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PlasTie L.L.C. recently introduced PlasTies™, a standard oak crosstie encapsulated in one-eighth-inch-thick polyolefin plastic designed to be more environmentally friendly and last two times longer compared with creosote-treated wood ties.


"Plastic encapsulation inhibits moisture from entering or leaving the crosstie, thus permitting the extension of the useful life of the crosstie [which] dramatically lowers the annual cost to the user," said PlasTie Chief Executive Manager Barrie Gibbs in a prepared statement.


Marketed to freight and transit roads, and railroad contractors, PlasTies™ are encased in black plastic to maximize ultraviolet protection and can be interchanged with wood ties.


PlasTie L.L.C. and investor parent Gibbs Group Holdings Inc. are producing the plastic ties at a Barrie, Ontario, plant. By year end, the companies plan to move production to a southern West Virginia facility to be closer to regional tie mills, PlasTie officials said.


For more tie-market coverage, see Progressive Railroading's July issue.