TREATED POLES
CREOSOTE & CCA PRESSURE TREATED TIMBER POLE SUPPLIER
As an end-to-end treated poles supplier, R&B Group grows and harvests it's own timber poles, these poles go through a creosote treatment process to produce a unique brand of hardwood treated pole called the HardPoleTM. Further below you can explore more about both treatment processes we offer.
R&B Group supply their treated poles to South Africa (incl. Durban, Cape Town, Johannesburg) and to the African export market (Morocco, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Ghana, Benin, Cameroon, Dem. Rep. of the Congo, Angola, Zambia, Botswana, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, Madagascar, Swaziland and Lesotho.)
Creosote is the most widely used wood preservative in our industry. R&B Group uses the full-cell method to treat cross arms, transmission poles, building poles and fencing poles.
CREOSOTE TREATMENT PROCESS
The full-cell process is as follows:
Treatment Vessel is charged with our timber poles and the treatment vessel is sealed.
A vacuum is drawn and maintained for an adequate period.
Without increasing the pressure, the preservative is introduced at the appropriate temperature.
Allow the cylinder to fill to capacity.
Apply hydraulic pressure and maintain this pressure (approx 10bar) until the required absorption is attained.
Release the pressure and pump surplus preservative from the treatment vessel.
Apply a final vacuum to “dry poles” of excess preservative.
After treatment, treated poles are laid out for final inspection where the poles are inspected for defects and drilled to check the depth of penetration. Acceptable treated poles are then tagged and stacked according their length and diameter class, ready for dispatch.
Creosote is purchased from Arcelor Mittal and FFS Refiners in tanker form. The product adheres to SANS 616 type 2 and 3 specification respectively.
Further reading on the creosote treatment process
Find the 'CCA Treatment Process' detailed below our process diagram.
CCA TREATED TIMBER POLES
CCA is a preservative containing copper, chromium and arsenic. CCA treatment prolongs the life of timber poles eg: utility poles.
The CCA treatment process was pioneered in 1933 and is used worldwide. Chromium (chrome) ‘locks’ the copper and arsenic into the timber and reduces the risk of the chemicals leaching out. Copper and arsenic protect the timber from insect and fungal attack.
In the pressure treatment process, a solution of CCA is applied using a vacuum and pressure cycle, and the treated wood is then stacked to dry.
The primary advantages in the use of CCA treated timber poles are that it produces no smell or vapor and its surface can be easily painted.
Drawbacks of the wood are a strong green color at high retention values. It should not be used in applications where it is in contact with food or drinking water.
More reading on CCA treatment is available below:
QUALITY TREATED TIMBER PRODUCTS
Below are the treated pole products we supply to Africa & Worldwide: