ARTICLE | Canadian Utility Initiates Trial Evaluation of Composite Poles

DOWNLOAD PDF Wood pole framing is common on transmission networks throughout North America and indeed across the globe. However, while the typical service life of such poles is normally between 50 and 60 years, damage caused by various species of woodpeckers has, in extreme cases, required these structures be replaced in only a fraction of that time. Moreover, poles in affected line corridors may also need more frequent inspection since incidence of hole pecking occurs over a narrower time frame than most other problems. All this has made the activity of these birds a growing asset management challenge. INMR first reported on the problem in the Q1, 2017 issue with an article discussion how one Canadian utility was assessing the situation and how best to respond. This follow-up article discusses progress on a trial evaluation of one of the measures identified to resolve woodpecker damage. FortisBC, a utility operating in the west coast province of British Columbia, conducts maintenance assessments of its overhead lines on an 8-year cycle. This includes both below grade and above grade inspections of each structure. Apart from checking sample wood poles for issues such as moisture penetration, visual assessment is also performed on structures, cross-arms, line hardware and conductors. Engineering Manager, Aram Khalil-Pour, explains that current FortisBC practice is that line inspection personnel in the field assess the extent of woodpecker damage to poles and decide whether an affected structure must be replaced or if more detailed inspection is required. Moreover, data on number of woodpecker holes is now being collected to determine whether the problem is stable or increasing, possibly due to factors related to climate change. Moving to steel or concrete poles is an obvious solution but comes with the challenge of transporting and erecting much heavier structures, often at remote sites that are inaccessible by road. Both materials also offer less BIL than wood and this can impact an existing line’s electrical characteristics. Another option is composite fiberglass poles that are light and offer lower installation costs than steel or concrete alternatives. Yet such structures are generally much more costly than wood poles. Delivery lead time is perceived to be another potential problem due to a smaller base of qualified suppliers. Apart from these issues, Khalil-Pour is also concerned that such structures will not provide as easy to climb as wood poles and therefore may require use of a bucket truck for maintenance. Yet another question mark is how long a service life such poles offer under exposure to high UV radiation and periodic wetting. Nevertheless, Khalil-Pour and Operations Manager, Tom Harrison, feel that composite poles offer an effective solution for high problem areas, looked at on a case-by-case basis. With all these considerations in mind, engineers selected a 230kV transmission line that is among those most affected by woodpeckers. The line runs through a hilly corridor bordering lakes and sparse pine forest. One specific structure was identified and this past June its wood framing was replaced by composite fiberglass poles and cross-braces. Khalil-Pour states that the focus for the time being is mainly on field experience when it comes to replacing wood framing with composite poles using established construction procedures. Among the main factors in this regard is how well current construction procedures are able to adapt to the requirements of the new structures. For example, like wood framing, composite poles do not require special civil engineering to prepare foundations and are simply buried in place. A related issue, he notes, is feedback from crews on how easy these poles are in terms of handling and drilling. Given the importance of such information from this trial installation, FortisBC had a team of engineers as well as supervisory staff on site. The objective was to observe the changeover firsthand and monitor how well current field techniques meld with whatever special requirements are needed when installing the new structures. Moreover, Colin Wilson, a representative from the manufacturer in Ontario, was also on hand to offer expertise and answer questions. Wilson, himself a former linesman, reports that FortisBC is certainly not alone in having to find solutions to woodpecker problems. For example, he reports that a neighboring utility, BC Hydro, has already installed over a hundred such structures in high problem areas. He also states that woodpecker damage to wood utility poles is far from being a localized problem but occurs across North America and indeed worldwide. The next cyclical 8 year maintenance inspection is scheduled in 3 to 4 years and both Khalil-Pour and Harrison express concern about how they will be able to assess the condition of the new framing. “We have had a long track record with inspecting wood poles,” says Harrison, “and there is plenty of experience identifying incipient issues before they evolve into serious problems. With composite poles, it may prove more difficult for us to decide why and when these must be replaced.”  

