Table Of Content03 Feat of design: 04 Feat of acrobatics: 14 Feat of lighting engineering: 17 Feat of craftsmanship: 18 Feat of imagination:
outsize chandelier the Caesar Twins bright and environmentally hand-made racing car fabulous diamond in Brunei
friendly
Magazine of the Acrylic Polymers Business Line Special issue 2008
Degussa is now Evonik.
As of September 12, 2007, what was
Degussa is now the Chemicals Business
Area of the new Evonik Industries.
F or further information on this creative
new industrial group, please go to
www.evonik.com
Guaranteed.
Light promotes growth and well-being. Yellowed sheets keep out the light.
With PLEXIGLAS®, which comes with a 30-year guarantee against yellowing,
this is a problem of the past. Read the inside story on page 6.
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Dear Readers:
Guarantees date back to the early days of human civilization and exist
in a variety of forms, from the curious to the useful. In this issue, we
present a very special guarantee: the 30-year PLEXIGLAS® guarantee
against yellowing and loss of light transmission. Learn more about what
this means for companies and climate protection, and what all that has
to do with polar bears.
In this special issue of [DiA]® Design in Acrylics, you can also read:
A guaranteed treat: world-class acrobatics by the Caesar Twins. The
gymnastic duo from Poland reveals in our interview some of the ways
Michael Träxler,
they entrance the audience. Many of their feats of artistry are based on
Vice President
PLEXIGLAS®. Acrylic Polymers Business Line
A guaranteed legend: The Melkus RS 1000 – the only racing car ever
to be made in the former East Germany. Now the roadster is being manu-
factured again, and takes PLEXIGLAS® along for a ride. This makes the car
lighter, faster and cuts its fuel consumption.
A guaranteed fairytale: The story of the diamond of Brunei is like
something out of the Arabian Nights. The Sultan of Brunei had this
scintillating 8.5-ton PLEXIGLAS® jewel erected as a symbol of wealth and
purity.
I hope you enjoy your read and gain a raft of new ideas.
A Moment in Time
Who painted this? Piet Mondrian, Paul Klee or perhaps August
Macke? The colors certainly recall the works of these artists. But the origin
of this picture is quite different, even though it does have artistic
connections. The colorful surfaces turn out to be unusual, eye-catching
stools and shelves made of PLEXIGLAS®. Designers have always turned to
this material for inspiration, and a remarkable exhibition at Darmstadt's
Mathildenhöhe showed what designers since the 1930s have crafted
from PLEXIGLAS®, including compartmentalized cigarette boxes, garden
chairs and beauty bags. We reported in a previous issue on this event at
Darmstadt, the birthplace of PLEXIGLAS®. The catalogue, which can
be obtained from Institut Mathildenhöhe, Darmstadt, provides a retro-
spective of the exhibition.
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Glowing logo at a dizzy height: the Spanish company's name
catches the eye from afar.
Climate Protection Pays Off
Energy savings for many branches of industry
[Climate Protection] Climate change is having an logos, we achieve a strong optical effect with maximum energy
increasingly dire impact, as confirmed by the IPCC (Intergov- efficiency.”
ernmental Panel on Climate Change) report recently released in A light dome manufacturer, on the other hand, saves air
Valencia, Spain. This fourth and final part of the world climate conditioning costs. “When the light domes in our office were
report underlines the importance of broad-based commitment still made of conventional plastic, the temperatures on sunny
to climate protection. According to UN Secretary-General Ban days were almost unbearable,” recalls Armin W. Schulze, Pur-
Ki-moon, the report also shows that there are realistic and chasing Manager at Hans Börner GmbH & Co. KG. This com-
financially viable ways of responding to climate change. This pany is one of the largest manufacturers of PLEXIGLAS® light
conviction is shared by Michael Träxler. As Vice President of the domes in Germany. Since the offices had to be air-conditioned
Acrylic Polymers Business Line at Evonik Röhm, he initiated the all the time on hot days, the 15 light domes of the building were
campaign “This is what climate protection looks like.” “Since exchanged. Now they are made of PLEXIGLAS HEATSTOP®, a
last summer we have shown how companies can cut energy special material that reflects solar heat and substantially reduces
costs and carbon emissions at the same time using PLEXIGLAS®. heat buildup. “Our employees are very pleased about the much
This applies to companies from very different branches of in- more pleasant room temperature. At the same time, we save
dustry,” Träxler says. energy costs because the air conditioning unit can be switched
A Spanish toy manufacturer has reduced power consump- off more often,” Schulze says. And the light domes made of
tion by more than half using PLEXIGLAS® for its signage. “With PLEXIGLAS HEATSTOP® are very much in demand because of
the right concept and the right material, climate protection pays rising electricity prices.
