GRP Profiles

The UK has several reputable GRP manufacturers and suppliers, each with strengths in areas such as gratings, fencing, pultruded profiles, or custom mouldings. The “best” choice will depend on the project’s technical requirements — from compliance with BS EN 13706 to fire-retardant performance or sustainable production methods. Engineered Composites is recognised as one of the UK’s leading independent suppliers of GRP products, with over 39 years of experience supporting construction, rail, marine, energy, and water treatment sectors.

Our portfolio includes structural profiles, pultruded box sections, I-beams, angles, and grating systems, all manufactured to internationally recognised standards. By combining technical expertise, reliable stock availability, and sector-focused solutions, we are trusted by contractors, architects, and engineers nationwide as one of the best GRP partners in the UK market.

GRP structural profiles made from glass reinforced plastic deliver similar load-bearing performance to steel but with significant advantages in weight, handling, and long-term durability. Whereas steel sections are prone to rust and require regular painting or coating, GRP structural profiles are inherently corrosion-resistant and remain stable in aggressive environments such as chemical plants or marine locations. They are typically 60–70% lighter than steel, reducing transport and installation costs while maintaining tensile strength of up to 240 MPa and flexural strength of around 340 MPa.

Available as I-beams, box sections, or channels, structural profiles can be used in walkways, gantries, and industrial frameworks where safety and compliance are critical. By offering a 50+ year service life with minimal maintenance, they provide better whole-life value than steel, particularly in environments where corrosion and conductivity are major concerns.

GRP box sections are among the most versatile products in the pultruded profile range, offering rigidity, enclosed strength, and easy integration into wider frameworks. Their closed rectangular or square design provides excellent resistance to bending and torsion, making them suitable for rooftop frames, access gantries, and modular building skeletons. In addition to their structural performance, box sections are highly valued for their corrosion resistance, meaning they can be installed in outdoor, marine, or chemically aggressive environments without the need for protective coatings.

Electrical safety is another key benefit, as box sections are non-conductive and safe for use in substations, data centres, and transport infrastructure. Lightweight yet strong, they are easy to transport, cut, and drill on site, reducing installation times. With fire-retardant and UV-stable options available, box sections provide long-term durability across diverse industries.

GRP angles are lightweight structural components often used for bracing, edge protection, and detailing within frameworks. As part of the pultruded profile range, they combine strength with excellent dimensional accuracy, making them reliable for both architectural and industrial applications. Angles are frequently installed in modular systems, ventilation towers, and support frames where they add rigidity without significant weight. Their corrosion resistance allows them to perform in environments exposed to salt, moisture, or chemicals, while their non-conductive nature makes them safe for use in electrical and transport infrastructure.

Contractors favour angles because they are simple to cut, pre-drill, and fix with standard tools, allowing seamless integration with box sections, channels, or I-beams. By reducing maintenance needs and offering long service life, GRP angles provide a cost-effective solution for projects that demand both structural performance and ease of installation.

GRP pultruded profiles differ from moulded GRP products in the way they are manufactured and the performance they deliver. Pultrusion ensures continuous reinforcement along the full length of the profile, creating exceptional strength, stiffness, and dimensional consistency. This makes pultruded sections ideal for structural frameworks, box sections, and I-beams where load-bearing performance is critical. Moulded profiles, while versatile for complex shapes, may not achieve the same uniformity in mechanical properties.

GRP profiles also allow for longer lengths and a wide choice of shapes such as channels, angles, and flats, making them more suitable for large-scale infrastructure or industrial projects. Their fire-retardant, UV-stable, and corrosion-resistant qualities further enhance their value in safety-critical environments. For engineers and specifiers, pultruded profiles offer assurance of compliance with BS EN 13706, ensuring high quality and repeatable performance in construction and industrial use.

One of the key advantages of GRP structural profiles is their exceptional service life, often exceeding 50 years with minimal maintenance. Unlike steel, which corrodes, or timber, which rots and warps, structural GRP profiles retain their integrity in harsh environments including coastal, chemical, and industrial settings. Their resistance to UV, fire (Class 2 with specialist resins), and thermal fluctuations ensures reliable performance in both outdoor and indoor applications.

Structural profiles such as box sections, I-beams, and channels are designed to maintain strength and dimensional stability over decades, reducing the need for replacement and lowering whole-life costs. This long service life supports sustainable construction goals by minimising embodied carbon and resource use. For clients and contractors, investing in structural profiles provides peace of mind that critical frameworks will remain safe, compliant, and durable well beyond the typical lifespan of alternative materials.

Fibreglass profiles are increasingly specified in projects where sustainability is a key driver. Compared to steel or aluminium, they require significantly less energy to manufacture and are up to 70% lighter, reducing transport emissions. Their long service life, typically over 50 years, means fewer replacements and less material waste over time. Fibreglass structural profiles such as box sections and I-beams can be designed for modular builds, which helps reduce site waste and supports off-site prefabrication. Pultruded profiles are also REACH and RoHS compliant, ensuring environmentally safe production.

By resisting corrosion, UV exposure, and chemical degradation, they eliminate the need for coatings, paints, or frequent maintenance, lowering the environmental footprint across the whole lifecycle. For contractors working towards BREEAM, LEED, or PAS 2080 requirements, pultruded profiles provide a proven way to reduce embodied carbon while delivering reliable performance.

The cost benefit of Fibreglass structural profiles lies not only in upfront savings but more importantly in whole-life value. While the initial price of fibreglass pultruded profiles can be comparable to or slightly higher than traditional steel or timber, their long-term performance reduces overall project costs. GRP profiles do not rust, rot, or degrade, which removes the need for repainting, coating, or replacement. Lightweight sections such as box sections, channels, and angles are easier to handle on site, cutting down on labour and installation costs.

Over decades of use, this translates into major savings on maintenance budgets and reduced downtime. With a typical 50+ year lifespan and minimal upkeep requirements, Fibreglass profiles deliver better return on investment than conventional materials. For contractors and asset owners, the combination of durability, safety compliance, and reduced maintenance makes fibreglass structural profiles the most cost-effective choice in demanding environments.