National Composites Week, which takes place from August 22-26, is a time to recognize the various ways composite materials and building structures have come to shape the world we live in. Composite products can range from wax-coated coffee cups to fiberglass, however IntegriCo, a leading manufacturer of composite railway crossties and construction matting parts, produces a composite product that improves the function of the product and promotes sustainability.
IntegriCo’s IntegriTies™ bring life to tough, unwashed plastics destined for the landfill and utilizes the properties of the original materials to create a stronger product. Discarded recyclables like ketchup bottles, yogurt containers, margarine tubs, meat trays, egg cartons, plastic cups and plates are morphed into IntegriTies™ using a revolutionary low-heating process that preserves the properties of source materials. Traditional railroad ties are either made of concrete, which can be quite expensive to produce, or wood treated with chemicals.
Composite products have been developed over the years to create solutions for a variety of common issues. For example, coating paper coffee cups with a protective layer of wax allows consumers to drink their favorite hot beverages without worrying about the liquid compromising the integrity of the cup. IntegriTies™ offer the same assurance by extending the life of railroad ties by up to four times as long as traditional wooden ties in high rot areas.
In 2007, IntegriCo made waves in the railroad industry by creating a comprehensive recycling infrastructure that involves taking hard-to-recycle plastic from Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs) and transforming them into composite railroad ties. In 2022, the company is looking to expand their brand by acquiring more market share while introducing new formulas for composite ties that are sustainable and exceed industry expectations.