Helix Micro Rebar Australasia Pty Ltd Micro Rebar – Helix Micro Rebar

The benefits of Helix Micro-Rebar

Helix Steel Australasia Pty Ltd is fortunate to have the opportunity to market this cutting edge alternative to conventional steel reinforcement in our part of the world. We are excited to share the benefits of a stronger, faster, easier and cheaper reinforcement system with our customers whilst significantly reducing their construction carbon footprint. Helix Micro Rebar has undergone extensive laboratory and field-testing with more than 10,000 tests performed over ten years.

Helix Micro Rebar is not a steel fibre

This point is extremely important, Micro Rebar is often referred to as a steel fibre but it is not a steel fibre; instead it is a replacement for rebar. Helix Micro Rebar has a tensile strength over four times stronger than standard rebar. It will not rust or corrode due to its zinc coating. It can be used in almost any situation that rebar is used as a replacement for rebar.

Replacing rebar or mesh with Helix Micro Rebar has many quantifiable benefits:

Improved crack resistance
Increased durability
Improved shear strength
Easy placing and finishing
Improved worker safety
Streamlined timeline/logistics
Better concrete product
Direct/Indirect cost savings (20% or more)

Helix Twisted Steel Micro Rebar (TSMR) provides Proactive Reinforcement since unlike rebar, and other forms of reinforcement, it engages the material before it actually fails. This enhances the concrete’s ductility, durability, and toughness.

Top 10 Reasons to design with Helix Micro-Rebar

Helix Micro-Rebar eliminates placing errors
Helix Micro-Rebar provides 40% stronger concrete section
Helix Micro-Rebar allows the concrete to absorb 200% plus more energy.
Helix Micro-Rebar has excellent concrete control properties.
Helix Micro-Rebar is a safer, discontinuous reinforcement system.
Helix Micro-Rebar helps increase worksite safety.
Helix Micro-Rebar significantly reduces construction time.
Helix Micro-Rebar is electroplated with zinc.
Helix Micro-Rebar reduces reinforcing costs by at least 20%.
Helix Micro-Rebar can help achieve LEED goals.

Helix Micro Rebar Comparisons

We have dedicated a page on the comparisons between Micro Rebar vs Steel Fibre and also a page on the comparisons between Micro Rebar and Rebar/Mesh please take your time to read this valuable information.

