Composite materials Milwaukee Composites
Safety first
A Milwaukee-based company
is taking its passion
for composites to create
stronger, lighter and
safer solutions for
passengers and workers
M ilwaukee Composites (MCI) was founded in 1997 with
a mission to provide composite-based solutions to solve
long-standing issues of moisture damage, inferior fire
protection and delamination, which the company says was
experienced with plymetal flooring in transit vehicles. MCI’s
patented phenolic composite panels were designed to solve these
issues, be maintenance free and last the service life of the car.
MCI’s technology can be found in more than 141,000 transit
cars around the world. The panels handle any temperature
condition from the hot and humid summers in Chennai, India,
to the cold winters of Calgary, Canada.
Safety through innovative design has been at the heart of MCI’s
motivation to improve current mass transit technology. In addition
to its flagship flooring solutions and doors, MCI is continuing to
add to its portfolio of safety-focussed solutions.
Fire protection
MCI utilises phenolic resin, which it says is globally recognised
as the best fire protection polymer without the use of additives.
This allows MCI’s products to pass any rigorous fire safety
standards around the world, including ASTM E119.
MCI’s floor panels can be machined in complex geometries
and complemented with various assembly components, including
floor coverings or metal hardware to provide part consolidation
opportunities. MCI’s Contour panels help to reduce tripping
hazards by eliminating steps and transitions from a lower level
to a higher level. This is especially important when OEMs and
transit authorities need to meet the highest allowable step for
ADA compliance. The contour panels can provide a ramp as
part of the flooring system, so car builders do not need to have
another part or another system to provide it. One of the company’s
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