Polycarbonate Panels: Expanding The Possibilities

From the Olympic Stadium to a backyard greenhouse, polycarbonate sheet products are finding an increasing number of applications.

When most people think of the Olympics, held recently in Athens, Greece, memories of the United States gold medal winners flash through their minds. If you’re Mike Howser, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at SUNTUF, Inc. however, you visualize the 90,000-seat 260,000 square foot Olympic stadium covered by SUNTUF Polycarbonate Panels. The clear panels let the sunshine in while blocking out harmful radiation. The Olympic stadium hosted the opening and closing ceremonies, track and field and the men’s football final.

With the wide variety of polycarbonate, corrugated polycarbonate and foamed polycarbonate panels and accessories, the applications for the products are unlimited.

Polycarbonate panels can withstand broad temperature ranges, making the material ideal for most environments. Compared to glass, polycarbonate panels are light weight, virtually unbreakable and shatterproof. They are easy to form, fabricate and install, are flame retardant, weather resistant and energy efficient. Many manufacturers offer clear polycarbonate panels that will not yellow, making them ideal for agricultural and residential buildings where safety and light transmission are required.

Polycarbonate panels are available in a variety of colors with different light transmission levels and heat blocking options. The choice of selecting clear, translucent or opaque panels allows flexibility in design for homeowners, architects, builders and contractors.

Some out-of-thebox thinkers have designed room dividers and cabinet door inserts using polycarbonate panels. Progressive farmers have incorporated side lights in their horse barns. New applications are being discovered on a continual basis.

Do-It-Yourself greenhouses have become so popular that SUNTUF has actually developed its own kit. Master-Gro Greenhouses are delivered complete with everything you need to build a 6’ x 8’ greenhouse – including a hinged door.

Written by Mike Howser, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Suntuf, Inc., manufacturers of polycarbonate and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) panels for a wide variety of commercial and industrial applications.

For more information, contact Mike Howser, Suntuf, Inc., 9735 Commerce Circle, Kutztown, PA 19530, 800-999-9459, Fax: 610-285-9928, E-mail: suntuf@suntuf.com, Web: www.suntuf.com.