Solent Acrylic

Acrylic Fabrication

Solent has a vastly experienced plastic fabrication team able to prepare and form a variety materials commonly used in engineering applications. They include:

• Polycarbonate
• Acrylic
• PVC
• HPL

All of these materials are quick to process and offer strong, attractive results once formed. They are supplied to us in sheet form and are available in many different colours. 

We are happy to undertake projects of all sizes, right down to individual “one-offs”, and we can offer product assembly services in addition to component manufacturing if required. 

Acrylic Bending

The ability to bend acrylics and other plastics allows us to fabricate all sorts of products and components. To produce a quality, consistent bend we use one of two methods. These are:

• Thermal Line Bending – using a two beam thermal bend Elite 96 line bender, which allows us to bend plastic from 2mm to 20mm thick, to a maximum length of 2440mm. The bend radius depends on the material thickness required. 
• Cold Bending – using a 3m CNC Promecam break press, which is most suitable for bending polycarbonate. A fast, accurate and cost-effective process. 

If you would like to find out more about either of these techniques, just give us a call on 023 92 232348. 

Gluing and Bonding

Our experience within the plastics fabrication industry gives us a solid understanding of the gluing and bonding techniques required for each material. Whether it’s acrylic, ABS, polycarbonate or any other plastic, we only ever use adhesives that give a strong, clean and clear result. All machined parts are thoroughly cleaned and smoothed prior to bonding in order to achieve a clear glued joint. The glue is applied into the joint using a syringe or bottle in a capillary action. The curing process takes about 3-4 hours.

CNC Routing

We use CNC routing technologies in many of our processes. These machines enable accurate shaping, cutting and etching, and are ideal for manufacturing flat panel-type components such as machinery windows, equipment housings, panels and doors. CNC routing is also the first process used in the manufacture of machine guards and other similar plastic fabrications. 

Our machines are big enough to handle the largest sheet materials and are tough enough to take on even the heaviest production schedules. They also enable us to quickly alternate between high throughout mass production and the bespoke one-off jobs required for prototyping. Visit us online to find out more. 

Marine Windows

If you need plastic windows for a ship, yacht, boat or any other kind of marine vessel, give Solent a call. We’re able to cut, profile and drill windows to any size or shape using high quality, UV stable cast acrylic or polycarbonate. Both of these materials offer the lightweight but hardwearing and abrasion-resistant properties needed for marine applications. We offer a fast turnaround on bespoke orders, so get in touch with your requirements today on 023 92 232348.

Medical Instruments

Acrylic is widely used in the production of medical instruments because it is lightweight, transparent, and because it can be fabricated to the most precise specifications. At Solent, we have produced components for all sorts of medical devices and have a great deal of experience in this sector. To discuss your requirements with a member of the Solent design team, just give us a call on 023 92 232348.

Museum Displays

Solent are able to manufacture acrylic display cabinets and display cases in almost any shape or size you require. We can even incorporate lighting options, including ultra bright LEDs, which are more efficient and have a lower heat output than conventional light sources. 

More and more museums and galleries are using acrylic as an alternative to glass because it is smarter, lighter, safer and because it can be adapted to suit individual size requirements more easily and less expensively. Whatever your design idea, we can develop it. And, if you need design advice, we can provide that too! 

Challenge us with your ideas. Call us on 023 92 232348.

Plastic Machine Guards and Doors

We are able to manufacture machine guards and doors using a variety of materials, including acrylic, polycarbonate, polypropylene, PVC and many other plastics. Our plastics engineers can cut, shape, glue, bend and form according to any design specification. Whether you need a small batch or several thousand, Solent can offer high quality, low cost solutions and a fast turnaround on even the most complex projects. Call us on 023 92 232348 to discuss your requirements with the Solent design team.

Products for Hospitals

Over the years, Solent has helped design and manufacture a number of products for hospital and health applications, including:

• Hand support splints – used by the Portsmouth NHS Trust Hospital to support children’s hands and ensure that the relatively large cannula and needle does not cause any harm. 
• Calibration trays – as used by St. Mary’s Hospital, Southampton. 
• Encapsulated leads – used in X-ray department of Queen Alexandra Hospital in Portsmouth.
• Encapsulated stainless steel sheets -

Scientific Enclosures

Being non-conductive, optically clear, resistant to scratching and resistant to corrosion, acrylic is the perfect material for the production of scientific enclosures and equipment. It can even be made to incorporate lead for situations where protection against radiation is required. 

We manufacture acrylic enclosures for Bigneat Containment Technology, who are Europe’s leading providers of enclosures to science and industry. Their cabinets are used to protect laboratory staff from chemical fumes, air-borne particles and bio-hazards. 

Solent has also manufactured power handling chambers, mail sorting gloveboxes and electrophoresis instruments. To find out more, please head over to our website. 

Shop Fittings, Screens and Guards

Acrylic is an ideal material for dividing up areas of a shop, bar or restaurant because it does not restrict light. Its transparency also makes it ideal for shop window displays. At Solent, we can manufacture dividing walls, screens and guards to almost any size you require. Get in touch to find out more.

Water Tanks, Cooling Tanks and Bespoke Bowls and Plinths

Solent has produced custom aquaria for restaurants, shops and private houses, acrylic water tanks and cooling systems for research applications, water reservoirs for specialist cooling equipment and bespoke displays for architects, shops and point-of-sale. We have even produced bespoke bowls and display plinths for the toy department at Harrods. If you need something similar to any of these items, please get in touch with our design team on 023 92 232348.

Controller Holders

At Solent, we certainly get some interesting requests, and we’ve been involved in the production of all kinds of innovative products. One such product was this controller holder (right), which was designed to protect the control within  and prevent it from getting lost. The specially cut front cover allows the user to press the controller’s buttons whilst it remains in the wall-mounted holder. Simple in design but practical in use, the controller holder is ideal for restaurants and offices, shops, hotels, bars or anywhere a remote control might go missing. If you have an idea of your own that you’d like developing, just give us a call!

Exhibition Cabinets

When it comes to exhibitions, you need to be able to stand out from the crowd: this means having the best posters, the best literature, the best lighting and of course, the best method of displaying your products. But appearances aren’t everything! Exhibition equipment has to be practical too, which means having something that’s lightweight and easy to set up and take down. At Solent, we can produce exhibition cabinets and displays that are both light and attractive, so you don’t have to make any compromises. If you have an event or exhibition coming up, just give us a call on 023 92 232348.

Hoods and Covers

Solent Acrylic has produced all kinds of protective hoods and covers, including book holders, display tables, artefact covers, display windows, hoods and statue guards for museums and public buildings. We’re an OEM to some of the world’s leading museum supply companies, but we’ve also manufactured one-offs and small quantities for direct supply. To find out more about our acrylic hoods and covers, head over to the Solent website or get in touch directly on 023 92 232348.

Materials

Our engineers can handle a variety of materials, but the plastics most commonly employed in our facilities are:

• Polycarbonate – offering high impact strength and therefore ideal for machine guards and security shields.
• Acrylic – lightweight, weather-resistant, optically clear and scratch resistant, ideal for cabinets, enclosures, displays, windows and machine guards.
• PVC – extremely strong and resistant to chemicals, ideal for scientific trays and surfaces.
• HPL – highly resistant to chemicals, ideal for science, pharmaceutical and food work surfaces. 

For more on material properties, please head over to our website.