The Structural Reinforcement of the Future: The Growing Role of Composite Rebar in Europe

February 18, 2026

A New Boost for Steel-Free Solutions

In recent years, the search for sustainable alternatives to steel has gained momentum in the construction industry. Composite rebar, made from materials such as glass fiber or carbon fiber, is emerging as a modern, lightweight, and corrosion-resistant solution, ideal for demanding environments and long-lasting structures.

In this context, various European organizations are actively collaborating to consolidate the use of non-metallic structural reinforcement, marking a transition toward more efficient and future-ready infrastructure.

What Is Composite Rebar and Why Is It Gaining Ground?

The term rebar refers to reinforcement bars used in concrete structures. Historically, they have been manufactured from steel. However, thanks to advances in composite materials, reinforced polymer versions are now available, known as GFRP (Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer) or CFRP (Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer) bars.

These bars stand out for:
• Not corroding in humid or saline environments
• Being significantly lighter than steel
• Maintaining stable mechanical properties over time
• Allowing faster and safer installation

In bridge, tunnel, port, and water-exposed structures, the use of composite rebar offers key advantages in terms of durability and sustainability.

Europe Moves Toward Standardization of Composite Rebar

As the composite reinforcement bar market grows, so does the need for common standards and certification systems. Different industry alliances, supported by entities such as EuCIA, are developing technical frameworks to ensure the quality, safety, and reliability of these materials.

The creation of specialized working groups focused on certification, promotion, and public policy reflects a clear commitment from the European sector: to provide viable alternatives to steel in the construction projects of the future.

The Challenge: Educating the Market and Demonstrating the Benefits

One of the main challenges to the widespread adoption of non-metallic rebar is the lack of technical knowledge among designers, engineers, and public administrations. Training initiatives and the dissemination of real success stories are essential for building confidence and momentum in both public and private projects.

At Polymec, as manufacturers of technical composite profiles, we closely follow these initiatives, convinced of the value that pultruded materials bring to environments where corrosion or exposure to aggressive agents is a constant factor.

What Can Polymec Contribute to the Development of Composite Rebar?

Although our primary focus is the manufacture of glass fiber-reinforced polyester structural profiles, at Polymec we have the technical expertise and pultrusion process experience required to develop customized reinforcement bars tailored to the specific needs of each project.

We are committed to innovative solutions that combine mechanical performance, durability, and ease of installation. Our team is ready to collaborate with engineering firms, construction companies, and public entities interested in incorporating corrosion-free alternatives into their structures.

Toward Lighter, Safer, and Maintenance-Free Construction

The use of composite reinforcement bars is not a passing trend. It is a real technical response to the current challenges of the sector: more durable structures, more sustainable construction, and solutions that reduce long-term maintenance costs.

Polymec firmly believes that the future of structural reinforcement lies in composites. We will continue to closely monitor the work of European alliances, with the aim of contributing our expertise to the development of more innovative, efficient, and long-lasting construction.

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Polymec at JEC World 2026: innovation, partnerships and the rise of corrugated bars in composites

Polymec at JEC World 2026

This year, Polymec will be present at JEC World 2026, one of the most important international trade fairs in the composite materials sector. And we won’t be there alone. We are proud to announce that we are part of the Spanish Pavilion 7, an initiative that brings together leading companies from our country to represent national innovation and technical expertise abroad.
JEC World is much more than a trade fair: it is a meeting point where manufacturers, researchers and experts from the world of composites come together to showcase technological advances, new applications and sustainable solutions. For us, it is the perfect opportunity to share our developments, especially in pultruded profiles and products with great potential such as composite corrugated bars.

JEC World: a meeting point for the composite industry

Every year, JEC World brings together more than 1,200 exhibitors and tens of thousands of visitors from all over the world. It is a space where technology, sustainability and industrial application come together. Participating in the 2026 edition allows us not only to keep up with the latest trends, but also to present our own advances in products such as pultrusion profiles made from fibreglass, carbon or even additives such as graphene.

It is also an opportunity to strengthen international alliances, seek new avenues for collaboration and explore niche markets where solutions such as composite corrugated bars are beginning to gain ground.

