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GRP stands for 'Glassfibre Reinforced Plastics', also referred to as 'Fibreglass', Composite Plastics, and in the USA, FRP. It is an amazingly versatile material, and one that is little understood in industry, but which has truly immense potential across a wide spectrum of applications.
However, GRP moulded products requires some sort of former or tool from which it is moulded. In its simplest and most common form, known as 'hand-lay', the mould is first prepared with a release wax, similar to car polish. The colour is then applied by brush or spray to the mould face as a 'gelcoat', which is a thickened, coloured resin. This is allowed to 'cure' for about 20-30 minutes, and is followed by layers of glassfibre mat together with the resin. This can be put down or 'layed-up' by brush, or even sprayed using special machines which 'chop' continuous filaments of glassfibre into specified lengths and blow these down in a spray of resin. The product is then formed by the hardening of the resin and glass matrix into an integrated moulding.
 
Over the years new technologies have allowed much more sophisticated systems to offer far greater properties. Closed moulding now offers 'good-both-sides' mouldings, and the use of 'core' materials between the glassfibre laminations has added immeasurably to strength and durability. Techniques using translucent laminates can now 'encapsulate' graphics within the laminate both for protection and for backlit displays. Special masking techniques make multi-coloured and multi-textured moulding possible.
Thus making GRP one of the most versatile products on the market
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