Acrylic, Perspex & M-Foam
Frequently Asked Questions

Most fabrication jobs take 7-10 working days once a project is confirmed, depending on materials and quantity.

We aim to come back with a comprehensive cost estimate within 1-2 working days of receiving your project details.

We fabricate in premium cell-cast PMMA (Plexiglas / Perspex) acrylic in clear, coloured and frosted finishes, and we also work with M-Foam rigid PVC foam board for printed displays, shopfitting and furniture - in-house, from a single sheet through to a finished, installed product.

Yes - custom fabrication is our core business. Tell us your dimensions, quantity, and finish requirements when you start a project and we will quote accordingly.

We are based in Jeppestown, Johannesburg (2043) and deliver nationwide across South Africa.

Contact us directly via the request a quote form on the contact page or WhatsApp  - whichever is easiest. The more detail you can give us (materials, dimensions, quantity, reference photos or drawings), the faster we can quote.

They are the same material. Acrylic is the common name for PMMA (polymethyl methacrylate); Plexiglas and Perspex are brand names for it, much like Hoover and vacuum cleaner. We use the names interchangeably.

Cast acrylic is the premium grade we primarily fabricate in. It has about 92.4% light transmission, laser cuts to a clean, flame-bright edge, resists solvents better and is backed by a 10-year outdoor UV non-yellowing warranty. Extruded acrylic is cheaper but tends to gum when laser cut and can develop microscopic crazing stresses.

Clear Plexiglas transmits about 92.4% of light, against roughly 89% for standard glass. It is also about half the weight and many times more impact resistant, which is why it is used for display cases, vitrines, shelving and protective screens.

Not strictly. It is 10 to 17 times more impact resistant than glass and does not break into sharp shards, but it is rigid and can still crack under a hard enough impact or if it is drilled or loaded incorrectly. We recommend a thicker sheet where knocks are likely.

Our standard range covers solid gloss colours (red, orange, green, blue, dark blue, black and white), translucent tints (amber, blue, green, smoked grey and bronze), fluorescent edge-glow colours and mirror finishes in silver, gold and rose gold. Yellow and other colours are available on request, and custom colours can be matched, usually in pallet quantities. See the colour palette on our Material Specs page and ask us for a physical sample or a stock check.

Frosted (satin) Plexiglas has a velvety matte surface that diffuses light, hides fingerprints and gives privacy while still letting light through. It is popular for backlit signs and light boxes, shelving, partitions and menu holders. Perspex Frost is matte on both sides; one-side satin versions are also available.

As a guide: 2 to 3 mm for small brochure holders and lids, 4.5 to 5 mm for standard display vitrines and countertop cases, 6 mm for medium to large cases and light wall shelving, 8 to 10 mm for retail podium tops and floating shelves up to about 800 mm, and 12 to 20 mm for plinths, awards and furniture components. Tell us the span and the load and we will confirm the thickness in your quote.

Rinse off loose grit with lukewarm water first, then wipe gently with a clean, lint-free microfibre cloth and lukewarm water with two or three drops of mild dish soap, or use an anti-static acrylic cleaner such as Novus No. 1, VuPlex or Brillianize. Never wipe it dry, because static attracts dust and grit that scratches.

No. Window cleaners, ammonia, methylated spirits, acetone, turpentine and rough paper towels will craze the surface (tiny spiderweb cracks) and ruin the polish. Stick to soapy water or a dedicated acrylic cleaner.

Light surface scratches can usually be buffed out with a fine plastic scratch remover such as Novus No. 2 and a soft cloth or buffing wheel. Deep scratches cannot be fully removed; the edge or panel is then re-polished by us or the sheet is replaced. Ask us about edge re-polishing.

Yes. Cast PMMA is naturally UV stable and our cast sheet carries a 10-year outdoor non-yellowing warranty. Cheaper extruded grades are less weather resistant. Allow for thermal movement: acrylic expands roughly 0.07 mm per metre for every 1 degree C, so panels need a framing gap. Our Material Specs page has an expansion calculator.

Cast PMMA can be used continuously up to about 80 degrees C (short term 90 degrees C); extruded is about 70 degrees C. Keep it away from heaters, open flame and hot lighting that sits against the sheet.

We laser cut and CNC route cast acrylic, polish edges with diamond wheels or a flame for a mirror finish, bend it with line heat strips, and join pieces with capillary solvent welding or UV-cured bonding so the joint is clear and strong. Edges can also be bevelled and satin finished.

M-Foam is a rigid, closed-cell PVC foam board. It is white, opaque, lightweight, waterproof, rot, mildew and insect proof, hygienic and easy to saw and install. It is used as a substitute for MDF, wood and plywood in shopfitting, cabinetry, shelving, lockers, bathrooms, kitchens and advertising, and it is the board we use for our printed floor and point-of-sale displays.

Yes. The closed-cell structure does not absorb water, so it will not swell, rot or grow mildew like MDF or paper-faced foam board. That makes it suitable for bathrooms, kitchens, laboratories and other damp areas.

The manufacturer lists exterior advertising among its uses and claims good weathering and UV resistance, but it publishes no outdoor life, and colour retention depends on the grade. In general PVC foam board suits short to medium-term outdoor use, ideally in a light colour and with a protective laminate; dark colours heat up in the sun. Tell us how long and where it will be used and we will advise.

We stock M-Foam in 6, 12, 16 and 22 mm thickness in sheets of 2750 x 1220 mm. A full sheet weighs about 14.09 kg at 6 mm, 28.18 kg at 12 mm, 37.58 kg at 16 mm and 51.67 kg at 22 mm. It is sold as full sheets or cut to size, and other thicknesses are available by enquiry.

Yes. The white surface takes digital, silk-screen and UV printing very well. Our displays can be finished with gloss or matt PP lamination, oil varnish or spot UV, our services include custom graphics and a 3D concept design.

It is cut by saw or CNC router, and it holds screws well. It can be welded or bonded using PVC cement - not acrylic cement.

It is rigid and strong for its weight, and thicker boards of 12 to 22 mm are used for shelving, lockers and cabinetry. The manufacturer publishes no load tables, so we do not quote figures: our workshop confirms the board thickness and construction for the products your display must carry.

Our catalogue PVC foam board floor displays have no minimum order. Samples typically take 7 to 10 days and bulk orders about 10 to 15 days. These are typical figures and are confirmed in your formal quote.

Choose acrylic when the product must be see-through, glossy or premium, or needs a long outdoor life. Choose M-Foam when you want a lightweight, low-cost, printable and branded display and do not need to see inside it. Not sure? Describe your product and we will recommend one.

Yes. We can turn a sketch, photo or set of dimensions into a 3D CAD model and dimensioned drawings, show you a concept to approve, and then fabricate the product. Use our AI Assistant or the Start a Project form to get going.