The Alchemy of Sustainable Noise Walls
CPI Products doesn’t just manufacture. CPI Products experiments, innovates, and turns plastic waste into the building blocks of the future. In our latest mad-science-meets-manufacturing tale, we’ve teamed up with RMP Global to help bring their recycled plastic noise walls to North America. This isn’t just about making walls; it’s about rewriting the rules of sustainable infrastructure.
From Trash to Treasure: The Science Behind Recycled Noise Walls
Picture this: millions of discarded milk jugs and miles of pallet wrap destined for landfills are reborn as durable, lightweight noise barriers. RMP Global has been perfecting this alchemy for 15 years, developing a way to break down post-consumer plastics and remold them into panels tough enough to withstand the elements for up to a century.
But how do we do it? The process involves a high-tech rotational molding system—think of it like a giant centrifuge, spinning molten plastic into shape with precision and care. We blend different polyethylene plastics, engineer them for maximum strength, and infuse them with color that won’t fade under the relentless sun. The result? A noise wall that’s as rugged as concrete but light enough to be lifted into place by hand.
Mad Science Meets Manufacturing: CPI’s Role in the Process
When RMP Global needed a North American partner who understood the dark arts of rotational molding, they came to CPI. Our lab (okay, our plant, but we prefer ‘lab’) is where ideas get forged into reality. We’re taking RMP’s vision and scaling it up, manufacturing their game-changing noise walls right here in Wisconsin.
The benefits are mind-blowing:
- Speedy Installation: No cranes, no hassle—just slide the panels into place.
- Customized Creations: These walls can be made in any opaque color and even feature different patterns on either side.
- Built to Last: 70 to 100 years of durability, all while reducing landfill waste.
Shaking Up Infrastructure—One Wall at a Time
The U.S. spends over $500 million a year on noise walls, mostly concrete fortresses that are heavy, expensive, and environmentally unfriendly. By contrast, what we are building with RMP Global’s recycled plastic barriers are slashing installation time, cutting carbon emissions, and proving that sustainability doesn’t have to come at a premium.
And this is just the beginning. RMP Global has big plans—multiple manufacturing sites across the U.S., new blends of recycled plastics, and a mission to change the way we think about infrastructure. With CPI as their partner in this wild experiment, the future looks quieter, cleaner, and a whole lot cooler.