Question 1

What's the difference between acrylic and Perspex?

Accepted Answer

Perspex is a brand name for acrylic sheet, like Kleenex is to tissues. They're the same material: polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA). We stock multiple brands of cast and extruded acrylic.

Question 2

Acrylic vs polycarbonate: which should I choose?

Accepted Answer

Acrylic offers better optical clarity (92% vs 88% light transmission), is easier to polish, and costs less. Polycarbonate is 15× stronger than acrylic and virtually unbreakable, making it the better choice for high-impact or security applications. If it doesn't need to withstand heavy impact, go with acrylic.

Question 3

What thicknesses are available?

Accepted Answer

It depends on the material. Acrylic ranges from 1.5mm to 50mm across 14 standard thicknesses. Polycarbonate runs from 1mm to 15mm. Check each material page for the full list of available thicknesses.

Question 4

What is the best plastic for outdoor signage?

Accepted Answer

For outdoor signage, ACP (aluminium composite panel) is the gold standard: it's rigid, flat, weatherproof, and UV-stable. For illuminated signs, opal or coloured acrylic works well. Coreflute is the go-to for temporary or event signage due to its light weight and low cost. All three are available cut to size from our Kingsgrove warehouse.

Question 5

Is acrylic cheaper than glass?

Accepted Answer

Generally, yes. Acrylic sheet is typically 30-50% lighter than glass of the same thickness and comparable in cost per square metre for standard clear grades. It's also 17x stronger, easier to cut to custom sizes, and safer (no sharp shards). For display cases, splashbacks, and glazing, acrylic is often the more cost-effective choice.

Question 6

What plastic is FDA-approved for food contact?

Accepted Answer

Both PETG and HDPE are FDA-approved for direct food contact. PETG is often used for food display cases, point-of-sale covers, and clear packaging. HDPE is the standard for cutting boards, food preparation surfaces, and chemical-resistant linings. We stock both in a range of thicknesses.

Question 7

What's the difference between cast and extruded acrylic?

Accepted Answer

Cast acrylic is made by pouring liquid resin into moulds. It's optically superior, easier to polish, more resistant to solvents, and available in a wider range of colours and thicknesses (up to 50mm). Extruded acrylic is produced by pushing material through a die; it's more uniform in thickness, slightly cheaper, and easier to thermoform. For laser cutting and polishing, cast is the better choice.

Question 8

What thickness acrylic do I need for a sneeze guard?

Accepted Answer

For standard countertop sneeze guards and protective screens, 4.5mm or 6mm clear acrylic is the most common choice. For larger free-standing screens or high-traffic areas, 8mm or 10mm provides extra rigidity. We can cut to any size and add drilling for mounting hardware.

Question 9

Which plastic is best for machine guards?

Accepted Answer

Polycarbonate is the best choice for machine guards and safety barriers. It's virtually unbreakable (250x stronger than glass), impact-resistant, and meets Australian safety standards. For applications where optical clarity is more important than impact resistance, acrylic can also work. We cut both to your exact specifications.

Question 10

What material should I use for a kitchen splashback?

Accepted Answer

Acrylic is an excellent choice for kitchen splashbacks. It's available in a wide range of colours (including mirror and frosted finishes), easy to clean, waterproof, and much lighter than glass. We recommend 4.5mm or 6mm thickness. Note: acrylic should not be installed directly behind gas cooktops; use polycarbonate or glass for areas exposed to high heat.

Question 11

Can you cut custom shapes, not just rectangles?

Accepted Answer

Yes, we offer laser cutting, CNC machining, and saw cutting. Laser and CNC can cut any 2D shape from a vector file (DXF, DWG, AI, or PDF). Our online calculator currently supports rectangles, circles, archways, and trapezoids. For complex shapes, contact us with your files for a quote.

Question 12

What file formats do you accept for custom cutting?

