Sumika Bayer Urethane Co. Ltd. (Tokyo, Japan), a subsidiary of Bayer MaterialScience (Pittsburgh, Pa.), has developed Elson Neo Lumber FFU (fiber-reinforced foamed urethane), reinforced with long glass fibers. It is a dimensionally stable composite material that, unlike wood, reportedly loses none of its favorable mechanical properties after long-term service in the open air. According to Bayer, the product offers low weight, good resistance to hydrolysis, greases and oils, frost and deicing salts, and can be machined onsite at installation. Moreover, the material's electrical insulation properties allow it to be fitted with heating elements to prevent freezing in the winter.