Choosing the right supplier of fibre reinforcement

With a growing range of fibre types, brands and applications, choosing the right supplier is becoming increasingly important. This article offers a practical checklist for making a well-considered choice.

Why the choice of supplier matters

Fibre reinforcement is not a standard product that performs identically everywhere: fibre type, quality, dosage advice and processing support differ per supplier. A wrong choice can lead to insufficient performance, processing problems at the concrete or asphalt plant, or insufficient substantiation towards clients and regulators.

What should you look for when choosing a supplier?

• Technical advice on dosage. A good supplier offers free advice on the correct dosage and the correct fibre type for your specific application — not just a sales pitch, but technical substantiation based on loading, environment and desired properties.

• Experience with your specific application. Ask for reference projects that align with your situation: a supplier with extensive experience in, for example, porous asphalt on motorways is not automatically equally experienced with agricultural floors or tunnel structures.

• Availability and lead time. For larger projects it is important that the supplier has sufficient stock and delivery capacity to supply the project without delay.

• Support with structural substantiation. For structural applications it is valuable if the supplier can work with (or refer you to) a structural engineer for the required reinforcement calculation.

• Independent research and practical data. Check whether the fibre offered has been investigated within independent, published research (such as the European FIBRA project for asphalt fibres), rather than relying solely on supplier claims.

• Environmental and sustainability substantiation. Ask for concrete figures on CO₂ savings, production temperature and recyclability, substantiated according to recognised methods such as the National Environmental Database (Nationale Milieudatabase) and the applicable PCR guidelines.

Questions to ask a potential supplier

• Which fibre types and brands do you supply, and for which applications are these best suited?

• Can you name reference projects comparable to my situation?

• What quality certification and environmental declarations are available for your products?

• Do you offer free advice on dosage and processing?

• Can you help with substantiation towards a tender or sustainability report?

• Do you work with structural engineers for structural applications?

Why local, specialist suppliers can offer an advantage

Alongside international manufacturers, there are specialist suppliers in the Netherlands that offer both synthetic concrete fibres and aramid fibres for asphalt, with knowledge of the specific Dutch standards, practical projects (such as the A73) and local concrete and asphalt plants. This can offer a practical advantage over international suppliers without local presence.

In conclusion

The right supplier of fibre reinforcement combines product quality, technical advice, relevant experience and sound substantiation of sustainability claims. Take the time to compare these aspects, rather than selecting on price alone.

Would you like to get acquainted with the approach of Dutch Fiber Trading? Feel free to get in touch for free advice on your project.

Sources

• Van den Braembussche, "Vezelversterkt beton" (ATG approval)

• CEDR FIBRA project, Deliverable 5.1 and 6.2, 2021

• Dutch Fiber Trading (dftrading.eu)