Gavin Williams, Managing Director of Engineered Composites Ltd and Vice Chair of Composites UK, has published GRP
Pultruded Profiles: A Comprehensive Technical Guide for Engineers, Designers and Specifiers. The book brings together over three decades of practical composites experience into a single technical reference aimed at closing a long standing knowledge gap in structural engineering.
Engineered Composites has manufactured GRP pultruded products from its Chester and Saltney site for 40 years. Mr Williams has led the company since 2021, building on that history to expand its capability in structural profiles, grating, handrails, fencing and bespoke fabrication for the rail, water, marine, defence and construction sectors.
“GRP pultrusions have been used successfully across demanding environments for decades, yet many structural engineers still have limited exposure to the material,” Mr Williams said. “That gap has been the single biggest barrier to wider adoption. This guide sets out to close it, using the practical experience we have built across thousands of projects.”
A Practical Reference,
The 400 plus page guide covers material science, manufacturing, UK and European standards compliance, structural design methodology with worked examples, connection design, real world applications and emerging technologies such as self healing resins and embedded sensors. It is structured in four parts, moving from fundamentals through standards and specification, engineering design, and finally applications and future developments, supported by extensive appendices of profile dimensions and material property data.
“The intention was never a promotional piece,” Mr Williams explained. “It had to stand up as a genuine technical reference, with the rigour that gives engineers confidence to specify with GRP. That meant worked examples, property tables and case studies rather than marketing claims.”
Supporting Wider Adoption Across UK Infrastructure
The guide arrives as GRP composites see growing specification across rail, water, nuclear, marine and chemical processing infrastructure, sectors where corrosion resistance, non conductivity and long design life offer clear advantages over traditional materials. Mr Williams hopes the book will support both engineers new to the material and experienced specifiers looking for a detailed reference.
“May it contribute to wider adoption of these materials and the benefits they bring to our infrastructure,” Mr Williams said.
GRP Pultruded Profiles: A Comprehensive Technical Guide for Engineers, Designers and Specifiers is available here: