We are celebrating an anniversary: 50 years of GRP lighting columns.
A journey through time with GRP pioneer Hartmut Trommen
A new era of sustainable, traffic-safe street lighting began 50 years ago: GRP lighting columns began their success story along roads, squares and sports facilities. One name was instrumental in shaping this period of development: Hartmut Trommen – the GRP pioneer. To mark the anniversary of the glass fiber reinforced plastic poles, he visited us in Neumarkt at our new production site built in 2022. Together with Hartmut Trommen, we went on an impressive journey through time.
In 1973, Trommen took up his position as a young engineer at the Pfleiderer wooden pole company with the aim of revolutionizing pole production. At that time, wood and steel dominated the market. GRP poles were manufactured by wrapping fiberglass around wooden poles. Trommen, on the other hand, developed new processes: He built a spinning bench, improved the injection process and tested his results in vibration tests. The first poles were erected as early as 1974 – and they still stand unchanged and reliable on streets and squares today. In the meantime, they can be found all over Germany, very often in other European countries and, more recently, even in Uzbekistan.
„The advantages lie in the maintenance-free durability, the easy handling during assembly thanks to the low mast weight, the high passive traffic safety and the wide range of possible applications,“ says plant manager Michael Polster. Through his expertise, diligence and courage, Trommen created the essential foundations for today’s FUCHS Europoles GRP.
Our timeless GRP poles
The GRP material is lightweight, does not interfere with the radar, guarantees a high level of passive safety thanks to its non-sparking breakability and is easy to handle. The diversity of the product has not been lost along the way either: Airfield lighting, instrument landing systems, barrier booms, light poles, flagpoles and overhead line poles – our GRP pole is the solution for numerous applications. For 50 years. Today even in a wide range of customized designs.
Trommen looks back proudly on his invention, which is not only durable, but also environmentally friendly and low-maintenance. „That makes me a little proud, considering that we started from scratch,“ he sums up with satisfaction. He is both impressed and fascinated by the new energy and material-saving production techniques at FUCHS Europoles GRP. How long will such a mast last in total? We’ll take another look. In 50 years at the latest.
A journey through time with GRP pioneer Hartmut Trommen
A new era of sustainable, traffic-safe street lighting began 50 years ago: GRP lighting columns began their success story along roads, squares and sports facilities. One name was instrumental in shaping this period of development: Hartmut Trommen – the GRP pioneer. To mark the anniversary of the glass fiber reinforced plastic poles, he visited us in Neumarkt at our new production site built in 2022. Together with Hartmut Trommen, we went on an impressive journey through time.
In 1973, Trommen took up his position as a young engineer at the Pfleiderer wooden pole company with the aim of revolutionizing pole production. At that time, wood and steel dominated the market. GRP poles were manufactured by wrapping fiberglass around wooden poles. Trommen, on the other hand, developed new processes: He built a spinning bench, improved the injection process and tested his results in vibration tests. The first poles were erected as early as 1974 – and they still stand unchanged and reliable on streets and squares today. In the meantime, they can be found all over Germany, very often in other European countries and, more recently, even in Uzbekistan.
„The advantages lie in the maintenance-free durability, the easy handling during assembly thanks to the low mast weight, the high passive traffic safety and the wide range of possible applications,“ says plant manager Michael Polster. Through his expertise, diligence and courage, Trommen created the essential foundations for today’s FUCHS Europoles GRP.
Our timeless GRP poles
The GRP material is lightweight, does not interfere with the radar, guarantees a high level of passive safety thanks to its non-sparking breakability and is easy to handle. The diversity of the product has not been lost along the way either: Airfield lighting, instrument landing systems, barrier booms, light poles, flagpoles and overhead line poles – our GRP pole is the solution for numerous applications. For 50 years. Today even in a wide range of customized designs.
Trommen looks back proudly on his invention, which is not only durable, but also environmentally friendly and low-maintenance. „That makes me a little proud, considering that we started from scratch,“ he sums up with satisfaction. He is both impressed and fascinated by the new energy and material-saving production techniques at FUCHS Europoles GRP. How long will such a mast last in total? We’ll take another look. In 50 years at the latest.