Sure Grip Concrete Protective Liner Installation

Sure Grip Concrete Protective Liner Installation

Plastic Fusion Fabricators is an experienced installer of AGRU Sure Grip® concrete protective liner (CPL) systems for wastewater treatment structures, industrial tanks, digesters, pump stations, and chemical containment facilities. Sure Grip is a cast-in-place HDPE or polypropylene liner system with factory-welded anchoring studs that embed directly into fresh concrete during the pour — creating a permanent, mechanically bonded corrosion barrier that protects concrete infrastructure for 30–50+ years.

Unlike coatings, epoxies, or surface-applied systems that degrade as the concrete substrate deteriorates, Sure Grip becomes an integral part of the structure itself. The anchoring studs lock into the concrete matrix, eliminating void spaces between liner and substrate, preventing delamination under hydraulic pressure, and allowing the liner to bridge cracks that develop as the concrete cures and settles. The result is a continuous, fully welded, spark-testable barrier that isolates your concrete from chemical attack, H₂S corrosion, and abrasion — permanently.

PFF has been installing concrete protective liner systems since 1989. We handle the full Sure Grip installation scope: panel layout and positioning against formwork, stud alignment verification, coordination with concrete placement crews, field welding of panel joints after form stripping, penetration details, and complete QA/QC testing — spark testing, vacuum box testing, and destructive seam testing documented for engineer and owner review.

How Sure Grip Works

AGRU Sure Grip liner panels are manufactured with rows of conical HDPE or PP studs factory-welded to the concrete-facing side of the liner sheet. During new construction, the liner panels are positioned against the interior formwork before the concrete pour. When concrete is placed, the studs embed into the fresh concrete and lock in place as it cures. After form stripping, the exposed liner joints are field-welded to create a continuous, gas-tight, liquid-tight barrier across the entire structure interior.

This cast-in-place approach delivers several advantages over retrofit CPL systems: no post-pour mechanical anchoring required, complete elimination of void spaces behind the liner, positive mechanical bond that resists hydrostatic backpressure, and a liner surface ready for service as soon as field welding and testing are complete.

Applications

• Wastewater treatment plant clarifiers, headworks, and aeration basins
• Anaerobic and aerobic digester domes, walls, and floors
• Pump station wet wells and valve vaults
• Chemical processing tanks and reaction vessels
• Secondary containment walls, floors, and sumps
• Influent and effluent channels and weir structures
• Grit chambers and screening facilities
• Industrial trench and sump systems
• Cooling tower basins
• Potable water storage structures

Sure Grip Product Configurations

Sure Grip Type 560 — 13mm stud height. The standard configuration for most wastewater and industrial CPL applications. Compatible with concrete aggregates up to 20mm.

Sure Grip Type 860 — 8mm stud height. Designed for thinner wall sections and structures where reduced stud penetration is specified.

Ultra Grip — Enhanced anchoring profile for high-stress applications and structures subject to significant hydrostatic backpressure or thermal cycling.

Available in HDPE, polypropylene (PP-H), and PVDF (Kynar) — material selected based on chemical exposure, operating temperature, and regulatory requirements. Standard liner thicknesses range from 2.5mm to 5.0mm.

Why Engineers Specify Plastic Fusion for Sure Grip Installation

• Installing concrete protective liners since 1989 — experienced with AGRU Sure Grip, Ultra Grip, and retrofit CPL systems
• Certified thermoplastic welders trained in HDPE, PP, PVDF, and specialty polymer welding
• Coordination with concrete placement contractors to ensure proper stud embedment and pour sequencing
• In-house HDPE fabrication for custom penetration details, corners, and transition pieces
• Full QA/QC: spark testing on 100% of liner surface, vacuum box testing on seams, destructive peel/shear testing documented
• Experience in confined-space, active-facility, and occupied-plant installations
• Nationwide mobilization with crews experienced in wastewater, chemical, and industrial environments
• Direct coordination with structural engineers, process engineers, CQA consultants, and plant operators

Sure Grip CPL FAQs

What is AGRU Sure Grip?

AGRU Sure Grip is a concrete protective liner (CPL) system manufactured by AGRU America. It consists of HDPE or polypropylene liner sheets with factory-welded conical anchoring studs on the concrete-facing side. During new construction, the liner panels are placed against the formwork before the concrete pour. The studs embed into the fresh concrete, creating a permanent mechanical bond between the liner and the structure. After form stripping, panel joints are field-welded to produce a continuous, liquid-tight and gas-tight barrier.

What is the difference between Sure Grip and Ultra Grip?

Sure Grip is the standard AGRU CPL product line, available in Type 560 (13mm stud) and Type 860 (8mm stud) configurations. Ultra Grip features an enhanced anchoring profile designed for structures subject to higher hydrostatic backpressure, greater thermal cycling, or more aggressive structural movement. Both systems use the same cast-in-place installation method — the difference is in the anchoring geometry and the load conditions each is engineered to handle.

Can Sure Grip be installed on existing concrete structures?

Sure Grip is specifically designed for new construction — the studs must embed in fresh concrete during the pour. For existing structures that need concrete protective lining, Plastic Fusion installs retrofit CPL systems using mechanically anchored HDPE or polypropylene liners with post-installed stud or batten strip attachment. We evaluate each structure and recommend the appropriate system — Sure Grip for new builds, retrofit CPL for existing infrastructure. Both are described on our concrete protective liners page.

Why choose Sure Grip over coatings or epoxy systems?

Coatings bond to the concrete surface and fail as the substrate degrades — typically requiring reapplication every 5–10 years in aggressive environments. Sure Grip is mechanically independent of the concrete surface condition. It bridges cracks, resists delamination, tolerates substrate movement, and lasts 30–50+ years without reapplication. It’s also field-testable: spark testing verifies 100% of the liner surface, and vacuum box testing confirms seam integrity — verification methods that no coating system can match.

What materials is Sure Grip available in?

Sure Grip CPL panels are manufactured in HDPE (the most widely specified for wastewater and general industrial applications), polypropylene PP-H (for higher temperature resistance and certain chemical exposures), and PVDF/Kynar (for extreme chemical environments including pharmaceutical and semiconductor applications). Material selection is driven by the chemical exposure profile, operating temperature range, and regulatory requirements of your specific structure.

Request a Quote

If you’re specifying Sure Grip or Ultra Grip concrete protective liners for a new construction project, Plastic Fusion has the installation experience, welding certifications, and QA/QC discipline to deliver a CPL system built for decades of service. Contact us for project-specific pricing, coordination planning, and mobilization timelines.