Keep Upcycling

In these structural recompositions, people certainly notice some seemingly familiar components. Either from roadside transformer boxes or curbside power poles, we rarely get to know those components well.

TPCreative can at least retrieve three components for circular design from a power pole. After tests of time and natural forces, they are reborn with other functions in your homes. While they may not be glamorous at the first glance, these materials have withstood decades of quality tests outdoors.

Retrieved from Recycled Materials

TaiPower has multiple warehouses for discarded materials across Taiwan. These locations house retired equipment in various sizes. Each warehouse stores items in local areas in broad categories. Every item is kept specifically for us by local employees. Component search and retrieval is an exciting process, as many design ideas may emerge in mind.

Cleaning and Repairs

Each retrieved component goes through cleaning, repair, and maintenance steps for new purposes. Detailed evaluations ensure they are appropriate for reuse. Even though recycled materials cannot return to their original conditions, various marks over time are fascinating.

Design for Mass Productions

To develop products, designers will take shapes, features, and purpose of recycled materials into consideration, and incorporate them into ideas. Designers also evaluate potential production issues. They may also design new components to complement recycled parts, so all products will be both stylish and functional.

Between Give and Take, Deconstruction and Reconstruction

Between Give and Take, Between Deconstruction and Reconstruction

Many recycled components are presented mostly in their original statuses. After being retrieved from discarded equipment, these components only require minimal processes to be used again. Most of these components have been in service for a long time with superior quality. In new designs, they are often modified structurally and physically, and reapplied based on their physical properties.

Voltage insulators, wooden Crossarms, and number plates all belong to this category. They are often retrieved from electricity poles.

To withstand natural forces over time outdoors, these components are certainly reliable. New designs inherit durability from these materials, and deliver great and solid textures.

Materials for Keep upcycling

Wooden Crossrms

E010 is the code for wood Crossarms retired from transmission facilities. TaiPower transmits power to every site in need. As technologies advance, roadside electricity poles and cables in the air are gradually removed from our sight. It’s rare to see wooden poles and Crossarms nowadays. After service years or technical updates, these components are replaced and stored systematically in various TaiPower warehouses, waiting for recycling or innovative reuse.

Voltage Insulators

On top of transmission towers and some electricity poles, strings of geometric objects are insulators between high-voltage cables and supporting structures. These seemingly underwhelming insulators are crucial to ensure stability in the grid. After retirement, these ceramic items are difficult to process in the current recycling system. They have to be cleaned first to shine again and inspire designers for other purposes.

Electricity pole plates

Electricity poles transmit power, and they are also precise positioning systems, even more than cell phone signals. Their location information is reflected on these aluminum number plates. After all these years, electricity poles and number plates are no longer needed. Aluminum plates carry positioning information and local memories. Creative designs keep their textures and visual appeals, and give us a retro flavor in daily life.