Röhm showcases PLEXIGLAS® molding compounds as a material for complex and sustainable industrial design

• Outstanding examples of PLEXIGLAS® molding compound applications in automotive manufacturing, lighting and household appliances
• Live production of an automotive component in collaboration with LEONHARD KURZ and ENGEL
• Alliance for PMMA recycling committed to establishing a circular economy

Under the theme “PLEXIGLAS® makes your design shine. Every day.”, Röhm will be presenting its brand polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) at the international K trade fair for plastics and rubber in Düsseldorf. The material meets the highest standards in terms of visual appeal, longevity and recyclability.

From October 8 to 15, visitors to the industry’s leading trade fair in Düsseldorf will have a chance to see impressive examples from automotive manufacturing, lighting technology, household appliances and medical technology at booth E23 in hall 6. Well-known manufacturers have provided products and components that showcase the formability, functionality and quality of PLEXIGLAS® molding compounds.

This high-quality, highly transparent plastic has been writing design history for decades. The posthumous induction of its inventor Dr. Otto Röhm into the Plastics Hall of Fame at a ceremony held in Düsseldorf on the eve of the trade fair clearly demonstrates the importance of PLEXIGLAS®, says Sabine Spillner, Head of the Molding Compounds business unit at Röhm.

Material for superlative automotive design

PLEXIGLAS® has enabled and shaped numerous trends in automotive design – especially when it comes to vehicle lighting. One example of the superlative designs that are now possible in this field is the impressive rear light blade used in the Lucid Gravity, which won first prize in the Electronical/Optical Part category at the SPE Automotive Award 2024. At the time, it was the world’s largest single-component rear light. Measuring more than two meters in length and weighing nearly two kilograms, the component is produced by FORVIA HELLA using a highly sophisticated one-shot injection molding process with PLEXIGLAS® molding compound. It won the award largely for its efficient light guide, which enables increased luminous efficiency.

The trade fair booth also has other rear lights with extraordinary designs on display: In the Chinese IM LS7 electric SUV, the component extends across the entire vehicle width, is shaped like a sword on the sides, and is made with of PLEXIGLAS® molding compound dyed in neutral gray. The coast-to-coast rear light on the new Mercedes-Benz CLA is reminiscent of a very slim paddle. Thanks to the high-quality plastic’s unique UV and weather resistance, light covers retain their brilliance and optical clarity throughout the entire lifespan of the car. This guarantees that striking light graphics remain vibrant and do not yellow in the long term.

For such coast-to-coast components and long light guides, PLEXIGLAS® molding compounds offer both extraordinary light-guiding and optimized processing properties, such as favorable flow characteristics and a good heat deflection temperature.

The current trend for illuminated emblems on the front and rear and ambient lighting in the interior requires light-scattering plastics like PLEXIGLAS® Softlight. Trailblazers on the European market include the Opel Grandland Electric with its illuminated brand name on the rear, the CUPRA Tavascan with its illuminated logo on the hood, and SEAT with the colorful, illuminated air vents in its Ibiza and Arona models.

Live production of an automotive component

A live production demonstration at the trade fair will give the expert audience an idea of the innovative possibilities that producing automotive components with PMMA offers. At the booth of injection molding machinery manufacturer ENGEL (hall 15, booth C58), in-mold decoration (IMD) will be applied to the 850-millimeter-wide cover of a rear light concept made with PLEXIGLAS® molding compound, using a functional special film from thin-film specialist LEONHARD KURZ.

Excellent optical properties for lighting

In lighting design, the trade fair theme “PLEXIGLAS® makes your design shine. Every day.” can be taken literally. Here, the material’s excellent optical properties and outstanding formability have an even greater impact than in automotive lighting. Potential applications range from beautiful luminaires with glare-free light for upscale interior design to finely textured precision lenses, crystal-clear light covers and diffusors for lighting solutions in offices, retail, warehouses and production facilities.

For applications with very increased long-term service temperatures, Röhm has developed the PLEXIGLAS® Optical HT special molding compound, which Polish company Lena Lighting uses to produce the multilense arrays in the Tiara LED Pro streetlight, on display at K. Its high luminous efficiency remains undimmed for many years, with the material withstanding not only thermal aging, but also sunlight and weathering.

PLEXIGLAS® supports sustainable light planning with a range of features, including its longevity. In line with the circular economy, lighting manufacturers can also opt for a product version made from 30% recycled material: PLEXIGLAS® proTerra M5. Visitors to K can see its excellent optical quality in a luminaire profile produced by BWF Profiles for the RIDI LINIA EVO continuous-row lighting system.

High-quality plastic for premium household appliances

Household appliance manufacturers, especially in the premium segment, value the properties of various PLEXIGLAS® products for robust, high-gloss housings, modern black panel displays, highly transparent display covers and illuminated operating elements.

As a thermoplastic, polymethyl methacrylate is ideal for co-extrusion and 2K injection molding; a crystal-clear top layer of PLEXIGLAS® can be applied to other materials for an elegant look. For example, the smooth white housing of earlier Thermomix® models was created using this surface treatment. Now, Vorwerk has radically transformed the design of its kitchen appliance: the TM 7 has surprised everybody with its new, black look. PLEXIGLAS® Hi-Gloss NTA-5 gives this model a housing with high impact resistance, a pleasant feel and resistance to cleaning agents.

Another example of elegant kitchen appliance design with PLEXIGLAS® molding compounds is a yogurt maker from manufacturer Arçelik. The lower section of the housing is a smooth, glossy, black component made from impact-resistant PLEXIGLAS® Resist in a neutral-gray color. The seamlessly integrated black panel display only becomes visible once the appliance is switched on.

Its high transparency, surface hardness and abrasion resistance also make PLEXIGLAS® ideal for viewing windows in white goods. The BSH Group has equipped a drier in its new iQ 700 series with an interior pane made from a PLEXIGLAS® molding compound. Since the brand PMMA is significantly lighter than glass, this reduces the total weight of the appliance.

Circular economy: alliance for PMMA recycling established

“Shaping the Circular Economy” is one of the key themes at K. In founding a Europe-wide alliance for PMMA recycling, the companies Röhm, Pekutherm and the NEXTCHEM subsidiary MyRemono are sending a clear signal to the plastics industry. Combining expertise and skills to establish a sustainable circular economy for PMMA in Europe, the network is interested in working together with all companies in Europe that process PMMA.

The material provides ideal properties for the circular economy because it can be completely recycled with different methods. PLEXIGLAS® producer Röhm also contributes to this with its resource-saving processes and products, from the ground-breaking new LiMA production technology to the PLEXIGLAS® proTerra molding compound with post-industrial recycled material.

Innovative LiMA technology for resource-saving MMA production

At Röhm, sustainability begins right from the preliminary stage of PLEXIGLAS® production. At a new plant in Bay City (Texas, USA), Röhm is producing methyl methacrylate (MMA) using the innovative LiMA technology. LiMA stands for “Leading in MethAcrylates” and describes a proprietary, C2-based production technology. It uses ethylene, natural gas and methanol as raw materials and enables higher production yields while using less energy and water. At full capacity, the facility will produce 250,000 tons of MMA per year. “Röhm is constantly pushing the boundaries of methacrylate chemistry. The innovative spirit of our founder, Dr. Otto Röhm, continues to shape our company to this day,” says Hans-Peter Hauck, COO at Röhm.