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RS Technologies Inc. announces completion of credit facilities with JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. and purchase of Utah facility for U.S. expansion

DOWNLOAD PDF TILBURY, ONTARIO and CALGARY, Alberta, CANADA, April 23, 2020 – In response to growing demand for its leading-edge transmission and distribution poles, RS Technologies Inc. (“RS” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce that it has, together with its subsidiary RS Utility Structures Inc., entered into a credit agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) with JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., Toronto Branch (the “Bank”) for five-year term that provides for senior secured debt financing. Funds under the Credit Agreement will be used for the purposes of: (i) purchasing a 237,000 square foot production facility located on 22 acres of land in St. George, Washington County, Utah (the “Utah Facility”); and (ii) financing the acquisition of capital equipment that will increase RS’s production capacity of its ultra-resilient, reliable, and environmentally sustainable composite utility poles. Double-circuit 115kV RS pole installed with Cornwall Electric (a FortisOntario Company) in Cornwall, Ontario, Canada. Credit Facilities The Credit Agreement provides for two committed credit facilities comprised of a delayed draw term loan facility and a revolving credit facility, both maturing in April 2025. The Bank has also provided RS with a demand overdraft facility. The credit facilities are secured by substantially all present and after acquired property of RS and its subsidiaries. Utah Facility Concurrent with closing of the Credit Agreement, the Company closed the purchase of the Utah Facility from Scannell Properties #361, LLC. As part of its business plan to serve a greater number of utilities in the U.S. and worldwide, RS intends to further build out the Utah Facility through the purchase, installation, and commissioning of proprietary equipment for production of the Company’s best-in-class poles and utility structures. RS’s new production capacity in Utah will be incremental to capacity located at its existing Canadian operation in Tilbury, Ontario and will be in closer proximity to utilities located in the western United States and Canada. “RS is excited about establishing its operations in Utah to supply more high-performance poles and structures to the utility market,” stated Howard Elliott, President and CEO of RS. “The advantages of using an engineered product that excels in increasingly complex and challenging circumstances are becoming more apparent. Unpredictable and violent weather conditions coupled with rising value placed on the environmental sustainability of a product are leading ESG-oriented utilities to consider a true alternative to yesterday’s wood poles.” “The Company is pleased to announce these important steps in its aggressive growth trajectory — it is critical for RS to respond to market demand for greater volumes of its unique poles. We feel that the support of JPMorgan Chase together with Werklund Growth Fund L.P. should inspire confidence amongst RS’s existing customers and those utilities considering the long-term merits of RS’s composite poles,” said RS Chair David Werklund. About RS Technologies Inc. RS designs and manufactures the world’s highest-performing composite utility poles that are safer, more reliable, and longer-lasting than wood, steel, and concrete poles. RS poles are used in transmission (up to 345kV), distribution and communication applications, are environmentally friendly and often deliver the lowest total installed and life-cycle cost solution of any pole on the market. More information on RS and its poles is available at RSpoles.com. About Werklund Growth Fund L.P. (WGF) Werklund Growth Fund L.P. is a private equity and venture capital fund managed by the Werklund Family Office Inc. As one of Canada’s largest privately-owned investment funds, WGF seeks active investments in private industrial companies, disruptive and innovative technologies or special situation merchant banking opportunities. For further information please contact: RS Technologies Inc. Email: info@RSpoles.com RSpoles.com # # # RS Technologies Inc. Joel Tennison VP, Corporate Development & Legal Phone: 403-219-8000

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RS composite pole and Fire Shield™ successfully endure forest fire

