ABC Industries, Inc., headquartered in Warsaw, Indiana, now offers a reinforced version of its popular RigiDuct® product, a filament-wound fiberglass duct. The newly created product is being marketed as RigiDuct® WG, with WG designating a wire guard reinforcement. ABC's RigiDuct® WG incorporates Hardwire LLC's 3x2 single-end roving, which is helically wound and laminated within the ducting's construction. RigiDuct® is used in mining operations where strength, durability, and weight are important factors in selecting piping products. This product won the award in the category Technical Innovation for Corrosion Applications which was one of seven categories spanning over 100 entries.

Kevin Carson, composites engineer at ABC Industries, states: "We were looking for something revolutionary - something that would differentiate us from the competition. We needed added durability in our products and the inclusion of Hardwire achieved that."

Hardwire LLC's 3x2 single-end roving has made it possible for ABC to reduce the wall thickness of its RigiDuct® WG product without compromising its inherent strength. Negative-pressure test results of RigiDuct® WG (which incorporates Hardwire's 3x2 single-end roving) indicate up to a 30% increase in strength over ABC's standard RigiDuct® product. In addition to being able to withstand higher negative pressures, RigiDuct® WG (while still in the testing phase) seems to be more resistant to structural fatigue and failure in the harsh underground mining industry.

Again Carson states: "While achieving enhanced durability of our product we were also able to reduce layup of glass by 20%, decrease overall cost of raw materials, and increase the strength up to 30%. Hardwire made this possible."

ABC Industries can be reached at (574) 267-5166 / www.abc-industries.net

Hardwire can be reached at (410) 957-3669 / www.hardwirellc.com

Hardwire® products may be purchased directly via this website or though distribution at Composites One.