The new European initiative promoting the use of composite rebar

In line with this evolution in the sector, the European Rebar Council (ERC) has recently been launched, a new division within the European Composites Industry Association (EuCIA), whose objective is to promote the use of composite reinforcing bars in construction and civil engineering works at European level.
The initiative was presented in Brussels and marks an important step towards the consolidation of composite rebar as a real alternative to traditional steel. At Polymec, we are closely following this movement and welcome proposals such as the official launch of the European Rebar Council, which you can read about in detail in this IOM3 article on the European Rebar Council.

These types of collaborations and technical forums are key to paving the way for more sustainable, resistant and lightweight solutions, such as composite corrugated bars, especially in infrastructure projects where corrosion and durability are critical challenges.

Why are composite corrugated bars gaining attention?

Composite corrugated bars represent a natural evolution in the world of structural reinforcement. Compared to traditional steel bars, it offers multiple advantages that meet the needs of modern engineering:
• Superior corrosion resistance, ideal for humid or saline environments.
• Reduced weight, which facilitates handling and transport.
• Longer service life with less maintenance.
• Stable mechanical properties in demanding conditions.
These benefits make it particularly attractive for use in bridges, structures in contact with water, foundations, or even in constructions that seek to reduce their carbon footprint without compromising structural safety.

Polymec’s role in the development of advanced solutions

At Polymec, we have been committed to innovation in composite materials for years. Our experience in the manufacture of pultruded profiles has enabled us to develop tailor-made products for sectors as varied as construction, the chemical industry, nautical and agriculture.

We are now closely monitoring market developments surrounding composite corrugated bars. Their potential and the institutional support they are receiving through initiatives such as the ERC are opening up new possibilities for these products to play a leading role in the infrastructure of the future.
Participating in JEC World 2026 gives us the ideal platform to showcase our capabilities, share ideas and actively contribute to the evolution of this technology.

The future of composites in sustainable infrastructure

The transformation of the construction and infrastructure sector is already underway. The move towards more durable composite materials that are resistant to aggressive environments and have a lower environmental impact is a clear trend. In this context, products such as composite rebar have a decisive role to play.

At Polymec, we will continue to explore, design and manufacture solutions that meet current and future challenges. We are driven by the idea that our products not only deliver technical performance, but also contribute to more efficient and sustainable construction.

Pultrusion profiles: innovation transforming the industry.

What is Pultrusion and Why It’s Revolutionizing Profile Manufacturing

Pultrusion is an industrial manufacturing technique increasingly used in sectors that demand strong, durable, and lightweight materials. In essence, it’s a continuous process that creates reinforced profiles — most often using fiberglass — by pulling fibers through a heated mold.

But what exactly is pultrusion? Imagine a system where fibers such as glass or carbon are impregnated with resin and continuously drawn through a mold that shapes and solidifies them. This is how pultruded profiles are made — valued for their stability, strength, and adaptability.

How the Pultrusion Process Works

The pultrusion process is simpler than it seems, yet highly technical. It begins with continuous fibers fed from spools. These fibers pass through a liquid resin bath, usually polyester or epoxy, which coats them completely.

Once impregnated, the fibers enter a heated mold that defines the final profile shape. The resin hardens with the heat, and the finished product is continuously pulled out and cut to the required length. Controlling temperature, speed, and pulling force is key to maintaining precise tolerances and consistent quality.

This process allows for the production of everything from thin rods to complex structural profiles — all with exceptional mechanical strength.

Advantages That Make Pultruded Profiles Stand Out

Compared to traditional materials such as steel, aluminum, or even wood, pultruded profiles offer clear advantages:

Much lighter while maintaining stiffness and strength.
Corrosion- and rust-resistant, ideal for harsh environments.
Non-conductive, making them safe for electrical applications.
Low maintenance and long-lasting.
Dimensionally stable, even under extreme weather conditions.

Thanks to these properties, pultruded profiles are widely used in outdoor structures exposed to sunlight, humidity, or chemicals — environments where other materials would fail.

