In the never-ending war on corrosion, a patented, reinforcing-steel bar certified to last at least 100 years is receiving a second life thanks to venture capitalists hell-bent on improving infrastructure. But it is going up against a heavy tradition of epoxy-coated reinforcing bars, which are constantly on the move in an effort to stay a step ahead of the competition.
Currently made in Wales, the stainless-steel clad rebar emerged in the 1990s as “Stelax,” an alternative to epoxy-coated, galvanized and solid stainless-steel rebar, costing about 25% less than the latter. The product re-emerged in 2006 when a group of investors led by Arkbe Capital Ltd., London, bought the patents and forged NX Infrastructure Ltd.