Education

The industry prepares for Silicone-Modified Polyester (SMP) finishes

Differences between SMP and PVDF finishes

I think we can all agree, the business environment has changed since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Unfortunately, as we begin 2022, we’re forced to continue dealing with these challenges. Rising material costs, labor shortages and supply chain issues have added to the complexity of doing business today.

VIDEO: Reasons to use Alumalite®

Watch our very own Senior Inside Sales Representative, Ed Quinlan, give you the top reasons why you should be using our Alumalite® ACM panel. 

Why Use Omega-Bond® or Alumalite® as an Art Canvas?

While the majority of paintings today are on canvas, it’s not always the best choice for painting. In fact, if not properly protected, painted canvases may crack over time.

Top 5 Reasons Alumalite® is Better than Solid Core ACM

 

1. The aluminum skins used on Alumalite are twice as thick as solid core products and comes with a 10-year Colorfast warranty
2. Due to the thicker aluminum and corrugated truss-design core, Alumalite has a higher strength-to-weight ratio and withstands over 120 mph wind loads
3. Alumalite is approximately 50% lighter which allows for ease of installation and less structural support
4. The Polypropylene core in Alumalite performs better in extremes than Polyethylene solid core ACM panels

Why does Laminators Incorporated not need a FR (fire rated) core?

Why does Laminators Incorporated use a polypropylene core?

Polypropylene (PP) was discovered by Italian and German scientists in the mid-1950s, and is currently the second leading plastic product produced and used throughout the world.  Today, Polypropylene is surpassed in production volume only by polyethylene (PE), discovered a couple decades earlier.

Grenfell Tower Fire (London, England) – The Use of ACM and Code Requirements

 

Laminators Incorporated wants to send our sincerest condolences to all involved in the recent tragedy of the fire located at the Grenfell Tower residential apartment building on June 14, 2017 in London, England.  As responsible members of the ACM community, our due diligence relies profoundly on assisting and educating design professionals when specifying ACM panels and architectural installation systems for their projects.

Sticking with Correct Sealant Application

Learning how to properly seal building penetrations will help prevent the permeation of air, gas, noise, dust, fire, smoke, or liquid from one location through a barrier into another.  "Although representing less than 1 percent of the structure, sealants' correct application is critical to the water and airtightness of the building. Since metal substrates expand and contract with changes in temperature, sealants (they consist of polymers that allow flexibility) aid metal panel joints that experience dynamic movement." Mark Robins, Senior Editor, Metal Construction News.

Importance of Using Tested ACM Systems

 

What is testing?

  • Testing is the process used to compare a product (in this case an ACM panel system) to an industry established benchmark for a given set of performance criteria
  • In general terms, testing is used as a measure of quality and performance

What is the purpose of testing?

Things to Consider When Specifying an ACM Panel

Once a building is clad with ACM panels, it’s pretty difficult to know which panel manufacturer was specified and installed. Let’s face it, for all intent and purposes most ACM panels look and perform the same… or do they?

Here are a few things you should consider when specifying ACM panels on your next project:

The Impact of Thermal Conductivity on Building Enclosure Durability

When choosing building materials, do you factor in the climate? Does it get really cold? Really hot? Frequent rain storms? Or snow storms? Analyzing the climatic conditions is important when specifying certain building materials. 

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