FLEX-ING™ Composite Manways

Steel manhole covers are heavy, rust, and are a common cause of back injuries on forecourts. FLEX-ING™ composite manways replace them with a domed lid made from many layers of fiberglass bonded in premium resin and finished by hand. Franklin does not use wood or foam fillers. The lid is thicker where it matters, rising from 1" at the edge to 1¼" at the centre, which limits flex under wheels and extends service life.

The covers are engineered and tested to meet or exceed H20 and HS20 load ratings, meaning they are designed for axle loads of 32,000 or 16,000 pounds per set of dual wheels. The surface is slip resistant. A shallow handle recess and a chest-style handle with backer plate keep the wall thick at the point that takes the most impact. The 12 gauge steel skirt is powder coated.

Two diameters are offered, 38" and 42", each with spring-loaded handles as standard. Raintight versions can be fitted with cast Zn-Al-Mg slope-style cam locks that pull the lid down onto its gasket for a watertight seal, which keeps rainwater out of sumps. Franklin also makes R Line and MoreCore replacement lids that drop into existing OPW Conquistador™ and Morrison Bros. rings, plus handle and gasket kits. Apex uses these to upgrade covers on existing Lebanese stations without replacing the frames.