The Lighting Journal, the publication for all lighting professionals, features TMP’s innovative non-metallic polymer lighting column embellishment kits. If you are interested in learning more, read the article in full (page 24 to page 25).
Here are some highlights:
This article intends to outline how at TMP Solutions we have been working with Essex Highways to develop a non-metallic polymer lighting column embellishment kit as a safer and more economical alternative to traditional cast-iron kits.
These new polymer embellishments eliminate the structural safety issues caused by galvanic corrosion and can make column testing quicker, safer and more economical, as the embellishments don’t need to be removed during the testing procedure.
A quick recap on galvanic corrosion
Galvanic corrosion, also known as bimetallic corrosion, is an electrochemical process whereby one metal corrodes in preference to another metal that it is in contact with through an electrolyte. The galvanic corrosion occurs when the two dissimilar metals are immersed in a conductive solution and are electrically connected. One metal (the cathode) is protected, while the other (the anode) is corroded. The rate of attack on the anode is accelerated, compared to the rate when the metal is uncoupled. In the case of lighting columns, the metal that corrodes is the steel column (the anode) when in contact with the cast-iron embellishment (the cathode) and the electrolyte is primarily dog urine or saltwater.
Galvanic corrosion is such a safety concern because it normally happens out of view, behind the cast-iron embellishment kit, yet is weakening the column. Unfortunately, the most susceptible area of the column is also the most dangerous – the base – as this is often where dog urine and saltwater collects the most. Street lighting columns can occasionally catastrophically fail because of such corrosion, potentially causing severe injury to people and objects in the vicinity.
Understanding our polymer solution
Essex Highways had been searching for an alternative to cast-iron embellishments for around four months before contacting us. As a company, we’re generally more synonymous with traffic bollards rather than lighting columns. However, without wanting to blow our trumpet too much, we are known for developing innovative products and bringing them to market. For example, we invented the retro-reflective rebound traffic bollard. So being asked to develop a non-metallic embellishment kit was certainly something that sparked our interest. […]
The embellishment kit is made up of four parts: base, collar, ring and ladder bar. Producing all these parts could have involved a lot of expensive tooling but, thanks to our talented design team, we arrived at a solution where each part only needs one tool. Each part is made up of two identical pieces that interlock, providing not only strength and security but making installation quick and easy, too.
⎯ Lighting Journal, June 2020
Featured image source: Lighthing Journal, Issue June 2020
