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Buildings Fibers used in Neuvokas basalt rebar manufacture (basalt-alf.narod.ru)

Published on November 6th, 2014 | by Sandy Dechert

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Neuvokas Basalt Rebar Lighter, Stronger, Same Cost As Steel

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November 6th, 2014 by  

(This post is part of our series on Midwest Cleantech Open winners.)

Fiber reinforcing bars have been around since the old Soviet Union sought a source of fiber for ballistic-resistant textiles. Peaceful uses started in Japan in the 1980s and moved to Canada before catching on in the States. Despite their advantages of corrosion resistance and nonconductivity, fiber rebars have not yet been cost-competitive with traditional steel rebar for strengthening concrete. This may be about to change, according to Neuvokas Corporation, which has begun to manufacture FRP rebar out of volcanic rock and just won a Sustainability award for its basalt rebar at the Midwest Cleantech Open.

Fibers used in Neuvokas basalt rebar manufacture (basalt-alf.narod.ru)An advanced materials manufacturer in Calumet, Michigan, Neuvokas (Finnish for “resourceful”) blends purchased fiber and internally formulated resin at high speeds to produce lightweight basalt fiber-reinforced polymer that is cost-competitive with traditional steel counterparts and also preferable to ordinary fiber rebar. Similar in chemical composition to glass fiber, basalt fiber is stronger and highly resists alkaline, acidic, and salt deterioration. Basalt rebar can also tolerate higher temperatures and more abrasion. Lack of developed standards for the product have held up its general institution.

Here are some of the other advantages of the Neuvokas product:

  • 100X increase in production speeds of basalt rebar compared to current FRP production,
  • Price parity with steel,
  • Immunity to rust,
  • Increased tensile strength,
  • 7X weight reduction with basalt rebar, and
  • Capability of using 30% less concrete.

Neuvokas has two patents pending and funding for 5 utility patents, in addition to formulas and other trade secrets in the basalt rebar sector.

The global rebar market is $164 billion. The company’s first target market is private parking lots on the US Gulf Coast. It is initially offering 3/8” diameter 10’, 20’, and 40’ BFRP rebar as a direct replacement for ½” steel. As well as shipped orders, Neuvokas product is under purchase orders and letters of intent to six companies, two of which may involve Canadian and European distribution of Neuvokas basalt rebar.

The company has raised over $2.2M in private equity, loans, and grants. Its five-month Cleantech Accelerator experience and acquisition of a subsequent Midwest CTO award for Sustainability position the company nicely for future development.

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About the Author

covers environmental, health, renewable and conventional energy, and climate change news. She's worked for groundbreaking environmental consultants and a Fortune 100 health care firm, writes two top-level blogs on Examiner.com, ranked #2 on ONPP's 2011 Top 50 blogs on Women's Health, and attributes her modest success to an "indelible habit of poking around to satisfy my own curiosity."


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  • Omega Centauri

    An important failure mode of reinforced concrete, is caused by the rusting of rebar (which causes its volume to increase, creating internal pressure/stress that cracks the concrete. This might be capable to increasing the lifetime of concrete structures.

  • Bob_Wallace

    Next product should be a foldable ‘net’ that could be quickly unfolded and hung in place. Slabs are moving away from rolls of concrete mesh to wire panels as a way to save labor costs.

    • tibi stibi

      these exists and are made of som hard plastic. my dad uses them. the look like green nets.

  • Offgridman

    Ms Dechert,
    Having worked in the building/construction trades in the Southeast US and Florida the value of this type of rebar is quite obvious. I have seen parking lots and pool walls that have collapsed after just ten or fifteen years because a single piece of metal bar was left exposed during the original concrete pour.
    This makes me curious though if you found out how they fasten them together when forming the grid work. Fifteen to twenty years ago in Florida there was some experimentation with doing it with plastic zip ties in place of the original wire twist fasteners, but I don’t know if this ever got passed into the standard building codes.
    If you have any knowledge of how they plan on doing this now, thank you very much in advance for enlightening me.

  • http://www.michaeljberndtson.com/ Michael Berndtson

    This is cool stuff. Many benefits from strength and ease of installation. Does it lower carbon footprint of materials and construction? I’m going to guess yes, if less concrete has to be poured. Both steel and concrete contribute a fair amount to human CO2 emissions. Cynically speaking, this rebar will help marine environments. Seawalls for example – due to climate change impacts like sea level rise. I’m trying to keep climate change concern in marketing and product cut sheets.

    Note to commenters, one specifically: I made an edit to read less badly.

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