GRP Pipes and Piping Systems for Industry

GRP stands for glass-reinforced plastic. GRP pipes consist of glass fibres embedded in synthetic resin. The fibres carry the mechanical loads, while the resin bonds the composite together and protects the pipe wall from the transported medium. The result is a lightweight pipe that withstands high internal pressures and resists acids, alkalis and salt solutions. Fiberpipe manufactures pipes using vinyl ester, epoxy and polyester resins, selected to suit the process medium and operating temperature of each facility.

GRP is particularly advantageous wherever corrosion determines the service life of a pipeline. When transporting aggressive media, steel requires a lining or coating that deteriorates in service and must be inspected regularly. PVC reaches its temperature and pressure limits much sooner. GRP pipes do not corrode, can withstand significantly higher temperatures than PVC depending on the resin, and can be installed without welding. For non-aggressive media and low temperatures, however, conventional plastics or galvanised steel are often the more economical option. We will tell you openly if GRP would be unnecessarily overengineered for your application.

Acids, alkalis, salt solutions, process water, wastewater and hot water are typical media transported in our pipes. Suitability depends on the combination of medium, concentration and operating temperature. An acid that poses no problem at 40 °C may require a different resin at 80 °C. Our corrosion resistance chart (Chapter 11 of the product catalogue) lists common media and recommends the appropriate resin. For mixtures, changing batches or flushing cycles with different concentrations, we assess each application individually.

The temperature limit depends on the resin. Vinyl ester pipes are suitable for continuous operating temperatures up to 90 °C, while epoxy pipes can handle up to 130 °C. The design must account for continuous operating temperature and any peaks occurring during start-up, cleaning cycles or steam flushing. These brief temperature peaks are often overlooked in planning and can later damage the laminate.

As operating temperature increases, the permissible operating pressure of a GRP pipe decreases. In filament winding, we therefore adjust the winding angle to the pressure requirements, allowing custom designs beyond standard catalogue ratings. Tell us your operating pressure and temperature, and we will design the pipe for those conditions.

For centrifugally cast pipes up to DN 400, we supply 90° and 45° elbows as well as concentric and eccentric reducers. Sockets and end caps are also part of the system, along with fixed and loose flanges, including loose flanges made of galvanised steel. We manufacture custom components to your drawings: almost anything that can be made into a mould can be wrapped with GRP.

Pipes made from glass-reinforced plastic do not lose wall thickness through corrosion, eliminating the material loss that gradually reduces the safety margin of steel pipes. Actual service life depends on the medium, temperature, pressure fluctuations and joint quality. Our practical experience shows that some customers in the chemical industry have been using the same Fiberpipe systems for more than 20 years.

Yes. Our pipe dimensions are ISO-compatible and all common flange bolt patterns can be accommodated. This allows GRP sections to connect to existing steel or plastic pipelines without rebuilding the entire route. A phased replacement is often advisable: start with the sections that fail most frequently and replace the rest during planned shutdowns.

Your team can learn these skills, and we provide the training. In our bonding and laminating courses, your installers practise joining methods on real components, including surface preparation, curing times and common defects. Afterwards, your teams can carry out installation and repairs themselves, saving valuable time during unplanned shutdowns.