What Is the GRC Production Process: A Complete Analysis from Raw Materials to Finished Products

In the field of building materials, GRC (Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete) has become an ideal choice for modern architectural decoration thanks to its lightweight, high-strength, and flexible shaping characteristics. Qinglong Group, with 28 years of industry experience, has always focused on the detailed design, manufacturing, and construction installation of GRC materials, witnessing the entire journey of this material from the laboratory to landmark buildings. Taking Qinglong's full-chain process as an example, this article analyzes the refined production workflow of GRC from raw materials to finished products, showcasing the technical accumulation and craftsmanship behind new building materials.

GRC Production Process Explained: A Standardized Workflow from Raw Materials to Finished Products

GRC's outstanding performance stems from scientific material proportioning and rigorous production control. Qinglong established strict standards at the raw material screening stage: high-strength low-alkali cement is selected as the base material, combined with alkali-resistant glass fiber (content ≥5%) and carefully selected aggregates, with precise proportioning ensuring a flexural strength of over 20MPa. At this stage, leveraging the technical advantages of its provincial-level R&D center, Qinglong innovatively added mineral admixtures, which enhanced material durability and reduced the shrinkage rate, solving the industry pain point of traditional GRC's susceptibility to cracking.

In the mixing stage, Qinglong employs automated production lines to achieve precise metering and uniform mixing of materials. Unlike traditional manual mixing, intelligent equipment can fully blend glass fiber with cement-based materials within 3 minutes, achieving an industry-leading level of fiber dispersion. This process not only guarantees the mechanical performance stability of GRC components but also lays the foundation for subsequent shaping—just as emphasized in the Technical Standard for Building Application of Glass Fiber Reinforced Cement (GRC) (JGJ/T423-2018), which Qinglong helped formulate: uniform material mixing is the core prerequisite for ensuring component quality.

Molds and Forming: The Path to Achieving Customized Architectural Aesthetics

The charm of GRC lies in its unlimited shaping possibilities, which are inseparable from precision mold craftsmanship. To meet the needs of different projects, Qinglong adopts a dual solution of GRP molds and silicone molds: for standardized components such as European-style moldings, reusable GRP molds are used to ensure consistency in mass production; for complex shapes such as the hyperbolic curtain walls of grand theaters, high-precision silicone molds are employed to reproduce details with a minimum curvature radius of ≤300mm. In the renovation project of Century Plaza on Nanjing East Road, it was precisely through this customized mold technology that Qinglong successfully created special-shaped components combining light-transmitting concrete with GRC, winning the Silver Award at the first UHPC Construction Engineering Innovation Awards.

In terms of forming techniques, Qinglong adopts a production method combining spraying and premixing: flat components are formed through automated spraying to ensure uniform fiber distribution, while complex special-shaped components are produced with the premixing and casting process, aided by vibrating tables to eliminate air bubbles and increase density. Notably, Qinglong's original "3D scanning + BIM technology" detailed design system can transform designers' creative drawings into producible component models, achieving a seamless transition from design to manufacturing—this is also a concentrated demonstration of Qinglong's technological innovation as a national specialized, refined, distinctive, and innovative enterprise.

Curing and Quality Inspection: Building the Foundation of Durability for GRC Components

Curing is a critical stage for consolidating GRC performance. Qinglong has established standardized curing workshops, applying 24-hour constant-temperature and constant-humidity curing (temperature 20±2°C, humidity ≥90%) to ensure complete cement hydration. After 7 days, components are transferred to natural curing, with a total curing period of 28 days, allowing component strength to reach over 95% of the design value. Throughout this process, every batch of products must pass 12 indicator tests covering flexural strength, frost resistance, weather resistance, and more, with data uploaded in real time to Qinglong's quality traceability system, achieving full life-cycle management of "one archive per component".

In pre-shipment quality inspection, Qinglong has introduced 3D laser scanning technology to test component dimensional deviations with a precision of ±2mm, ensuring accurate alignment during on-site installation. As required by the General Technical Conditions for Non-Load-Bearing Components of Ultra-High Performance Concrete (UHPC), which Qinglong helped formulate, a traceable quality control system must be established for every process from raw materials to finished products—this is also the core competitiveness that has enabled Qinglong to become a strategic partner of renowned real estate groups such as Poly and China Overseas.

From the scientific proportioning of raw materials to the precision manufacturing of molds, from automated production to rigorous quality inspection, GRC's production process embodies the wisdom of materials science and engineering technology. Qinglong Group's 28 years of deep engagement in the industry have not only driven the widespread application of GRC in high-end buildings such as grand theaters and commercial complexes, but have also redefined the possibilities of architectural decoration materials under the mission of "Creating Beautiful Architecture". Whether for domestic landmark projects or overseas projects exported to Southeast Asia, Qinglong always maintains an attitude of "meticulousness and the constant pursuit of excellence", allowing GRC materials to radiate their unique value in modern architectural aesthetics.