Brighter Edge-lit Sheet / New Colors
Atoglas of ATOFINA Chemicals, Inc. introduced the next generation of Plexiglas® acrylic sheet using edge-lit technology (ELiT) and unveiled five new colors for the Plexiglas MC Edge-Color acrylic sheet series at the Store Fixturing Show, held in conjunction with GlobalShop 2003 at McCormick Place in Chicago.

Called Plexiglas ELiT II sheet, the new product is up to 70% brighter than its predecessor. Additionally, Atoglas now manufactures the new sheet by extrusion rather than casting, which improves economics and production efficiencies.

According to Vince Casmirri, Market Development Specialist, the new sheet more evenly disperses light from the edge to the sheet surface. "Our Plexiglas ELiT II acrylic sheet contains an enhanced proprietary additive that scatters light from the sheet edges, and evenly diffuses it to the display surfaces," said Casmirri. "The result is a uniformly lit bright surface that greatly enhances the display image.

"Edge-lit technology permits display design depths of 1.5" or less because the fluorescent tubes reside in side profiles rather than behind the sheet. Side lighting also eliminates ghosting effects caused by placing the fluorescent tubes too close to the surface in back-lit designs," said Casmirri. "Side lighting simplifies maintenance operations because it facilitates access to the lighting and ballast," he added.

The new sheet comes in standard 5 and 10-mm thickness and may be curved at a minimum 20" radius to hug columns or other curved pro-files. It retains all the optical, mechanical, thermal, fabrication and weathering properties of standard Plexiglas MC acrylic sheet.

The new colors in the Plexiglas MC Edge-Color acrylic sheet series produce stunning edge effects for visual display and P.O.P. applications. The five new colors are: 3215 Blue, 3216 Red, 3217 Red, 3218 Orange and 3219 Orange. These are in addition to the Plexiglas MC 3030 Green edge color, designed to look like glass, and Plexiglas MC 3120 Blue edge color. Atoglas can also supply all these edge colors as Plexiglas Clear-Edge Frosted acrylic sheet, which consists of a middle clear acrylic layer sandwiched between thin top and bottom frosted surface layers. Plexiglas Clear-Edge sheet comes with frosting on one or both sides.

The new Plexiglas Edge-Color acrylic sheet series is available in thicknesses of 0.118", 0.177", 0.236", 0.354", with some restrictions on minimum quantities. The series is also available with a matte finish produced by a surface processing step.

For more information, contact contact Vince Casmirri, Atoglas, 2000 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103, 800-647-5569 / 215-419-7898, Fax: 215-419-5512, Web: www.atoglas.com or www.plexiglas.com.