Granite Peak Plastics launches line of composite rail ties

St. Louis-based plastic recycling company Granite Peak Plastics has launched Triton Ties, a line of fiber-reinforced polymer composite railroad ties.

The company says the precision molding process used to create Triton Ties marks an advancement in railway infrastructure by providing a high-performing, long-lasting alternative to traditional wood ties and other composites on the market, and are available to ship anywhere in the U.S.

RELATED: A world that ships on recycled plastics

Triton Ties, an affiliate of the Granite Peak Group, has been able to leverage 25 years of plastic industry expertise from its parent company. Both companies are co-located, as well as operated by the same leadership team.

“I’m extremely proud of this team and the Triton tie,” says Greg Janson, CEO of Granite Peak Plastics and Triton Ties. “We’ve worked hard to engineer a process and product that addresses the shortfalls of composites that went before us. This product has superior fatigue endurance and hits the sweet spot of performance and cost. A true one-for-one replacement for wood, Triton Ties will save billions of dollars over their lifetime when installed at scale. And because we are committed to using recycled plastic, Triton Ties will also create demand for massive quantities of scrap plastic, keeping it out of our landfills, waterways and oceans. It’s a triple win—performance, profit and planet.”

According to Granite Peak, Triton Ties are created by using precision extruding technology, offering predictable performance and durability. The company says automated feeders for each input ensure tight process control, while a custom extrusion process maintains the integrity of reinforcing agents.

Granite Peak says Triton Ties has harnessed recycled plastics and a proprietary resin matrix to develop a product that outperforms wood ties in challenging applications, such as high moisture environments. The ties have a projected lifespan of 50 years and are resistant to rot, moisture and insects and can be recycled at the end of their use. The company estimates that approximately 20 million ties are replaced in North America each year.

The Triton composite tie also offers seamless installation, using the same machinery as wood. Granite Peak says they can be combined with existing wood crossties for optimal capital management.

The company says the Triton composite has undergone third-party and American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association (AREMA) testing and validation, and the tightly controlled manufacturing process produces consistency and quality.

In addition to standard ties, Triton Ties also offers customized solutions to meet specific applications. The company says strength, stiffness and cost can be adjusted by altering the formula for a solution that meets a customer’s specific requirements.