In the Florida Keys, distribution is as difficult as you would expect, thanks to challenging geography, location, and weather. After the 2004 hurricane season, the Florida Keys Electric Cooperative (FKEC) needed to find a better pole solution. They had previously used concrete, wood, and steel poles. But steel corrodes, wood rots, and the weight of concrete makes transportation and installation expensive.
FKEC explored and tested as many options as possible. They needed something with the strength of concrete, but without the cost-prohibitive weight. They looked at fiberglass, but its extreme flexibility isn’t suited for the high winds in the Keys.
After a distributor mentioned that McWane manufactured ductile iron poles, an FKEC engineer experienced in metallurgy immediately understood the advantages. Ductile iron offers a superior combination of strength, light weight, durability, flexibility, and value. FKEC contacted a nearby company that had used ductile iron in its underground pipes since 1980. The company invited FKEC to take a look for themselves, and it was clear that ductile iron lasts a very long time.
While the initial purchase price of ductile iron is more than wood, installation is faster and easier and they require little-to-no maintenance, making it more cost-effective over the lifecycle of the poles. For FKEC, the choice was clear.