Accepted Answer

We accept DXF, DWG, AI (Adobe Illustrator), and PDF vector files for laser and CNC cutting. Files should be to-scale with dimensions in millimetres. Raster images (JPG, PNG) cannot be used for cutting, they need to be traced to vector format first.

Question 13

Can you bend or shape acrylic?

Accepted Answer

Yes, we offer hot-line bending for clean, precise angles (1°–180°) in acrylic up to 12mm thick and 2400mm long. For more complex forming, we also do oven forming and fabrication with solvent welding.

Question 14

Can polycarbonate be laser cut?

Accepted Answer

Polycarbonate is not ideal for laser cutting because it tends to discolour and produce rough edges. We recommend CNC routing or saw cutting for polycarbonate instead, which gives clean edges without discolouration. Acrylic, on the other hand, laser cuts beautifully with flame-polished edges.

Question 15

Do you offer same-day cutting?

Accepted Answer

Yes, for simple cut-to-size orders using in-stock materials, same-day cutting and pickup is available from our Kingsgrove warehouse (Mon-Fri, 7:30am-4pm). Use our online calculator for instant pricing, place your order before midday, and it can often be ready the same afternoon.

Question 16

Is there a minimum order quantity?

Accepted Answer

No minimum order quantity. We're happy to cut a single piece. Bulk orders (5+ pieces) receive automatic quantity discounts: 5% off for 5+ and 10% off for 10+ identical items.

Question 17

How long does it take to get my order?

Accepted Answer

Simple cut-to-size orders using in-stock materials can be ready for same-day pickup. Standard turnaround for cut-to-size is 1–2 business days. Fabricated items typically take 3–7 business days depending on complexity.

Question 18

Do you offer material samples?

Accepted Answer

Yes, we provide free sample pieces (typically 100×100mm) for all materials and most colour variants. Samples can be picked up from our Kingsgrove warehouse or included with your next delivery.

Question 19

Can I get an instant quote online?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Our cut-to-size calculator gives you instant pricing on rectangles, circles, archways, and trapezoids in any material we stock. Select your material, enter dimensions, choose edge finishes and any extras, and you'll see a live price including GST. No account required.

Question 20

What are your delivery options?

Accepted Answer

We offer same-day pickup from our Kingsgrove warehouse (Mon–Fri, 7:30am–4pm), Sydney metro delivery via our own trucks on Tuesdays and Thursdays ($85+GST flat rate), and Australia-wide freight via third-party carriers (quoted per order).

Question 21

Can I pick up my order?

Accepted Answer

Yes, pickup is available from our Kingsgrove warehouse at 12 Garema Circuit, Kingsgrove NSW 2208. Pickup hours are Monday to Friday, 7:30am to 4:00pm. Orders can often be ready for same-day pickup.

Question 22

Where is your Kingsgrove warehouse?

Accepted Answer

Our main warehouse and showroom is at 12 Garema Circuit, Kingsgrove NSW 2208, in Sydney's south. We're open Monday to Friday, 7:30am to 4:00pm. Same-day pickup is available for most cut-to-size orders. We also offer Sydney metro delivery on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Question 23

Do you deliver to all of Sydney?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We run our own delivery trucks across Sydney metro on Tuesdays and Thursdays for a flat rate of $85+GST. For areas outside metro Sydney, we ship via third-party freight carriers Australia-wide; freight costs are quoted per order based on size and weight. Same-day pickup from Kingsgrove is always available.

Question 24

Do you offer trade accounts?

Accepted Answer

Yes, we offer 30-day trade accounts for approved businesses. Contact our team to apply. Trade customers receive volume pricing and priority processing.

Question 25

Do you offer wholesale pricing for trade customers?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We offer 30-day trade accounts with volume pricing for approved businesses including sign makers, fabricators, builders, and manufacturers. Trade customers get priority processing, dedicated account management, and competitive wholesale rates. Contact our team to apply for a trade account.

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