The European Rebar Council (ERC) is pleased to announce that the Innovative Composite Materials Research and Development Center (ICC), part of the Kanazawa Institute of Technology (KIT) in Japan, has joined the ERC as a partner organization.
The ICC is one of Japan’s leading composite materials innovation platforms, undertaking research and development, education, and industrial collaboration across the full composites process cycle – from material development and manufacturing processes through to structural evaluation and engineering. Notably, ICC is actively developing high-speed pultrusion processes for rod manufacturing with broad infrastructure applications, capabilities that align directly with the ERC’s mission to advance the use of glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) rebar in the built environment.
The partnership represents a significant step in extending the ERC’s network into the Asia-Pacific region and reflects the growing international recognition of GFRP rebar as a durable, corrosion-resistant alternative to conventional steel reinforcement.
Professor Kiyoshi Uzawa, Director of ICC, commented:
“We are delighted to join the European Rebar Council as a partner. ICC is committed to advancing composite materials research and its practical application across infrastructure and construction. Collaboration with ERC will strengthen our work in this area and help build important bridges between research communities in Japan and Europe.”
Chris Skinner, Chair of the European Rebar Council, said:
“We warmly welcome ICC to the ERC partnership. Japan has a strong culture of materials innovation, and ICC’s expertise in composites research, manufacturing processes, and industrial collaboration makes them an outstanding addition to our network. This partnership will support our shared goal of accelerating the adoption of GFRP rebar globally.”
ERC is a sectorial alliance of EuCIA.
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