off for companies, as we can see with the illuminated signs at For Träxler, these examples show “how energy and costs
our head office in Zaragoza,” says Marta Pons from Corporate can be saved in very different branches of industry using
Communications at Imaginarium. Two sets of LED-lit lettering PLEXIGLAS®.” That means climate protection is becoming an
made of PLEXIGLAS truLED® were installed there. This material increasingly viable economic option for companies faced with
was specially developed for backlighting with LEDs. It offers par- rising energy costs. “But PLEXIGLAS® not only helps save ener-
ticularly high light transmission, which means that luminous gy, we are also involved in exciting power generation develop-
objects glow brightly even with fewer light sources. As com- ments, on which we will report shortly,” Träxler says. hf
pared with conventional acrylic sheets, this makes it possible to
reduce energy consumption and cut costs for luminous objects.
The improved energy efficiency is important to the toy www.plexiglas-and-energy.com
manufacturer for another reason too. Imaginarium markets
toys that are meant to encourage children to treat nature and
natural resources with respect. Miniature wind-power or solar-
power generators, dynamos and toy cars that run on hydrogen
are intended to give children a feel for climate protection.
“So we consider it our corporate responsibility to actively con-
tribute to climate protection. With our illuminated PLEXIGLAS®
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Concentration, strength and perfection – the Caesar Twins' show reveals every little movement to the audience.
Somersaults Inside a Transparent Cube
Caesar Twins perform world-class acrobatics with PLEXIGLAS®
[Stage] Pierre and Pablo Caesar, better known as the [DiA]: Are you planning other show elements with PLEXIGLAS®?
Caesar Twins, are two of the world's top gymnastic acrobats and Markus Pabst: We want to work even more with this material in
have already entranced audiences around the globe with their the future. One of our ideas is a huge cube of PLEXIGLAS® in
unusual performance. They can only be told apart by their which we can do somersaults along the walls or hang from the
panther tattoos, which one twin has on his left arm and the walls using suction cups. That only works on smooth surfaces.
other twin on his right. Since being invited to take part in the Pablo Caesar: We could also work in the cube with water, color or
Royal Variety Performance by Her Majesty Queen Elisabeth II, mist. Or we could do bungee jumps into the cube.
they have gained fame among lovers of vaudeville, circus and
variety acts. Thirteen million viewers watched the spectacle on [DiA]: Have you done other experiments with the material?
television. The Caesar Twins went on to perform in London's Markus Pabst: Of course. PLEXIGLAS® also makes interesting
West End and toured the world, as well as making numerous sounds. When acrobats jump on walls or rhythmically throw
television appearances. They have even staged a private per- balls against the material, we can transmit the sound to the
formance in Dubai. audience via microphone. That creates very impressive effects.
The twins, who originate from Poland, live in Berlin. That Pierre Caesar: At the moment we are also practicing a lot with
is where they train and develop new ideas with their director light and reflections.
Markus Pabst. And PLEXIGLAS® plays a leading role in their
show. Many of its properties open up new perspectives for the [DiA]: When will your new show be finished?
acrobats and their audience alike. DiA spoke with Pierre Caesar, Pablo Caesar: A show like ours is always a work in progress. We
Pablo Caesar and Markus Pabst in their studio in Berlin. have already presented our “fishbowl” on every continent. Parts
of the juggling act are currently being performed in Berlin, and
[DiA]: These rooms are very impressive. Is this where your new projects can be seen from March at GOP Varieté in Münster.
take shape? Pierre Caesar: One day there will be an entire show just with
Pierre Caesar: Our loft here measures about 450 square meters, so PLEXIGLAS®. But we will try out all the individual parts first.
we have plenty of space to rehearse our shows. But we also work
with young talent here too.
Pablo Caesar: Every year we select about seven artistes, people
we work with on new performances. Our choreographers and www.caesar-twins.com
directors are on hand to help them.
[DiA]: You incorporate various materials into your program. What role
do these play in developing individual elements of the show?
