9 Jul 2004
Distrupol delivers Lucite’s Diakon™ resin for milestone LED lighting system
Distrupol, a member company of Univar and a leading European polymer distributor, technical service and solutions provider, plays an integral role in the ongoing success of many OEM applications. Although sometimes far removed from final production, Distrupol works in close partnership with raw materials suppliers and moulders to provide a secure foundation for the product development and production process. The company’s contribution to the Hilite™ neon replacement LED lighting system from UK manufacturer Visive is one example of this.
Visive, formerly known as LEDtech, recently delivered its 800th Hilite system to bp (British Petroleum) petrol service forecourts across Europe, where it replaces neon in the forecourt canopy bullnose. Central to the system are lighting tubes extruded in Diakon™ acrylic resin, supplied by Distrupol.
Distrupol supported Diakon resin producer Lucite International who assisted Visive in material selection and developmental trials. The base material chosen for the Hilite system is “Diakon Frost”, a frosted acrylic grade offering textured aesthetics and gloss control combined with unique light diffusing properties.
Of equal importance in this exterior lighting application are Diakon’s weathering properties which enable it to retain quality appearance and performance in a broad range of environmental conditions. With its light weight, ease of shaping into complex designs and greater resistance to breakage, Diakon resin delivers advantages unmatched by glass in a wide variety of lighting applications.
According to Visive Sales & Marketing Director, Fiona Graham: “The Hilite architectural contour lighting system offers huge environmental benefits as well as cost savings on installation, energy consumption and maintenance.
“Made from tough, recyclable Diakon acrylic resin, Hilite can save up to 80% on running costs compared to neon, is virtually maintenance-free and eliminates the need for re-lamping programmes. Moreover, its low power requirement and high weatherability make it an ideal replacement for neon in high-risk environments like petrol service forecourts where it is having particular success.”
Distrupol has been supplying Diakon resin for this application since 2000 when it was launched in Europe by Visive.
Notes for editors
About Visive
Visive is a specialist designer and manufacturer of creative LED lighting solutions for the architectural, signage and display industries. Based in Wrexham, UK, and with a background in electronics engineering, Visive has been supplying LED lighting to major customers throughout Europe since 2000: including bp (British Petroleum), Morrisons, Pizza Hut and McDonalds. Previously known as LEDtech Ltd, Visive is best known for Hilite™, the company’s low energy, contour lighting system designed to replace conventional fluorescent and neon lighting applications.
About Distrupol
Distrupol provides plastics processors with the most comprehensive link to the world’s leading polymers. Underpinning its customer-centric, Europe-wide materials distribution business is a full range of technical and application development assistance to supplement customers’ own resources. Adapted to individual needs and local conditions, Distrupol’s services give the support that delivers optimized technical and commercial solutions.
A daughter company of Univar NV, Distrupol is a major polymer industry distribution and service supplier in Europe where it already leads the market in the UK, Ireland and the Nordic region. Headquartered in the UK Distrupol has a network of offices and logistics centres in Denmark, Finland, France, Ireland, Netherlands, Norway and Sweden, as well as the in UK. For further information please visit: www.distrupol.com
