Report

Teaser, summary, work performed and final results

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - PRECOPAL (Zero Corrosion Sheet Pile Elements with Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer Bars)

Teaser

The urbanized world is supported using steel sheet piles (SSP) or concrete sheet piles (CSP). Despite the massive use of this technology, these structures are by their nature subject to oxidation, being realised entirely by metal (SSP) or with concrete reinforced with metal...

Summary

The urbanized world is supported using steel sheet piles (SSP) or concrete sheet piles (CSP). Despite the massive use of this technology, these structures are by their nature subject to oxidation, being realised entirely by metal (SSP) or with concrete reinforced with metal bars (CSP). In places where oxidising conditions are extreme, their useful lifespan is reduced to a few years, resulting in high costs for their maintenance or replacement.
With Precopal we will be the first to realize a reinforced CSP with fiberglass bars totally resistant to oxidation, guaranteeing a useful lifespan up to 4 times longer and allowing huge savings in different sectors of construction. The project will be oriented towards obtaining the following main objectives:
• technology optimization
• Obtaining certificates and standards for the sale of Precopal units;
• Development of an innovative installation system (water jet)
The FS confirms the uniqueness of our solution, its technical feasibility and commercial profitability even in the worst scenario. Precopal has already aroused great enthusiasm in our clients, who expressed their interest with letters of interests.

Work performed

TECHNICAL FEASIBILITY, including: Technology definition and in-depth cost analysis; SoA assessment; Detailed technical plan to increase TRL to 9; Analysis of risks and design of a mitigation and contingency plan.
COMMERCIAL AND EXPLOITATION PLAN, including: Market analysis, end user’s segmentation, main competitors, commercial barriers; definition of commercial strategy, FTO analysis, definition of IPR strategy.
FINANCIAL PLAN, including: business model, price policy; benefits for end users and 3 sales scenarios.

Final results

Precopal is the future of sheet piles: so far there is no solution on the market to overcome oxidation problems derived from particularly oxidizing environments (marine environments, such as consolidation of the channels’ banks, extension of ports, coastal protection, isolation of waste disposal areas). Precopal will have a huge impact reducing the costs for the application of this technology by a third and a quarter, guaranteeing enormous economic benefits to end users and allowing a huge growth for our company (+ 5.4 M EUR revenue and + 32 new employees at the third commercialisation year).

Website & more info

More info: http://www.sigmac.it/.