DOWNLOAD PDF TILBURY, ONTARIO and CALGARY, ALBERTA, CANADA, November 7, 2019 – RS Technologies Inc. (“RS” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce that an RS pole, protected with an RS Fire Shield™ made from fibre reinforced polymer (FRP), has survived forest fire conditions in Canada’s Northwest Territories with no damage to the pole and minimal damage to the RS Fire Shield. Until recently, the utility industry has largely relied on building material-related, coupon sized flammability tests to characterize the fire performance of utility poles. For composite poles specifically, these tests included the UL 94 Standard for Tests for Flammability of Plastic Materials for Parts in Devices and Appliances and the ASTM D635-14 Standard Test Method for Rate of Burning and/or Extent and Time of Burning Plastics in a Horizontal Position. Forest fire approaching an RS pole (stage 1 of 3) (CNW Group/RS Technologies Inc. Beginning in 2011, RS undertook an initiative to design a reliable, quantitative test method that would simulate an actual full-scale fire, of a severe to extreme nature, as its flame front moves through a utility line right-of-way. To accomplish this, RS worked with third party forest fire expert Mark Ackerman from the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Canada. The resulting test method uses a steel sheath that is placed around the base of an embedded pole. Flames are then introduced to the annular space between the pole and the sheath by the controlled ignition of propane. The heat flux, flame temperature and exposure duration are designed to represent a “severe” (two-minute exposure) or “extreme” (three-minute exposure) wildfire event. Additionally, the fire-exposed poles can be full-scale bend tested per the ASTM D1036 Standard Test Methods of Static Tests of Wood Poles to quantify any loss of strength and/or stiffness. RS pole engulfed in a forest fire (stage 2 of 3) (CNW Group/RS Technologies Inc.) As part of RS’s ongoing fire testing program, now in its ninth year, Mr. Ackerman recently embedded an RS pole, protected with an RS Fire Shield, in a forest in northern Canada. In a controlled burn exercise, the surrounding area was ignited to start a forest fire. Following ignition, the fire approached, engulfed, and continued past the pole. The fire exposure time was approximately 30 seconds with flame temperatures reaching nearly 1,000°C [1,832°F]. After the fire passed, the pole self-extinguished thanks to the inherent material properties of the fiberglass and resin making up the pole. Upon inspection, the fire shield was found to have exhibited some surface charring, while the underlying pole showed no signs of damage and hence retained its initial structural strength and stiffness. The extinguished RS pole and Fire Shield after the fire has passed (stage 3 of 3) (CNW Group/RS Technologies Inc.) “This real-world wildfire test reinforces that RS poles and fire shields are a proven solution for utilities dealing with high fire risk environments,” stated Howard Elliott, President and CEO of RS. “The temperature and speed of this forest fire have demonstrated that the fire testing protocols used by RS — including the duration times for both severe and extreme fire conditions—are scientifically representative. RS looks forward to continuing to lead the industry with this type of applied research and product deployment.” About RS RS Technologies Inc. (RS) designs and manufactures the world’s highest performing composite utility poles that are safer, more reliable, and longer lasting than wood, steel and concrete poles. RS poles are used in transmission (up to 345kV), distribution and communication applications, are environmentally friendly and often deliver the lowest total installed and lifecycle cost solution of any pole on the market. With installations dating back to 2003, RS has over 450 customers in more than 28 countries and is ISO 9001:2015 registered. More information on RS and its poles is available at RSpoles.com. For further information please contact: RS Technologies Inc. Phone: +1 (519) 682-1110 Email: info@RSpoles.com RSpoles.com # # #

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RS announces two new appointments to Board of Directors

DOWNLOAD PDF TILBURY, ONTARIO and CALGARY, ALBERTA, CANADA, September 25, 2019 – RS Technologies Inc. (“RS” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Don Lowry and Mr. John Higgins, to the Company’s Board of Directors. The appointment of these independent directors increases RS’s Board of Directors membership to five. “We are pleased to have both Don and John join our board of directors. The Company is excited to have each of them on the team and looks forward to having them actively apply their extensive utility industry experience and operational expertise to the guidance, governance and growth of RS,” said RS Chair David Werklund. “RS is very fortunate to have Don and John join our board at such an opportune time. Both individuals bring a wealth of industry knowledge and experience to RS, and we are excited to work with them, on accelerating the growth of the Company,” stated RS’s President and CEO, Howard Elliott. Mr. Don Lowry retired in 2013 as president and CEO of EPCOR Utilities Inc. in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. He is chair of Capital Power Corporation, a publicly traded company formed when EPCOR spun off its generation business in July 2009, and is a director of Stantec, a major Canadian engineering firm. In 2011, Don was named Alberta Business Person of the Year by Alberta Venture magazine and, in January 2014, was named Alberta Resource Person of the Year for 2014 by the Alberta Chamber of Resources. Mr. Lowry holds a Bachelor of Commerce (honors) and Master of Business Administration degrees from the University of Manitoba, and he is a graduate of the Harvard Advanced Management Program and the Banff School of Management. Mr. Lowry obtained his Institute of Corporate Directors designation (ICD.D) in January 2016 from the Rotman School of Business. He has more than 30 years of industry experience in the utilities, telecommunications, and power generation sector. John Higgins serves as President of the Utility Services Group of MasTec, a Fortune 500 infrastructure business and NYSE-listed firm. He is responsible for a US$1 billion business with more than 5,000 employees serving the construction, engineering, and maintenance needs of the electric power, natural gas, and telecommunications industries nationwide. Prior to his current role Mr. Higgins was Senior Vice President of Operations and a Regional President for InfrastruX Group, an $800 Million energy infrastructure business. Mr. Higgins started his career as a lieutenant and platoon leader in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Mr. Higgins’ education includes a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from the United States Military Academy at West Point and a Master of Business Administration, with distinction, from Harvard Business School. About RS RS Technologies Inc. (RS) designs and manufactures the world’s highest performing composite utility poles that are safer, more reliable and longer lasting than wood, steel and concrete poles. RS poles are used in transmission (up to 345kV), distribution and communication applications, are environmentally friendly and often deliver the lowest total installed and lifecycle cost solution of any pole on the market. With installations dating back to 2003, RS has over 450 customers in more than 28 countries and is ISO 9001:2015 registered. More information on RS and its poles is available at RSpoles.com. For further information please contact: RS Technologies Inc. Phone: +1 (519) 682-1110 Email: info@RSpoles.com RSpoles.com # # #

