PERSPEX AND PLASTIC CENTRAL TO SIGNAGE

At the turn of the 19th century, an explosion of scientific knowledge and a demand for materials with properties that could not be found in nature combined to set the scene for the development of a whole new range of industrial materials. It was in these circumstances that Bakelite, and other early plastics, arrived.

With the coming of the industrial revolution, scientists started to experiment with various resources and organic chemicals. In 1931 acrylic resins were prepared for coatings of laminated glass. In 1937 the first acrylic sheets were made and in the Second World War they proved their worth when they were used as bullet-resistant glazing on war planes.

A TURNING POINT FOR SIGNAGE

The name Plexiglas was patented in 1933 by Otto Röhm. Plexiglass was essentially acrylic safety glass, or Perspex, made for use in the aerospace and aeroplane industries. Thereafter, acrylic became an important part of the signage industry.

Perspex was first manufactured to create eye-catching window displays and signage. Companies in Europe began to specialise in working with Perspex and used it in large-scale signage and production ventures.

Various thicknesses and colours appeared in the marketplace, and Perspex’s potential soon became clear. Perspex could be frosted, glazed or illuminated, and used for decorative features such as ceiling lights. Since the beginning, Perspex was prized for its properties of transparency, strength and resistance to heat.

Today these qualities ensure that Perspex and plastic are as important as ever in the signage industry. Manufacturers appreciate the demand from the signage industry and manufacture Perspex in clear, frosted and reflective finishes.

AN EXCITING FUTURE FOR PERSPEX AND PLASTIC

Perspex technology and finishes are still evolving, however, and scratch-resistant surfaces are one of the latest features to have been developed for Perspex. This eliminates one of the few shortcomings of Perspex signs: their tendency to scratch when being cleaned.

Perspex and plastic are such functional materials that the car of the future could well have a body made of reinforced plastic, with plastic components in its engine. Manufacturers are increasingly turning their attention to production techniques in plastic and an all-plastic car could be a real possibility. Plastic, after all, has long had an important role in the aerospace industry.

But whether or not we see a plastic car, the qualities of Perspex and plastic make it ideal in the signage industry. Signs360 understands the full potential of these materials and offers a full range of Perspex substrates available in various thicknesses and finishes to cater for the signage market in Australia.