COOLING TOWER - After many years of utilizing Redwood because of it's natural tendency to inhibit decay, the quality of Redwood diminished and Douglas Fir was introduced to the market. However, the negative effect of Douglas Fir was that it deteriorated rapidly in comparison to the Redwood. Various methods of pressure treatment and incising were developed to off set the micro-organisms that attacked and eventually depleted the wood.

In addition to the wood being supplied and utilized by the Tower Market, other materials such as galvanized steel, stainless steel, concrete, and in some cases asbestos cement board casing panels were utilized on field erected towers.

During the 1970's, the environmental movement caused several industries to be scrutinized. The chemicals used to pressure treat the wood were viewed as possible hazards, therefore resulting in tighter controls and new formulations to be applied . The end result was an increase in the material cost of wood. Asbestos was also under scrutiny and ultimately dropped from the industry due to the threat it posed of potential health hazards.

Through the 1980's and into the early 1990's, various existing Cooling Tower companies as well as newly formed organizations were looking for alternative building materials that would offer comparable if not greater strength to the materials being utilized while remaining competitive. Paying close attention to the competitiveness between these materials, Bedford Reinforced Plastics, Inc. recognized the possibilities that the industry could offer and and made the commitment to complete the "Standard Structural Product Line".  There was also a need to address part consolidation and offer design assistance on developing custom and /or proprietary profiles.

It is Bedford Reinforced Plastics belief that the utilization of Pultruded Fiberglass shapes had its largest growth and recognition during the mid to late 1990's. The double-digit increases are largely due to the cohesive efforts of the qualified manufacturers and the Tower companies coming together to establish and adhere to industry standards.

In addition to the collective efforts of such organizations as the CTI - Cooling Technologies Institute, great strides have been made with the Raw Material Suppliers that support our company. Several proprietary glass, pigment, and resin systems have been internally developed allowing the industry's best employees to consistently produce a quality product that is second to none.