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RS announces Australian patent grant for Fire Shield

DOWNLOAD PDF TILBURY, ONTARIO and CALGARY, ALBERTA, CANADA, May 24, 2019 – RS Technologies Inc. (“RS”) is pleased to report that IP Australia, Australia’s patent authority, has awarded RS a patent for its Fire Shield™ innovation (Patent Number 2015271602). The RS Fire Shield is a product that protects wood utility poles from the harmful effects of fires. The primary benefits of preserving utility poles with fire shields are increased electric grid resiliency and reliability. The fire shield is manufactured using the same method and composite material as RS’s award-winning composite utility poles. The fire shield will protect wood poles from moderate to severe wildfires in which they would not normally be expected to survive if left unprotected. Likewise, when used with an RS composite utility pole, the fire shield allows RS poles to survive extreme wildfire events. 35 ft. [10.7 m] Red Pine wood poles with RS Fire Shield™ fire test, 2-minute (sever) exposure. As a result of wildfires travelling through forested areas at high speeds, utility poles in a fire’s path are typically exposed to flames for 60 to 90 seconds, often at temperatures in excess of 1,850°F [1,000°C]. Further, wood poles ignite easily and continue to burn well after the wildfire has passed through, often resulting in eventual pole failure and power supply disruption. RS fire shields have been tested and proven to be effective in protecting wood utility poles from severe wildfire exposure conditions of up to 120 seconds in duration. When installed on an RS composite pole, the Fire shield™ extends the RS pole’s ability to resist the effects of fire from two minutes to three minutes, with the three-minute exposure period considered to replicate an extreme wildfire condition. Whether shielding a wood or an RS composite pole, the fire shield functions as a sacrificial barrier during a fire exposure event, then allowing for the removal and replacement of the damaged shield to again fortify the underlying pole asset prior to the occurrence of any next fire event. The costs of purchasing and deploying the RS Fire Shield in a utility’s grid are materially offset by protecting the overhead line utility pole structure from failure during wildfire events. The financial costs of replacing burned and charred wood poles are significant, often including both higher labour and material costs due to short-term supply shortages and the nature of emergency response operations. Public safety, workforce fatigue, overtime costs and additional logistical challenges and costs are other factors that merit consideration by utilities entrusted with the responsibility of assessing and delivering on the best ways to harden their grids against the effects of fires and storm events. Additional cost savings can be captured by replacing sacrificial fire shields as part of a normal post-fire inspection program that occurs prior to the regrowth of the fuel load that would contribute towards any future wildfire event. In the development of its fire shield, the company completed an extensive array of full-scale wildfire testing. About RS RS Technologies Inc. (RS) designs and manufactures the world’s highest performing composite utility poles that are safer, more reliable, and longer lasting than wood, steel and concrete poles. RS poles are used in transmission (up to 345kV), distribution and communication applications, are environmentally friendly and often deliver the lowest total installed and lifecycle cost solution of any pole on the market. With installations dating back to 2003, RS has over 450 customers in 28 countries and is ISO 9001:2015 registered. More information on RS and its poles is available at RSpoles.com. For further information please contact: RS Technologies Inc. Phone: +1 (519) 682-1110 Email: info@RSpoles.com RSpoles.com # # #