Will Helix Micro-Rebar protrude from the surface?
No, in flat work the use of laser screeds or vibratory screeds in conjunction with manual or power float finishers make the Helix lay down flat. In form work, vibratory consolidation allows the paste to flow between the Helix and the form for a clean appearance.
Can Helix Micro-Rebar reinforced concrete be pumped?
Yes, but expect a slight slump loss through the hose depending on the fibre dose rate, ambient temperatures and hose length. A mid-range water reducing agent (MRWR) is commonly used to enhance workability and ease of flow through pump lines. High-range water reducers (HRWR) may be required in some cases.
Where was the Helix product developed?
At the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, for the US Military.
When was the Helix organisation established?
1996
Who was the found of the organisation?
Luke Pinkerton was a member of the Research Team at Michigan University, which had the research brief from the US Military to develop a blast and earthquake resistant concrete. Luke took advantage of the opportunity to commercialise the important development they had made and so he obtained a licence from the University to develop a business to produce and market the product. He named the organisation Helix Steel, and the rest is history.
What role did Luke Pinkerton have to play in the subsequent evolution of the organisation and product?
Luke took the lead in developing the machinery and methods to produce the Helix product in volume. He was also responsible for having the product and manufacturing processes scientifically evaluated by internationally accredited third party laboratories and then registered with the relevant State, National and International bodies. The product and the processes are patented.
What is Luke Pinkerton’s role in the organisation today?
Luke is currently President, Founder and Chief Technical Officer of Pensmore Reinforcement Technologies (DBA Helix Steel), a subsidiary of the Pensmore Corporation LLC. Note that in this document we refer to the international organisation as HSI (Helix Steel International) in order to differentiate it from other Helix Steel organisations privately owned and operated in other countries.
In how many countries is the Helix product now sold and marketed?
50 plus
What is the origin of HSA?
In 2009 Kevin W Fuller (an Australian citizen) negotiated a Sole Distributor Agreement with HSI for Australia, New Zealand and the Federated Islands of Micronesia and Melanesia. The operation of the sales and marketing of the Helix product is carried out by HSA Agent organisations which are allocated a region in which they can operate in most instances as the Sole Agent of that region.
What role does Kevin Fuller have in the current organisation?
Kevin is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the organisation.
What progress has the company made in the region for which it has sole distribution rights?
After going through the difficulties associated with getting an organisation off the ground, Kevin realised that he needed to involve a financially substantive partner in order to give HSA credibility in a very competitive market segment, and to provide the necessary funding required to finance stock holdings in each Capital City of Australia and then in other countries within the HSA Region. He achieved his objective in 2011 and since then the performance of the organisation and the market penetration of the product, particularly in Australia, has grown exponentially. For the 2016 calendar year HSA was second in sales volume to the USA.
Who are the target customers for HSA?
The primary, ultimate target for HSA, are the structural design engineers and their firms. The reason for this is that if a design engineer is convinced of the value of the use of the Helix product to their customer and that it can be readily incorporated into their design, then the construction company receives the project drawings with Helix specified as the preferred reinforcement to be used in the concrete elements. Then all that remains for HSA to do is provide details of pricing, delivery of the product etc. In addition, the construction companies involved in commercial, manufacturing, mining and infrastructure projects are the target customers most commonly approached by the HSA Agents.
What is the product called?
The full description of the Helix product is: ‘Helix Twisted Steel Micro Rebar’. Helix TSMR or Helix MR are common abbreviated designations.
What are the dimensions of it?
There are currently two Helix products available. • The first, and most commonly used, is the 5.25. This is 0.5mm in diameter and 25mm long. • The second is the 8.52, which is 0.8mm in diameter and 52mm long.
What are the distinctive characteristics of each type of Helix product?
Helix is a high performance, optimised Micro-Rebar for use in reinforcement of concrete. Helix is short, twisted and polygonal shaped wires that are added to concrete during mixing. The shape and the twist maximise both the frictional and mechanical bonds between Helix and cement based matrix. The twist drives the failure from a frictional pullout mechanism to a torsional or untwisting mode. The result is a radical increase in performance to levels never before possible. The 5.25 product is coated with zinc oxide to protect it against rust and corrosion. It is used in virtually every type of concrete application. The 8.52 is normally uncoated and used in applications that are not exposed to rain or water ingress e.g. internal warehouse floors, underground mining roads, retaining walls and the like.
So, is Helix MR, just another steel fibre?
No, certainly not. There are many reasons why it is NOT a fibre. Firstly, it is a direct replacement for both traditional mesh and rebar. In other words, it can be used for shrinkage and temperature control as well as structural load bearing applications. This makes it unique as a product. With traditional steel fibres, the use of them is primarily restricted to just shrinkage and temperature control applications. The Helix MR products operate on the principle of ‘torsional resistance’ whereas all other steel fibres operate on the principle of ‘frictional resistance’. In other words, the Helix MR operates like a screw whereas steel fibres operate like a nail. The Helix MR product and the associated design and manufacturing processes are patented hence the ‘unwinding process’ is unique to the Helix products.

Micro Rebar Benefits

The benefits of Helix Micro-Rebar

Helix Micro Rebar is not a steel fibre

Replacing rebar or mesh with Helix Micro Rebar has many quantifiable benefits:

Top 10 Reasons to design with Helix Micro-Rebar

Helix Micro Rebar Comparisons

Commonly asked questions about Helix Micro-Rebar and their answers.

Will Helix Micro-Rebar protrude from the surface?

Can Helix Micro-Rebar reinforced concrete be pumped?

Where was the Helix product developed?

When was the Helix organisation established?

Who was the found of the organisation?

What role did Luke Pinkerton have to play in the subsequent evolution of the organisation and product?

What is Luke Pinkerton’s role in the organisation today?

In how many countries is the Helix product now sold and marketed?

What is the origin of HSA?

What role does Kevin Fuller have in the current organisation?

What progress has the company made in the region for which it has sole distribution rights?

Who are the target customers for HSA?

What is the product called?

What are the dimensions of it?

What are the distinctive characteristics of each type of Helix product?

So, is Helix MR, just another steel fibre?

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