Markus Pabst: At the moment we are working a lot with
PLEXIGLAS®. Our juggler, for instance, places several PLEXIGLAS®
sheets side by side to form a V or a diamond shape. In this, he
juggles up to seven rubber balls that he also bounces off the
PLEXIGLAS® sheets at incredible trajectories. There are only
two materials that make the balls bounce like this: marble and
PLEXIGLAS®.
Pierre Caesar: Our 800-liter “fishbowl” is also made of
PLEXIGLAS®. We do handstands and somersaults inside it.
These are an important part of our 90-minute solo show, where
the audience can also watch us under water.
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“Our 800-liter ‘fishbowl’ is also made of PLEXIGLAS®.
We do handstands and somersaults inside it.
These are an important part of our 90-minute solo show,
where the audience can also watch us under water.”
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Guarantee
30 Years of Guaranteed Transparency
A travel agency guarantees sunny weather. A dating
agency guarantees you will meet the love of your life within
six months. A chain of cinemas guarantees you will enjoy
the movie billed for tonight. Today, lots of promises are
made, and few are kept. But there are guarantees of a
different kind, ones that are scientifically founded, and so
unusual that they are worth taking a closer look. What
about the 30-year guarantee against yellowing and loss
of light transmission? This guarantee really exists – for
PLEXIGLAS®. It was introduced about one year ago. DiA
has explored the wonderful world of warranties and
ventured into the heart of PLEXIGLAS® production at
Darmstadt.
[DlA]®
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30 years and not a bit dull
I.
Unlike other transparent plastics such as polycarbonate human skin, PLEXIGLAS® can be modified during production so
(PC), polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or polyethylene terephthalate that it shields off harmful UV rays without detriment to the
(PET), PLEXIGLAS® stays clear and transparent for decades. How material's stability. Other plastics, on the other hand, can only
does this work? The secret lies in the extremely strong and be protected to a limited extent even with a special UV
naturally UV-stable PMMA molecules on which coating. “You can compare this to applying suntan
PLEXIGLAS® is based. These molecules offer lotion,” Berkenkopf says, “it only offers sur-
“passive resistance” to the harmful por- face protection.” That is why most plastics
tion of solar radiation. only come with a 10-year guarantee
“PLEXIGLAS® doesn't try to against yellowing. PLEXIGLAS®, on
block out the UV rays, its sifts them the other hand, remains UV-resis-
instead,” explains Martin Berken- tant through and through, for a
kopf, Product Manager in the guarantee period of 30 years.
Acrylic Polymers Business Line. Even products based on PMMA
Other transparent plastics that from other manufacturers do
oppose UV rays are fighting a los- not come with this guarantee
ing battle. The radiation destroys against yellowing. The unique
the compounds on which these quality of PLEXIGLAS® is based
materials are based and splits off on the production know-how
molecules. This leads to visible acquired in over 70 years of
contamination of the originally experience.
clear-transparent materials. The plas- “So you could compare PLEXIGLAS®
tic becomes yellow. In contrast, the with stainless steel, in a way,” Berken-
yellowness index of PLEXIGLAS® remains kopf says. “Stainless steel doesn't rust,
far below the visibility limit even after 30 and PLEXIGLAS® doesn't become yellow."
years. Destruction due to UV light is also visible Neither of these materials succumbs to weather-
on the surface of other types of plastic, and the da- ing. Both remain permanently tough and attractive.
maged material may also become brittle due to weathering. The This unique property of PLEXIGLAS® has been confirmed in
plastic may break or lose its stability. tests performed by several independent research institutes, such
Since certain portions of UV radiation can also attack the as Darmstadt Technical University.
H
H H
C C
H
H
C
C
O O
H
C
Naturally UV-stable:
The chemical structure
of PMMA, on which
PLEXIGLAS® is based,
offers few points of
attack to sunrays and
therefore shows no
yellowing. H H
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Guaranteed brilliance:
In greenhouses, light
transmission has a crucial
effect on plant growth.
With PLEXIGLAS®, this
property is guaranteed
for 30 years.
Less yellowing is good for the future
II.