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RS announces Industry & Manufacturing Achievement Award

DOWNLOAD PDF TILBURY, ONTARIO and CALGARY, ALBERTA, CANADA, April 19, 2019 – RS Technologies Inc. (“RS” or the “Company”) is pleased to report that it has been awarded the Industry & Manufacturing Achievement for 2018 by the Tilbury Chamber of Commerce in Tilbury, Ontario, Canada. The award, which was presented to representatives of the Company at an event held April 13, 2019, is designed to recognize a business that has demonstrated that it has designed, implemented, and managed an effective infrastructure spanning all business and manufacturing processes, resulting in significant and sustainable success. Additionally, the business must have realized commendable achievements in environmental, health and safety practices. “Having had active operations in the Tilbury area for more than a decade, RS is honoured to have its business recognized through this award,” stated Howard Elliott, President and CEO of RS. “This acknowledgement is a real testament to the efforts of all of our Company’s employees in Tilbury, including both those with many years of service as well as newer members to our growing team.” About The Tilbury Chamber of Commerce The Tilbury Chamber of Commerce is the leading business organization in The Town of Tilbury, Ontario, Canada, that works on behalf of its members to advance business interests with the goal of creating a thriving business community. All activities conducted by the Chamber, including advocacy efforts and business support, is provided through programs, events, and various communication streams. More information is available www.tilburychamber.com. About RS RS Technologies Inc. (RS) designs and manufactures the world’s highest performing composite utility poles that are safer, more reliable, and longer lasting than wood, steel and concrete poles. RS poles are used in transmission (up to 345kV), distribution and communication applications, are environmentally friendly and often deliver the lowest total installed and lifecycle cost solution of any pole on the market. With installations dating back to 2003, RS has over 450 customers in 28 countries and is ISO 9001:2015 registered. More information on RS and its poles is available at RSpoles.com. For further information please contact: RS Technologies Inc. Phone: +1 (519) 682-1110 Email: info@RSpoles.com RSpoles.com # # #

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RS announces increase in share ownership by Werklund and revised Distribution Agreement for Scandinavian market with Melbye

