ADVANCED MATERIALS & PROCESSES | JULY/AUGUST 2024 22 isn’t much automation at this point. The edges are sealed to prevent users from being exposed to glass, wood, or resin and we smooth out the surface itself, especially if it was impacted and damaged while it was in the air or in the process of being brought down to the ground. The finished product always has a nice smooth surface. After that’s completed, we install a base that the bench will sit on. It is then painted with either a two-part epoxy paint, or a primer that will make it ready for our Primed-And-Ready (PAR) program. PAR items may be creatively painted by Canvus artists or the purchasing community’s own artists. The seated portion and the back of the bench are added, which may be made of recycled rubber coming from old car and truck tires, or composite lumber made from shrink wrap and recycled shopping bags. (See Table 1.) The concluding step is the final assembly, which is conducted at the site where the bench is being installed. What other products do you make from end-of-life blades? Right now, we’re focused on products that can go out into public spaces because of the size of the marketplace. This includes benches, picnic tables, and planters. As we move forward, there are other ideas we have that would allow us to consume more blades. One primary example is walls— whether they are submerged in water as break walls or along highways as sound barriers. There are also smaller consumer products that could be made from these blades in the future, if we choose to go down that path. But right now, we’re focused on making the biggest impact in public spaces and communities to inspire people. Who are your typical customers? Our customers are what we refer to as communities, to use a broad term. These communities take the form of cities, schools (including K-12 and universities), villages, and counties. It also includes federal, national, and local parks. What materials challenges do you run into as you work with these large parts? Fiberglass is a hard material. No matter what’s used to cut it, no matter what’s used to seal the edges, it was built to spin around in the air at heights in excess of 250 ft for 25 years. It’s strong, durable, and heavy. It always presents a challenge as to how you’re going to get from a 170 ft blade to a bench that’s remarkable looking and will stand the test of time. How do your finished park benches differ from traditional ones made of wood or other materials? Compared to a typical park bench, our benches are far more unique looking to begin with, and also, we believe, far better manufactured. We use stainless steel fasteners, so customers don’t have to deal with rust. We use aluminum for the same reason. Our TABLE 1 — RECYCLED MATERIALS USED IN CANVUS PRODUCTS Material New usage Recycled from Composite lumber Durable, maintenance-free boards Plastic Recycled rubber Poured cushioned surface Tires and shoes Mixed plastics Long-lasting reinforced plastic sheets Carpet, plastic, and ocean waste A blade is section cut into a filet. The filet is sanded to a smooth finish. A base is installed onto the seat of a bench. Jaycee Park in Oregon, Wisconsin, features a partitioned-style bench. An installation at the Energy Corridor District in Houston showcases a variety of Canvus benches.
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