Thirty years of perfect transparency is more useful than HEATSTOP® mean that industrial plants or factory units require
a lot of people might think. In fact, the whole world benefits less cooling at high temperatures.
from this. The guarantee that PLEXIGLAS® will show no yellow- The extremely high weather resistance and durability of
ing even after 30 years of permanent service makes a measurable the material make PLEXIGLAS® the ideal choice for projects that
contribution to climate protection and helps to reliably plan need to last for generations. And the material has another string
long-term projects. to its bow: once produced, PLEXIGLAS® lasts a lifetime. It is com-
The positive effects are felt in greenhouses as well as pletely recyclable, which saves precious resources. “Building
factory units and industrial plants. In greenhouses, a high with PLEXIGLAS® therefore means building sustainably and
degree of light transmission by roofs made with PLEXIGLAS® protecting the global climate,” Träxler says. “That is what makes
multi-skin sheets also guarantees more rapid plant growth for PLEXIGLAS® the material of the future.”Acrylic Sheet also works
decades to come. Especially on the dull days that are a frequent permanently to research and promote product development, on
feature of the northern hemisphere, this saves on lighting too. the one hand to further improve the climate-protection proper-
“Non-yellowing is also of interest in southern climes,” explains ties, and on the other to seek alternative compounds so that
Michael Träxler, Vice President of the Acrylic Polymers Business PLEXIGLAS® can still be manufactured even as feedstocks
Line. “In those climate zones, the material's insensitivity to become increasingly scarce. The company's commitment in
UV light will become a crucial topic in the future, as we face this area is exemplified by the campaign launched in the
climate change and rising levels of solar radiation and UV summer of 2007 “This is what climate protection looks like.”
concentration.” In addition, the material offers very good heat
insulation. This combination makes for low heating and
lighting bills and reduced carbon dioxide emissions, saving www.plexiglas-and-energy.com
around 55 percent in energy and a correspondingly high
amount of CO. Incidentally, the same applies to air
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conditioning systems, because light domes made of PLEXIGLAS
[DlA]®
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Guarantees have literally been around for ages
III.
What actually constitutes a guarantee? Who guaran- spread and the number of advertisements in daily newspapers
tees what, and how? The origins of the guarantee reach back started to grow at the end of the 19th century, guarantee state-
into the early history of mankind in almost all advanced civili- ments also became an important marketing instrument.
zations. Astute businessmen always found it important to guar- When George G. Blaisdell from America developed the
antee the quality of their goods by proving their origin. This was legendary Zippo cigarette lighter in 1933, he was so convinced
done in Mesopotamia as long ago as 3,500 BC by means of of its reliability that he gave customers a lifetime guarantee on
cylinder seals used to authenticate merchandise. The right the product. The advertising slogan “If it doesn't work, we'll
weight was always a feature of guarantees and had far-reaching repair it for free” became a token of the product's quality. Even
consequences. The ancient Egyptians believed that people who today, Zippo in Bradford/Pennsylvania still repairs defective
manipulated calibrated measuring instruments and weights Zippos free of charge. In 1946, American chemist Earl S. Tupper
would have problems crossing over to the afterlife. If found developed a bowl made from the new material polyethylene.
guilty by the 42 judges of the dead, the deceased was eaten by a With their novel air- and watertight sealing lid, Tupper's storage
creature that was part crocodile, part hippo and part lion, and containers were vastly superior to all other products at the time.
died again, this time for good. That was the worst punishment Tupperware also comes with a lifetime guarantee, at least in the
an Egyptian could imagine. USA. In Germany and neighboring European countries, the
Like the Sumerians in Mesopotamia, the merchant highest guarantee allowed by law is 30 years. That is why
families Fugger and Welser in 15th and 16th century Europe PLEXIGLAS® is “only” guaranteed for 30 years against yellowing
marked their transports with their own signs that guaranteed and loss of light transmission. This is the maximum guarantee
quality for the purchasers. Lead seals with municipal coats of that can be granted in Germany, for legal reasons.
arms or guild seals identified the origin of textiles and also
served to guarantee the quality of the different types of cloth.
As industrialization proceeded, it became more and more
important to label goods, not just to underline their quality, but
also to protect against unwanted competition and piracy. In
1887, England introduced a law that prescribed specification of
the country of origin. This had an unintended effect – the state-
ment of origin of supposedly inferior imported goods “Made in
Germany” became a hallmark of especially good quality. Some
producers then started marking their products as “Warranted
made in Germany.” When classical advertising became wide-
Guarantees make trade-
marks unmistakable
and distinguish them
in small but crucial ways
from competitors'
products.
[[DDllAA]]®®
Description:Design in Acrylics, you can also read: A guaranteed treat: world-class acrobatics by the Caesar Twins. The gymnastic duo from Poland reveals in our