DOWNLOAD PDF CALGARY, ALBERTA and TILBURY, ONTARIO, CANADA, January 29, 2019 – RS Technologies Inc. (“RS” or the “Company”) is pleased to provide the following update. Over the past approximately five and a half years, RS has benefitted from the guidance of its principal shareholders, Werklund Capital Corporation and Werklund Ventures Ltd. of Calgary, Canada (“Werklund”) and Melbye Skandinavia AS of Oslo, Norway (“Melbye”). Throughout this time, each of Werklund and Melbye have had representatives appointed to the Company’s board of directors. On January 1, 2019, Werklund Capital Corporation, one of the Werklund companies, purchased all the shares of Melbye, resulting in an acquisition of control of RS (the “Share Purchase”). The Share Purchase resulted in Werklund companies holding all the outstanding voting shares of the Company. Melbye has been the market representative of RS in Scandinavia since 2009, including Norway and Sweden most notably, and RS is pleased to announce that Melbye will continue to act as a distributor for RS’s composite poles in the region, pursuant to the terms of a revised distribution agreement executed in conjunction with the Share Purchase. “As a strategic partner who saw promise in RS’s innovative product over ten years ago, Melbye originally invested to help secure the future supply of RS poles,” stated Christian Aasheim, CEO of Melbye. “With this objective now having been achieved, Melbye is pleased to return to our original role as a major distributor of RS products and utility grid solutions in our markets. We have enjoyed being part of the RS family for many years, and we look back upon our role in enabling RS to grow into the company it is today with pride. We wish everyone at RS all the best of luck for ture.” A line of RS FRP composite utility poles installed in the U.S. Virgin Islands as part of a FEMA hazard mitigation project. These structures are designed to withstand 200 mph (320 km/h) wind speeds so as to increase system resiliency and harden the electrical grid from the damaging effects of future hurricanes. “We are excited about our further investment in RS and confident that our high hopes for the future of the business are well placed,” said David Werklund, Chairman of RS. “It’s fair to say that RS, Melbye and Werklund look forward to advancing the adoption of RS’s high-performance composite utility poles and structures into the world’s electrical grids.” “We are pleased with the vote of confidence by the Werklund companies as they assume the position of RS’s principal shareholder,” stated Howard Elliott, President and CEO of RS. “At the same time, we are glad that the long-term relationship between RS and Melbye will remain intact even though Melbye has decided that this is an appropriate time for them to exit their financial investment in the Company—we look forward to continuing to work with them.” About Werklund Based in Calgary, Alberta, Werklund Ventures Ltd. and Werklund Capital Corporation are part of the Werklund Family Office, a private family-owned investment company holding both private and public investments. More information is available at www.werklund.com. About Melbye Melbye Skandinavia is a marketing and sales organization with subsidiaries in all of the Scandinavian countries. The head office is situated in Oslo, Norway, and the group has a total of 10 direct sales offices in Norway and Sweden. Annual turnover is around MEURO 54. As it was in the beginning, the company remains privately owned by the same Norwegian Melbye family. More information is available at www.melbye.com. About RS RS Technologies Inc. (RS) designs and manufactures the world’s highest performing composite utility poles that are safer, more reliable, and longer lasting than wood, steel, and concrete poles. RS poles are used in transmission (up to 345kV), distribution and communication applications, are environmentally friendly and often deliver the lowest total installed and lifecycle cost solution of any pole on the market. With installations dating back to 2003, RS has over 450 customers in 28 countries and is ISO 9001:2015 registered. More information on RS and its poles is available at RSpoles.com. For further information please contact: RS Technologies Inc. Phone: +1 (403) 219-8000 Email: info@RSpoles.com RSpoles.com # # #

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RS announces patent grants in three countries

DOWNLOAD PDF CALGARY, ALBERTA and TILBURY, ONTARIO, CANADA, December 1, 2017 – RS Technologies Inc. (“RS” or the “Company”) is pleased to provide the following update with respect to its Method of Modular Pole Construction and Modular Pole Assembly patent. RS has been granted a patent for the design of its industry leading modular, composite utility pole in the United States (patent no. 9,593,506), India (patent no. 5970/DELNP/2007) and Brazil (patent no. PI0609189-0). These patents have been granted in the indicated countries by the respective national intellectual property offices and authorities, as applicable. The patents issued in these jurisdictions add to the list of countries in which RS has already secured intellectual property rights. RS also has had patents granted on its modular design in Australia, Canada, China, Russia, and several European and Middle Eastern countries including Sweden, the United Kingdom, France, Italy and Spain. The Company’s patents generally recognize the innovative way that RS poles are assembled by stacking multiple dimensionally distinct tapered sections (called “modules”) one on top of another to form utility monopoles and multi-pole structures. “We are pleased to have been granted these patents in the U.S.A, India and Brazil, which recognize the distinctive design of RS’s high performance, composite utility pole and strengthen the Company’s intellectual property portfolio,” stated Howard Elliott, President and CEO of RS. “As electrical and communication utilities increasingly recognize the long life, safety and reliability of composite poles, RS is well-positioned to supply its customers with a superior product and to further protect its recognized intellectual property.” About RS RS Technologies Inc. designs and manufactures the world’s highest performing composite utility poles that are safer, more reliable, and longer lasting than wood, steel and concrete poles. RS poles are used in distribution and transmission (up to 345kV) and communication applications, are environmentally friendly and deliver the lowest total installed and lifecycle cost solution of any pole on the market for many applications. With installations dating back to 2003, RS has over 450 customers globally and is ISO 9001:2015 registered. More information on RS and its poles is available at RSpoles.com. For further information please contact: RS Technologies Inc. Phone: +1 (403) 219-8000 Email: info@RSpoles.com RSpoles.com # # #  

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RS and Mosdorfer announce Distribution Agreement

