Innovations in Manufacturing – Strongwell
Bristol, VA
Since 1956, Strongwell has been manufacturing high quality fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) products using “the continuous automatic process” (today known as “pultrusion”). Today, with four manufacturing locations, 65+ pultrusion machines and more than 730,000 square feet of manufacturing space, Strongwell is recognized as the world’s leading and largest pultruder of FRP. The Bristol location is the company’s largest manufacturing facility (398,000 sq. ft.) with more than 35 pultrusion machines. The corporate offices, including the corporate departments of finance, marketing and human resources, are located here along with the International Business Group and a 10,000 sq. ft. laboratory with ASTM test capabilities. In addition to the primary pultrusion manufacturing operations, the location manufactures molded grating, fabricates fiberglass structures and systems and builds pultrusion equipment and tooling.
Strongwell of Bristol, VA was awarded the 2025 Innovations in Manufacturing Award for its groundbreaking development of STRONGDEK®, a patented, ultra-high-performance structural composite decking system. Designed to outperform both traditional wood and standard composite materials, STRONGDEK offers unmatched strength, durability, and aesthetics in a system that is easy to install and virtually maintenance-free.
What sets STRONGDEK apart is its innovative two-part design, combining a pultruded FRP (fiber-reinforced polymer) structural plank with a snap-on hybrid composite top cap. This system not only delivers superior performance—including the ability to span standard joist spacing and handle heavier loads—but also offers quick, low-cost repairs and aesthetic upgrades. Whether replacing worn sections or updating a facility’s look, STRONGDEK’s replaceable cap feature allows customers to maintain or modernize their decking without disturbing the structural foundation.
Years of R&D, multiple prototypes, and cross-industry collaboration went into bringing STRONGDEK to market. Strongwell engineers overcame technical hurdles in marrying pultrusion and extrusion technologies—traditionally separate manufacturing disciplines—to create a composite decking system that delivers on performance, sustainability, and design flexibility. From UV resistance and non-slip surfaces to its closed-mold, low-emissions manufacturing process, STRONGDEK demonstrates excellence not only in function, but also in its environmental footprint.
Congratulations to Strongwell for redefining what a composite deck can be and putting Southwest Virginia innovation on the map in a $4 billion global industry. STRONGDEK is a shining example of the forward-thinking manufacturing taking place in our region today.
*All information taken from submission nomination form.
