Traditional bridge replacements take 180 days, but by building the new bridge on UHMW-PE slide rails adjacent to the old bridge, then moving the new bridge into place, the bridge replacement required only seven days of road closure. The ABC approach was embraced because a road closure would result in a 29-mile detour for the residents of the town. The structure was built in 1961 and had become badly deteriorated. The application consisted of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMW-PE) slide rails that were used as an element of accelerated bridge construction (ABC) methodology for the Cottonwood Creek bridge replacement in Yale, OK. (Orchard Park, NY) for its solution to a bridge construction project. Second place went to distributor member Curbell Plastics Inc. The material has a high thermoform tolerance, enabling it to be heated and wrapped around a frame in a controlled and uniform manner, while avoiding kinking and cracking. LuciteLux Frost was selected because of its opacity level and color, which blends in nicely with the ocean. The project's complexity comes from the combination of its visual impact on the house and its requirements to be strong, durable, and be able to withstand varying temperatures and tolerate fluctuations in the weather. The home's design required a custom solution that would diffuse sunlight coming into the main living area, while offering second-floor residents a clear view of the Pacific Ocean.
The project was installed on a custom home in the suburban town of Point Loma, CA.
(San Diego, CA), for its "Louvers by Design" project. The first place award in the Corporate Division went to IAPD distributor member ePlastics, a Ridout Plastics Co. The delegates then voted for their favorites and the winners were announced. Four finalists-three in the Corporate Division and one in the Collegiate Division-were selected to present their applications to convention attendees. The International Association of Plastics Distribution (IAPD Overland Park, KS) announced the recent winners of the third annual IAPD Plastics Application Design Competition, selected during IAPD's 59th Annual Convention and Plastics Showcase in San Diego, CA. For decades, the plastics processing industry has known that new applications abound for those who are innovative and creative.