DOWNLOAD PDF CALGARY, CANADA and WEIZ, AUSTRIA, July 30, 2015 – RS Technologies Inc. (“RS”) and Mosdorfer GmbH, Mosdorfer CCL Systems Ltd. and EA Elektroarmaturen (collectively “Mosdorfer”) are pleased to announce a new distribution agreement whereby Mosdorfer will act as an authorized, exclusive distributor of RS’s composite utility poles to utility customers in the United Kingdom, certain European countries (including Austria, Switzerland, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland and the Czech Republic), Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (collectively, the “Territory”). RS and Mosdorfer plan to identify projects that will lead to broad-scale adoption of RS’s high-performance poles by Mosdorfer customers, and expect to collaborate on design, engineering, and hardware innovations to bring comprehensive solutions to utility companies in the Territory. “With their considerable experience, respected market position in Europe and vision of being a leading company in the electrical T&D business, Mosdorfer is an ideal business partner for RS,” stated Howard Elliott, President and Chief Executive Officer of RS. “We look forward to working with the Mosdorfer team, supporting the sales of our poles to their customers in the Territory and to achieving the potential synergies related to the use of Mosdorfer’s hardware and accessory solutions with RS’s poles.” “We are extremely pleased to have the opportunity to work with RS and have been very impressed with the RS product, its manufacturing technology and the highly focused and motivated team,” stated John Morris, Transmission & Distribution Director of Mosdorfer, outlining the advantages of the partnership. “Our customers are demanding new, environmentally sound, cost-effective solutions for their energy infrastructure and by combining the knowhow and strengths of our respective organizations, we believe we can effectively take up this challenge. The plan is to work with utilities and contractors in their drive for innovative solutions, using tradeshows and conferences such as the Middle East Electricity Exhibition to promote our collaboration and capabilities.” About RS RS Technologies Inc. is a customer and technology driven company that designs, engineers, and manufactures composite utility poles. The high-performance poles are used in transmission, distribution and communication applications and offer a lighter, more durable and longer-lasting solution over wood, steel and concrete alternatives. In many instances, the environmentally friendly poles deliver the lowest total installed and life-cycle cost solution of any pole on the market. With over 16,000 poles having been installed in the field since 2003, RS has over 450 customers globally and is ISO 9001:2015 registered. For more information, visit RSpoles.com. For further information please contact: RS Technologies Inc. Phone: +1 (403) 219-8000 Email: info@RSpoles.com About Mosdorfer GmbH All Mosdorfer companies are part of Knill Gruppe, a privately owned family business with headquarters in Weiz, Austria. The group is more than 300 years old and presently managed by the 12th generation of the Mosdorfer/Knill family. The group has two operating divisions: Energy (components and systems for energy infrastructure) and Technology (customized machinery and solutions for the battery, cable and wire and fibre optic industries). Mosdorfer has more than 30 companies in 15 countries and has approximately 2,000 employees. Involvement in the energy business started in 1949 and has grown organically and through acquisition on an international basis. The product portfolio includes fittings and solutions from low voltage distribution networks to Transmission lines and Substations operating up to 1,200kV. For more information please visit www.knillgruppe.com and www.mosdorfer.com. For further information please contact: Mosdorfer GmbH Phone: +43 3172 25050 Email: office@mosdorfer.com # # #

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ARTICLE | Composite Poles Support the “Circuit of the Future”

