Black Aluminium Composite Sheet
From £ £ £
Bespoke Fabrication
We have the machinery and expertise to manufacture bespoke items in acrylic, polycarbonate and many other plastics, from one-offs to large production runs. Read more about the various services we offer, or complete the form below to request a quote.
CNC Routing
Our advanced Multicam Apex 3R (3 Axis) CNC routers allow us to provide an extensive range of precision CNC routing services. Read more
CNC Laser Cutting
Laser cutting is a fabrication process that uses a thin, intensely focused stream of light to cut through a range of different materials, including plastics and acrylics. Read more
Diamond & Flame polishing
Edge polishing is a fabrication process that polishes the edges of acrylic panels, removes any cutting marks, and achieves a smooth, glossy finish. Read more
Rotary & Laser Engraving
Laser engraving is a fabrication process that uses a laser beam to physically remove the surface of a material to create an indentation that is noticeable to both the eye and touch. Read more
Line Bending
Line bending is a process that’s used to make precise folds in plastic and acrylic components. Our line bending fabrication service allows us to bend plastic and acrylic sheets along a defined ‘line’ – without any need for gluing or joining. Read more
Have bespoke requirements?
Complete this form and we will get back to you with a quote.
Aluminium composite sheet has a polythene core sandwiched by a thin sheet of aluminium on either side. Available in a deep black with a matte finish on one side and a gloss finish on the other.
Key features
- Lightweight
- High stiffness and dimensional stability
- Easy to work with/fabricate
- Simple to cut, router fold and bend
- Attractive range of vivid colours
- High resistance to weather and corrosion
- Low thermal expansion
- Suitable for both screen printing and direct-to substrate digital printing
- Recyclable
- Economical
Typical applications
- Signage
- Retail display
- Exhibition stands and displays
- Shop fitting
- Interior design
- Furniture
- Point of sale
- Point of purchase
- Partioning, wall linings and suspended ceilings
Detailed description
Low in weight but high in strength
The combination of it's low weight but high stiffness and dimensional stability make aluminium composite an ideal material for large format displays.
Easily to work with
Aluminium composite can be used to fabricate both 2D and 3D designs. 3D designs can be achieved by bending, routing and folding the material.
Weather resistant
The material offer very high levels of weather and corrosion resistance making aluminium composite an effective choice for external use.
Brand
Alupanel®
Country of Manufacture
UK
Minimum panel size
50mm x 50mm
Maximum panel size
2440mm x 1220mm
Weight
3.8 kg/m²
Cutting tolerance
+/- 1mm
Material protection
Protective film on both sides
Fire rating
UK Class 1
EN 13501-1:2007 Class D
Service temperature
-50 to +80°c
Water absorption
0.01%
Light transmission
0%
Recyclable
Yes
Maximum recycled content
70%
Data sheets
We currently deliver throughout the UK. Delivery charges are calculated based on the longest side of the material ordered. Only one delivery charge is applicable per order regardless of how many items are ordered.
UK Delivery costs
Longest side | Orders under £150 | Orders over £150 | Express Delivery |
---|---|---|---|
Samples (100mm x 100mm) | £2.95 | FREE | £9.95 |
Less than 500mm | £5.95 | FREE | £12.95 |
500mm to 1499mm | £9.95 | FREE | £19.95 |
1500mm or greater | £14.95 | FREE | £24.95 |
Standard delivery for all accessories is £7.95, or £12.95 for Express delivery.
All prices listed include VAT.
European Delivery
We have temporarily disabled European delivery for orders placed through our website whilst we make changes to implement the correct rate of VAT being charged. Our team can however manually place zero-rated orders so please contact us if you require delivery to the European Union.
Delivery Times
We process and dispatch the vast majority of orders within 48 hours of receiving the order, however our guidelines for delivery times are listed below:
- Standard delivery (3-5 working days)
- Express delivery (2-3 working days)
Express Delivery
If you require faster delivery you may wish to consider choosing our Express Delivery option at the checkout. Express Delivery orders will be prioritised and will be delivered using a recognised nationwide courier.
