06 Mar PUPI® Crossarms Excel in Tough Coastal Conditions
The highway between Jamaica’s capital city of Kingston and Norman Manley International Airport is surrounded on both sides by the Caribbean Sea. Each hurricane season brings the potential for this critical route to be washed away, so in 2012 the government of Jamaica built a new seawall to protect it from high waves. The project involved the relocation of the existing power lines to the opposite side of the highway. Since PUPI® fiberglass crossarms had already proven themselves on the old line, they were selected for the new lines as well.
Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS) is the country’s sole electric distribution utility, serving nearly 600,000 customers. JPS has a long history with PUPI®, dating back to the 1990’s when the first fiberglass crossarm was installed in historic Port Royal. JPS selected PUPI crossarms for their light weight, high strength, excellent insulation properties and SunGUARD® UV resistant coating – which provides critical protection against the intense Caribbean sun. They count on the fact that fiberglass crossarms don’t rot or corrode like wood and steel crossarms, especially when exposed to salt spray next to the coast. JPS’s lineworkers immediately fell in love with PUPI® crossarms. To date, PUPI® fiberglass crossarms have been installed all over the island, from Kingston to Montego Bay, without a single failure documented.
Since PUPI® crossarms are shipped complete from the factory with integrated center mounts, installation is fast and easy. This is especially important on concrete poles with pre-drilled holes. PUPI’s center mounts allow lineworkers to attach to the pole via two throughbolts, as well as with steel bands when holes aren’t available.
PUPI® has been the leader in manufacturing high-quality fiberglass crossarms for over 20 years. Built to withstand even the harshest climates, PUPI® crossarms have proven themselves to be the ideal choice for coastal areas and remote locations. In addition, PUPI®crossarms are available in many different profiles and strength ratings to meet requirements worldwide. That’s why leading power companies around the world choose PUPI®.