-025-001 - Type D (Single)
PDP-025-001 - Type D (Double)
PDP-025-002
Decorative Bracket Options
KORDA-ZA
CURV-T
ITO-ZA (750mm)
ITO-ZA (1250mm)
CURV-N (500mm)
CURV-N (1250mm)
CURV-B (500mm)
CURV-B (1250mm)
Our decorative brackets support a weight of up to 13kg.
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www.beka-schreder.co.za
Designed and manufactured by BEKA Schréder (Pty) Ltd
2026-04
Copyright © BEKA Schréder (Pty) Ltd - Twenty One Industrial Estate - 10 Purlin Street North - Olifantsfontein (South Africa) • The information, descriptions and illustrations herein are of only an indicative nature. Due to advanced developments, we may be required to alter the characteristics of our products without notice. As these may present different characteristics according to the requirements of individual countries, we invite you to consult us.
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