Next Day Delivery
Next Day delivery is not available via our website due to the quantity and bespoke nature of orders we receive on a daily basis. However, if you need to place an order and require Next Day delivery please contact us – we will make every effort to meet your requirements and deadlines.
Remote Areas
Due to the nature of the ”made to measure” products we supply, we provide delivery prices at a standard rate and reserve the right to cancel an order should it become economically unviable to fulfil the order. In these rare circumstances the customer will be contacted first to discuss alternative options.
When delivering to some delivery locations we can incur increased shipping costs, if this is likely to happen the customer will be contacted to discuss any possible extra delivery charges required.
Examples of delivery locations which may require additional delivery charges are,
- Channel Islands
- Scottish Islands
- Isle of Man
- Isles of Scilly
- Remote areas
- Northern Ireland
If you require delivery to one of these areas please get in touch to discuss your order.
Can I collect my order from Simply Plastics?
Yes, of course. Orders can be collected from our premises in Colchester, Essex. At the final stage of the checkout process there is a delivery option labelled "Collection/pickup" which is free. Once your order is complete, you will be notified by email along with our address and collection times.
I need my order urgently, can I pay for faster shipping?
Yes. We offer an express delivery service which aims to deliver all orders in 1-3 working days. Orders are delivered by a recognised courier company and may require a signature on delivery.
What are the differences between DiBond®, Alupanel® and ACM?
Both Dibond® and Alupanel® are just brand names of Aluminium Composite Material, which is also commonly referred to as ACM or Aluminium Composite Panels (ACP).
For many years the brand name Dibond® was synonymous with the material with many not realising that Dibond® was merely a brand name for ACM / ACP. Although Dibond is one of the better known brand names of ACM, today Multipanel UK is the largest stockist of ACM globally.
Is it possible to laser cut Aluminium Composite Panel?
The answer to this question is not clear cut. Aluminium Composite Panel (ACP) is a composite of two main materials, the outer skin which on most ACP is 0.3mm Aluminium and the inner core with is made from Low Density Polyethelyne (LDPE). This means that we have to consider how both of these materials react to laser cutting.
Aluminium can be laser cut however a high powered laser is required - typically 500+ watts is required to produce a clean cut on 3mm aluminium. On the other hand, Polyethelyne can be laser cut at a relatively low power, in-fact if Polyethelyne is laser cut with a high powered beam it does tend to warp and/or melt.
Therefore the power and temperature required to laser cut through the two primary materials in ACM are very different and this unfortunately makes laser cutting ACM virtually impossible. The power and heat required to laser cut aluminium will be so high that it will likely warp, melt or blow holes through the polyethelyne. Contrastly, if the laser is set to the low power levels required to laser cut polyethelyne it won't be anywhere near powerful enough to even mark the aluminium, let alone cut through it.
What is Brushed Alupanel® / Dibond®?
Brushed Aluminium Composite Panel (ACP), also often referred to as a 'Butler Finish', has a directional grain appearance 'brushed' into the aluminium. Traditionally the term 'Butler finish' refers to the result of regular cleaning and polishing of fine silverware. In thicker grade aluminiums and other metals, the brushed effect is created by mechanically abrading or brushing the substrate, however to acheive that same effect on Aluminium Composite the thin layers of aluminium are mechanically embossed.
Brushed Alupanel is a two sided material available in three variants, Copper/Black, Bronze/Gold and Aluminium/Silver.
How can Aluminium Composite Panel (ACP) be cleaned?
Aluminium Composite Panel (ACP) can be cleaned with nothing more than warm soapy water and a non-abrasive cloth. It is important that alkaline, acidic and abrasive cleaning products are avoided as this can have an adverse effect on the coating.