Fiberglass Pultrusion: The Perfect Balance of Strength and Cost

When we talk about pultrusion, fiberglass is the most common reinforcement choice. Why? Because it offers the ideal balance between performance and cost. It’s strong, affordable, non-conductive, and suitable for a wide range of applications.

In sectors such as construction, agriculture, chemical industry, and marine engineering, fiberglass profiles have become a standard solution. Common uses include:

Railings and outdoor structures
Industrial grating (tramex)
Technical ladders
Machinery components
Agricultural stakes

Manufacturers like Polymec, based in Spain, operate under strict European standards such as UNE-EN 13706, ensuring structural quality in every profile produced.

Types of Pultrusion Profiles Available

One of pultrusion’s great strengths is its versatility. Standard shapes can be produced, but custom designs are also possible for specific applications. The most common include:

Rods (smooth, ribbed, round, or square)
Tubes (round, square, rectangular, telescopic)
Flat bars (plain or special geometry)
Angles, U-profiles, I-beams, dog bones, corner pieces
Gratings (tramex)
Special profiles: steps, manhole covers, skirting boards, tool components

In Polymec’s catalog, there are versions made with fiberglass, carbon fiber, or even graphene additives, offering enhanced properties such as thermal conductivity or chemical resistance.

Standards in Pultruded Profiles: Safety and Quality Assurance

Producing pultruded profiles is not just a technical process — it must also comply with international standards to ensure safety and performance.

In Europe, the key reference is EN 13706, which classifies profiles into two categories: E17 (standard) and E23 (high quality). Polymec manufactures under the latter, meeting stricter requirements for stiffness, strength, and dimensional tolerances.

These profiles are also tested under EN ISO 527 and EN ISO 14125 standards to evaluate their behavior under tension, bending, shear, and other mechanical loads.

Pultrusion and the Future: Growing Applications

The potential of pultruded profiles extends far beyond current uses. Their future is bright — especially in industries seeking sustainable, durable, and long-lasting materials. Emerging applications include:

Supports for solar panels and wind turbines
Railway and marine infrastructure
Components for smart urban furniture
Modular construction systems
Lightweight parts for automotive and electric transport

Thanks to specialized companies like Polymec, which not only manufacture but also advise and customize solutions, pultrusion is positioning itself as a key technology in the shift toward a more efficient and sustainable industrial future.

POLYMEC, member of the AESICOM Cluster, will face the future challenges of the composites sector in Spain.

Polymec has been present as a founding member of this cluster of companies, which aims to bring together all businesses in the composites sector in order to identify opportunities for innovation and business development through collaboration with other companies in the field, as well as to gain timely access to relevant information on issues affecting companies involved in composite manufacturing.
Our Manager, Mr. Santos Sánchez, was elected Vice President of the AESICOM cluster at its latest assembly.

POLYMEC develops new products.

Polymec is currently developing new products using natural fibers such as flax and slate fiber, in line with its R&D policy and its commitment to the environment.

POLYMEC is part of this important European project as a manufacturer.

This ambitious project is based on research aimed at developing a new pultrusion manufacturing process for the construction and automotive industries.

For more information, please visit the project’s website: www.coaline.eu

The first products made with graphene composites are being introduced.

The first products made with graphene composites were presented at the JEC World Composites trade fair held in Paris this March. These are pultruded profiles with graphene that, thanks to this nanomaterial, improve the mechanical properties of conventional pultrusion profiles. They maintain the same weight but significantly increase strength — even surpassing that of steel, something unthinkable until the arrival of graphene.
At Polymec, we manufacture pultrusion profiles with graphene, marketed under the name CompoSmart, in Murcia.

The most innovative nanomaterial of recent times is set to play a key role in the future of composite materials. Graphene’s mechanical properties make it an ideal material to incorporate into composites to enhance their strength and durability.

At the JEC World in Paris, a section of a boat similar to the Graphenano One could also be seen — a vessel unveiled last October in Alicante to great anticipation, as it is the first boat built entirely from graphene-enhanced composite. Among its advantages: greater strength, lighter weight, higher speed, fuel savings, reduced material use during production, and lower environmental impact.

Graphenano Composites works with Gazechim for the supply of resins, which are enhanced with graphene in Graphenano’s laboratories.