Exploring Plastic Extrusions Across Materials Handling Industries

Plastic extrusion manufacturing is a versatile and innovative solution in the dynamic landscape of materials handling and protection.

We now use diverse plastic materials to create innovative solutions for retail, education, healthcare, warehousing, and construction industries, spurred on by ever-stricter health, safety, and sustainability requirements.

Let’s briefly explore some of the materials handling industries and the types of materials needed to offer the highest quality and levels of protection.

Industry-Specific Material Mastery

Retail: Enhancing the retail experience with visually appealing and durable solutions is a priority for retail customers. Polycarbonate extrusions offer exceptional rigidity, high impact strength, and a clear base for vibrant colours, making them ideal for display cases, signage, and shelving. Their premium finish adds a touch of sophistication to any retail space.

Education & Medical: Rigid uPVC extrusions, known for their UV resistance, easy cleaning, cost-effectiveness, and good impact strength, are ideal for education and medical environments. They are commonly used for wall protection within rooms and corridors and protective barriers.

Warehousing: The demanding environment of warehouses – where safety is paramount – requires materials with exceptional impact resistance and resilience. Condale Plastics employs polypropylene (PP) and high-density polyethylene (HDPE) extrusions for these applications. Both materials are very robust, offering high-impact strength. However, PP’s stand-out property is its ‘memory’, enabling it to recover its shape even after prolonged bending, ensuring long-lasting protection for racking, walkways, and valuable assets. Both also provide excellent ‘deflection’ properties, meaning – unlike metal barriers – they deflect most knocks away from the direction they are protecting, with little to no damage to the vehicle or item.

Construction: Our commitment to sustainability means we use recycled rigid uPVC for construction protection products. This eco-friendly material shares the benefits of virgin uPVC but can be manufactured from in-house waste, reducing environmental impact. While the finish may not be as polished, the uniform dark grey colour and exceptional durability make it perfect for temporary protection solutions like barriers and covers.

Pioneering Innovation

Condale Plastics’ commitment to innovation drives the development of cutting-edge plastic extrusion solutions. We began our journey into materials handling extrusions by manufacturing hospital wall buffers. Before long, we expanded our capabilities to include premium branded retail protection and heavy-duty warehouse protection for health and safety. Nowadays, we can manufacture larger, thicker profiles across all sectors, and we’re constantly investing in state-of-the-art machinery to meet evolving industry demands.

Our dedication to understanding your needs ensures each solution is tailored to the specific application. Whether it’s a heavy-duty PP barrier for a warehouse or premium polycarbonate signage in a retail store, we leverage the unique properties of various sustainable thermoplastics for their functionality, safety, and aesthetics.

As industries evolve, environmentally conscious plastic extrusion manufacturing will be increasingly vital in optimising materials handling. With its versatility, durability, and adaptability, plastic extrusions offer solutions that enhance efficiency, safety, and sustainability across various sectors.

Contact us today to learn how we can help your business with its materials handling requirements.