FAQs

ACP (or ACM) — Aluminium Composite Panel/Material — is a sandwich panel made of two aluminium skins bonded to a core of extruded polyethylene or mineral material. Multipanel UK manufactures Alupanel for the Sign, Display and Print industry, and MULTISHIELD — a magnetically receptive, galvanised steel-skinned panel for the VISCOM market. Alupanel products are not designed for architectural facade, cladding or rainscreen systems.

Standard fabrication-grade Alupanel has a 0.3mm (.012in) skin. Alupanel Smart uses 0.26mm (.010in) for lighter fabrication work. For flat applications, A-Lite Digital has a 0.22mm (.009in) skin and Alupanel Lite 0.2mm (.008in). Alupanel IMPACT 0.18mm (.007in), Alupanel X (formerly Ecopanel), designed for short-term projects, has a 0.15mm (.006in) skin, and Alupanel X-Lite is our thinnest at 0.12mm (.005in). Multishield's steel skin is a robust 0.25mm (.010in).

All Alupanel products contain a 100% recycled polyethylene (LDPE) core. Alupanel A-Lite Digital is also available with an M1-rated product contains a calcium carbonate mineral compound percentage, offering higher fire performance for sign, display and print applications.

Alupanel offers a standard range of over 20 colours, gloss on one side and matt on the reverse. Bespoke colour-matched finishes are available subject to MOQ. Additionally we offer 5 brushed finishes and 2 mirror options — see the COLOUR tab on each product page to see which colours are available for each range.

Each Alupanel product carries a coating suited to its intended use. Sign and display panels use a polyester paint, with some featuring specialist digital coatings for enhanced print results. Multishield uses a modified Polyester for its dry erase surface. Subject to MOQ, alternative finishes — such as HDPE, FEVE and PVDF — are available for longer-life sign and display applications.

Products carry the following limited warranty for internal and external use: Alupanel – 5 years; Alupanel Smart – 3 years; Alupanel Lite – 2 years; Alupanel A-Lite Digital – 2 years; Alupanel X and X-Lite – 1 year. Installations within 1km of the coast, or within 30° of the equator, carry half the standard warranty period. * Depending the finishes offered in each range: these warranties apply to PE finishes and Brushed Aluminium (silver); all other Brushed colours and Mirror finishes carry an internal-use warranty only. Multishield offers a Galvanised steel skin but has a 5-year warranty for internal applications only. Alupanel Traffic Permanent has a limited warranty for 12- years and Alupanel Traffic Temporary for 5-years. Warranties for special paint finishes will be determined at the point of development.

Alupanel can be cut on site using standard carpentry tools. Fabrication-grade panels can be folded and formed using a router, V-groove blade, CNC or similar equipment. ACP is not suitable for laser cutting. Please see our Fabrication Manual in the Downloads section of each product page for more information.

Some finishes are directional and must be installed facing the same way to avoid visible differences in reflectivity. Arrows on the protective film indicate this direction. Where a clear film is used instead, the printed product identification shows the direction of production.

Batch numbers, along with the production date and specification, are printed on each panel's protective liner during manufacture. As with any manufactured product with a specific finish, using panels from the same batch across a project ensures a consistent finish.

Multipanel UK works with approved distributors in over 30 countries. Contact us to find your local stockist, or to enquire about becoming a distributor.