Tairāwhiti-East Coast benefits from local manufactures partnership with US giant

Mateenbar is twice the strength and a quarter of the weight of steel and is ideal for use in harsh, corrosive environments.

Owens Corning is the world’s largest manufacturer of fibreglass composites.

Pultron Composites, through its subsidiary company Mateenbar, has agreed to a deal that will see the US giant become their sole distributor in North America.

The partnership will not only drive new sales, but also raise awareness for Pultron’s composite rebar product, Mateenbar. Using Mateenbar offers a number of benefits against traditional steel rebar used for concrete reinforcement.

It is twice the strength and a quarter of the weight of steel and is ideal for use in harsh, corrosive environments such as marine construction.

The composite rebar is viewed in the construction industry as a ‘disruptive’ technology and is the latest development in the on-going search for new technologies which are longer lasting while reducing the construction industry’s carbon footprint.

Pultron set up Mateenbar Limited as a separate company in 2020 and continues to be a majority shareholder of Mateenbar, supplying specialist equipment, technical expertise, and research and development. 

A previous partnership with Kānoa – Regional Economic Development & Investment Unit helped Pultron build and fit out a research and engineering facility to manufacture proprietary technology and equipment.

The project is also providing new, high-paying jobs for Tairāwhiti-East Coast.

Pultron Composites has a strong commitment to employ contractors from its local community and as a result of Mateenbar’s global expansion, Pultron has increased staff numbers by 30 per cent in the last year.