Protective Shields

SABIC Innovative Plastics introduced a new, high-tech shield to enhance the protection of transit operators in Toronto. This new high-value operator protection is made of Lexan® sheet and coated with the Exatec® E900 advanced plasma technology at Exatec’s facility in Wixom, Michigan. The combined high impact strength and optical clarity of Lexan sheet and the excellent abrasion resistance of the Exatec coating, led the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) to equip its fleet with new shields to help prevent assaults on TTC operators, which average one per day. The advanced Lexan sheet/Exatec E900 plasma technology shield is SABIC Innovative Plastics’ latest example of how it is addressing critical customer needs with practical yet highly advanced material innovations.

While protection of the driver was a primary objective of the TTC bus retrofit, the glazing solution also had to meet stringent regulatory requirements for optical clarity (driver visibility) as set forth in the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) ANSI Z26.1 AS-2 standard. Lexan 9034 sheet with Exatec coating is the first polycarbonate (PC) glazing certified to comply with AS-2.

This strong but lightweight solution also offers weight reductions of as much as 50 percent vs. glass, as well as superior impact strength, abrasion resistance and overall durability vs. acrylic-based panels.

For more information, contact Sabic Innovative Plastics, One Plastics Avenue, Pittsfield, MA 01201, 413-448-7110, Web: www.sabic-ip.com.