DOWNLOAD PDF A Southern California Edison Analysis indicates the new pole materials provide lower total owning costs on its distribution system. By Mike Rodin, Southern California Edison Southern California is known for its beautiful weather. What is less generally known is how downright inhospitable the California environment can be to an electric utility’s infrastructure. Nowhere is this more evident than in the case of the ubiquitous utility pole. As every transmission and distribution engineer knows, pole installation and maintenance represent a major cost factor for utilities. The effects of weathering, termites, rusting, high winds and fires take a toll on utility support infrastructure every year, which of course drives up maintenance costs, increases circuit interruptions and reduces overall system reliability. If a way could be found to mitigate these problems effectively, maintenance costs could be lowered and overall grid reliability improved. This modular composite pole is installed in San Bernardino, California, on the “Circuit of the Future”. (Photo by Kevin Coates.) Significant advancements have been made in the design and manufacture of transmission and distribution poles using new high-strength fiberglass fibers and polyurethane resins. Working with several composite pole manufacturers, Southern California Edison (SCE; Rosemead, California, U.S.) has been deploying various types of composite poles to specific locations in its service area to evaluate their performance. SCE recognizes that composite poles manufactured with the new materials hold promise for dramatically reducing pole life-cycle maintenance and the need for frequent pole replacements, even for reasons other than age. These improvements also hold promise for reducing the initial cost of setting a pole as well as reducing the need for pole replacements. FIRST THERE WAS WOOD The first electric utility poles used to support telegraph lines in the 19th century were from old forests. These trees were typically very dense and resilient hard woods. Today’s rapid-growth tree farms produce poles that are, of course, still wood. However, there is some degradation in the properties of rapid-growth poles: reduced durability, stiffness, and longevity. This means the new poles are less robust and do not resist insect infestation or wood rot as well and, therefore, have a shorter service life. These composite poles are framed with composite crossarms ready for helicopter transport to the mountainous installation location. These composite poles are framed with composite crossarms ready for helicopter transport to the mountainous installation location. To enhance pole longevity, today’s wood poles are treated with chemicals, such as Pentachlorophenol, suspended in a light oil as the vehicle or carrier to deliver the chemical treatment. This eventually presents utilities with a handling and disposal challenge when the poles reach the end of their service life, because the treated wood poles may fail hazardous-waste criteria. When treated wood is deemed hazardous, it cannot be abandoned in the field; it must be disposed of in specially permitted landfills. This practice increases ownership expense. Over time, it is likely that these disposal restrictions will become stricter. However, aside from wood rot or wood-boring insects, wood poles have a vulnerability that is especially problematic in California — they burn. This is where composite poles have a distinct advantage, as they are fire resistant and will not support combustion without the addition of an external heat source. COMPOSITE CHARACTERISTICS While not fireproof, composite poles are extremely fire resistant, particularly when coated with fire retardant. A propane flame can cause a composite pole to smolder with a limited amount of flame when applied directly to the surface of the pole; however, as soon as the flame is removed, the composite material ceases to smolder or produce flame. This makes composite poles extremely attractive for deployment in steep mountain canyons and ravines where wildfires may roll through an area in 20 to 30 minutes. In these locations, use of selected fire-retardant coatings can enable the poles to withstand up to two brush fires. More importantly, after exposure to fast-moving brush fires, the poles generally do not require replacement and will continue to support the lines and equipment with no loss of strength. Even fully assembled, the composite pole is substantially lighter than wood or other materials and easily transported by a helicopter. The resilience of composites is one of their more remarkable features. Composites allow strength parameters to be accurately “dialed in” during manufacturing to meet the job specification. This saves time and money and eliminates waste. The service life of a composite pole is conservatively rated at approximately 70 years on average. In addition, composite poles are extremely lightweight and strong, and do not lose their strength over their lifetime. Some composite poles, such as those from Resin Systems Inc. (Calgary, Alberta, Canada), are manufactured and shipped as modular sections (typically, 15-ft. [4.5-m] lengths are nested one inside the other), which reduces transportation and installation costs. For example, two men can easily lift. an individual 15-ft. module of a pole and maneuver it into position without any heavy equipment. This ease of handling also applies to the crossarms, which are typically very heavy work for linemen. EMBRACING CHANGE Obviously, any new product or technology offered to the electric power industry needs to be thoroughly tested before it can be deployed to a live grid. To better evaluate new technologies that might enhance grid reliability and possibly lower service costs, SCE created a new section on the grid in the Inland Empire Region known as the “Circuit of the Future.” SCE worked closely with a number of composite pole manufacturers, including Powertrusion International (Tucson, Arizona, U.S.) and Resin Systems, to help them design and manufacture a series of composite poles that meet SCE’s needs in terms of strength, durability, serviceability and service life. Each composite pole company has its own patented method of production, which means each type of pole has a unique set of characteristics. For instance, the Powertrusion pole is a non-tapered (i.e. it has a constant diameter) pultruded pole, while the Resin Systems pole is manufactured by winding E-Glass and polyurethane resin along with other proprietary materials onto a specially designed mandrel, a process known in the industry as filament winding. The Shakespeare (Newberry, South Carolina, U.S.) composite poles also are manufactured using the filament-winding process.

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