From The State newspaper, Columbia, SC, Tuesday, December 10, 1996

Local fiberglass utility poles replace heavier wood ones

You won't see utility linemen shinning up the new poles using climbing spikes – or see woodpeckers drilling holes in them. Last week, the first 40-foot electrical distribution poles made of fiberglass instead of wood were installed in Columbia by SCE&G linemen.

Fiberglass streetlight poles of 25 feet or less, made by Shakespeare Products of Newberry, have been popping up all over the city for the past three years. While this is the first installation in Columbia, the distribution poles already are in use in Brazil, Britain, Scotland and Japan. Since introducing them in 1993 Shakespeare has sold more than 22,000 fiberglass distribution poles worldwide.

The fiberglass poles were developed by Shakespeare, SCE&G and Owens Corning Fiberglass Corp. Locally, the lighter, 40-foot fiberglass poles are replacing damaged wooden poles in hard-to-reach areas and in yards where fencing and landscaping might be damaged during installation, said Rick Sprowls, an SCE&G engineer.

"The success we had with the light poles led us to try the fiberglass transformer poles," Sprowls said. The smaller fiberglass streetlight poles now line Gervais Street in the Congaree Vista. They are also being installed in the back yards of many Columbia homes for security lighting.

Fiberglass poles, while more expensive, weigh less, are easier to install and are resistant to salt, water, rot, termites and chemicals, said Lynn Derrick, vice president of sales and marketing for Shakespeare Products. "Not only are these poles practical in terms of installation, they are an environmentally safe alternative to wood," Derrick said.

They also last longer. The fiberglass poles have an unlimited life span, while wooden poles last 20 to 30 years. The fiberglass light poles have opened up new markets for SCE&G. They can be installed in neighborhoods with underground lines, with the wires run through the interior of the hollow fiberglass poles.

Homeowners prefer the fiberglass poles because they look better and don't require heavy delivery trucks that tear up lawns and shrubbery. Linemen can carry the poles on their shoulders.

Several SCE&G linemen worked with Shakespeare Products to design the fiberglass poles. "The main thing is they are so light compared to the wood poles," said Mark Rucker, a lineman for 19 years. "The wood poles probably weigh 1,200 to 1,500 pounds, and the 40-foot fiberglass probably weighs about 350 pounds."

The boots and hooks used to climb wood poles do not penetrate the fiberglass ones. Instead, the poles are climbed using pre-installed steps. But don't expect fiberglass poles to systematically replace wooden ones, yet. They cost three times as much as wooden ones. "We will have to do a cost evaluation in every location we consider using the fiberglass, to determine if the difference between labor and process costs offset the higher cost of the fiberglass," Sprowls said. The poles cost $600 to $890 depending on height and class, said Shakespeare's Derrick.

The company also operates pole manufacturing plants in Florida, California, Omaha, and Northern Ireland. The Newberry plant is the world's largest manufacturing facility for fiberglass poles. The company is part of K2 Inc., which also owns Shakespeare Monofilament and Shakespeare Fishing Tackle, as well as a number of other companies.
 

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Picture Caption: After struggling to get a new fiberglass electrical pole in place Monday, Mark Rucker of SCE&G cuts the power on the wooden pole. Fiberglass poles weigh about 350 pounds, compared to wooden poles that weigh up to 1500 pounds.

Photo credit: Eric Seals, The State newspaper

Dewanna Lofton covers small businesses, retailing and tourism for The State newspaper, Columbia, SC.