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W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 15 J U N E 2 9 , 2 0 1 5 are vetted, with a limited number of site tours scheduled each year. A final report is published annually, providing data and peer reviews of the various scan topics. "When we organized this scan, we took volunteers from different states that have experience with composites," Frankhauser says. "Part of the purpose is to showcase some of the top practices and top users here in Maine: at's where it could benefit Maine companies." e three-hour briefing and tour of UMaine's Advanced Structures and Composites Center, he adds, gave the scan team a deeper understanding of the critical role the center plays in the testing and validation of composite materials before they go to market. "Any time a new material comes into the mar- ket, there is a [testing and development] curve beforehand to get it up to code," he says. "We are a very conservative group, for a good reason. We want to know before the traveling public goes on a bridge that its beams have been tested many different ways." UMaine civil engineering professor and researcher Roberto Lopez-Anido, who led the tour of the Orono center along with William Davids, has seen the lab grow from being literally a hole in the ground when he first arrived on campus 17 years ago to its present status as a world-class accred- ited testing facility whose industry clients range from Fortune 500 com- panies to start-up firms developing innovative products and processes. Harbor Technologies bridge beams, he notes, have been subjected to a bat- tery of structural tests on a full-scale beam to evaluate its maximum load capacity, its shear strength and fatigue threshold. ose tests, he says, result in a product report that tells both the industrial client and, eventually, state transportation officials if it meets applicable transportation depart- ment specifications and codes. As one of only a handful of university labs nationwide that have earned ISO 17025 accreditation, he says, the UMaine center provides a valuable service to Harbor Technologies and other Maine composites companies. "Our mission is to support industry in this region, to help them get products into the market," Lopez-Anido says. "We're also training students to get pro- ficient in working with these products so that they have the skills to work at these Maine companies after they graduate." Looking ahead MDOT's 2014 report "Keeping our bridges safe" pegs the asset value of Maine's 2,515 major bridges (longer than 20 feet) and 1,374 minor bridges (10 to 20 feet) at $7.56 billion. While the condition and remaining lifespan of many bridges puts their replace- ment well into the future, the report concludes that $140 million in annual bridge funding level is needed to significant reduce the percentage of structurally deficient bridges from the 15.2% recorded in 2013. By compari- son, the report notes, bridge funding in Maine averaged $112 million per year from 2009 to 2013. e report identifies "new bridge technologies" — such as the com- posites used in UMaine's Bridge- in-a-Backpack and the Hillman Composite Beams manufactured at Harbor Technologies — as a way to extend the lifespan of new bridges from the current average of 75 years to 100 years or more, thereby reducing long-term costs. "Extending the service life of bridges is gaining importance as limited resources challenge our abil- ity to keep our infrastructure in a state of good repair," the report states. "e cost of addressing service life at design can be significantly less than continued maintenance and pres- ervation actions for the life of the structure. is approach is gaining momentum nationwide and there is considerable research available." Grimnes, a composites pioneer who's been preaching that mantra in Maine since founding his earlier company Brunswick Technologies Inc. more than 30 years ago, says the recent scan tour by visiting trans- portation officials is a "significant opportunity" for Maine's composites industry to expand its network of decision-makers who are receptive to new infrastructure technologies. "It adds more momentum to our efforts," he says. Running through the checklist of industries where composites, at first slowly and then rapidly, gained a significant market share — boats and yachts, sporting good equipment like golf clubs and tennis rackets, aerospace and auto manufacturing — Grimnes sees a parallel movement in today's marine and bridge sectors. "Transportation infrastructure is one of the last industries to commit," he says. "I think we're on the cusp of seeing those opportunities material- ize for us, just as we've seen happen in those other industries." Ja m e s M c Ca rt h y , M a i n e b i z s e n i o r writer, can be reached at jmcc arthy @ mainebiz.biz and @ Jame sMainebiz Portland, ME | Boston, MA | Augusta, ME Westport, CT | Providence, RI | Washington, DC www.verrilldana.com ere are thousands of attorneys in New England. But there is only one Peter Webster. When Peter Webster joined Verrill Dana in 1965, we had one office in Portland. As we recognize Mr. Webster's 50th anniversary, our offices throughout New England join us in celebration. In an era of constant change, we have always admired Mr. Webster's commitment to client service, our community and the legal profession. Peter Webster is the epitome of Verrill Dana's core values. e attorneys and staff of Verrill Dana are proud to offer Peter Webster congratulations for 50 truly exceptional years of service.

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