Draft:GatorBar
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GatorBar is a brand of glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) reinforcing bar manufactured by Neuvokas Corporation, a composite-materials company based in Ahmeek, Michigan. The product is used as reinforcement in concrete construction and is manufactured as an alternative to conventional steel reinforcing bar.
Product
[edit]GatorBar is a composite reinforcing bar consisting of glass fibers embedded in a polymer resin. According to product specifications, the material contains no metal and is non-conductive and resistant to corrosion.[1] These properties allow GFRP reinforcing bars to be used in applications where corrosion of steel reinforcement is a concern, including marine and other environments where concrete may be exposed to water or chemicals.[2]
Product specifications describe GatorBar as having approximately twice the tensile strength of conventional steel reinforcing bar while weighing substantially less.[1] The mechanical properties of GFRP reinforcement differ from those of steel, including its behavior under tension and its lack of electrical conductivity.
Neuvokas produces GatorBar in several nominal sizes, including #3, #4 and #5 reinforcing bars, as well as bent components. A 25-piece - 20 foot bundle of #3 GatorBar is listed at approximately 47 pounds (21 kg).[1]
GatorBar has been evaluated by ICC Evaluation Service under evaluation report ESR-4526 for use in structural concrete applications in accordance with applicable provisions of the International Building Code and International Residential Code.[3]
Applications
[edit]GatorBar is used as concrete reinforcement in a range of applications, including:
concrete slabs, pavements and other flatwork; residential foundations and slabs; commercial and industrial construction; agricultural structures; marine and waterfront structures; precast concrete; and applications requiring non-metallic reinforcement. GFRP reinforcement can also be used in locations where electrical conductivity is undesirable. The material's resistance to corrosion makes it applicable to concrete exposed to moisture, salts and other corrosive conditions.
Neuvokas Corporation
[edit]GatorBar is the principal product line of Neuvokas Corporation, a privately held company founded in 2013 in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. The company was co-founded by Erik J. Kiilunen and Ken B. Keranen.[4]
Neuvokas develops and manufactures equipment used in the production of its composite reinforcement products. The company is based in Ahmeek, Michigan.[2]
History
[edit]| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 2013 | Neuvokas Corporation was founded in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.[4] |
| 2014 | The company reported validating its manufacturing process and obtaining initial seed funding. |
| 2015 | Reported production speeds reached 75 feet per minute. |
| 2016 | GatorBar was introduced for commercial sale.[2] |
| 2017 | Reported production speeds increased to 150 feet per minute. |
| 2018 | The company received a $2 million grant through the U.S. Department of Energy's ARPA-E program.[4] |
| 2019 | The company reported receiving National Science Foundation Small Business Innovation Research grants and cumulative sales exceeding 30 million dollars. |
| 2020 | Neuvokas transitioned its reinforcement material from basalt fiber to glass fiber and reported production speeds of 250 feet per minute. |
| 2021 | GatorBar was covered by ICC-ES evaluation report ESR-4526.[3] |
| 2022 | The company reported that 225 million feet of its products had been installed and announced participation in NEx, an American Concrete Institute center of excellence focused on nonmetallic building materials. The American Concrete Institute introduced ACI CODE 440.11-22, published in late 2022 as the first comprehensive, enforceable code for structural concrete reinforced with GFRP bars. |
| 2023 | Neuvokas introduced a revised surface treatment for GatorBar that it called "Grip Technology". |
| 2024 | The 2024 International Building Code (IBC) officially recognized GFRP rebar for structural applications by referencing ACI CODE 440.11-22. |
| 2025 | Reported production speeds reached 300 feet per minute, with less than 5% scrap and 70% uptime. |
| 2026 | GatorBar reports that it has delivered more than $25 million in labor savings to date, with more than 350 million feet of GatorBar installed across the United States and other regions. |
References
[edit]- 1 2 3 "GatorBar Fiberglass Rebar Product Specifications & Technical Data". FP Supply. Retrieved 2026-07-28.
- 1 2 3 "Beat the Rising Cost of Steel: GatorBar Company & Product Overview". Neuvokas Corporation. Retrieved 2026-07-28.
- 1 2 "Evaluation Report ESR-4526: GatorBar Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Bar" (PDF). ICC Evaluation Service, LLC. Retrieved 2026-07-28.
- 1 2 3 Bowra, Bethany. "Faces Behind the Facts: Erik Kiilunen, Neuvokas". Clean Energy Business Network. Retrieved 2026-07-28.