What is aluminium composite panel?

Aluminium composite panel (ACP) is a sandwich panel made of two thin aluminium skins bonded to a plastic or mineral core. The aluminium gives the panel its painted surface and weather resistance, the core gives it stiffness and weight saving. Common brand names include Alucobond, Reynobond, Alpolic and Dibond. It is the standard substrate for premium outdoor signage and architectural cladding.

Can ACP be used on building facades?

Yes, but the core grade must match the regulatory requirement. After the Lacrosse and Grenfell cladding fires, the National Construction Code requires fire retardant (FR) or non combustible (A2) cored ACP on external facades of buildings above certain heights. Standard polyethylene (PE) cored ACP is restricted in those applications. We can supply and route FR and A2 grades on request, and recommend confirming the required core grade with the project building surveyor before ordering.

Can ACP be laser cut?

Not on a CO2 laser, because the aluminium skins reflect the laser beam and damage the optics. ACP is cut by CNC router, which gives a clean square edge and also enables the V-grooving needed for folding panels into sign boxes. Fibre lasers can cut aluminium and so can theoretically cut ACP, but CNC routing is the established method and gives a better result for most signage applications.

How long does ACP last outdoors?

A properly specified ACP panel with a PVDF (Kynar) paint coating will last 15 to 25 years outdoors in Australian conditions with minimal fading or surface degradation. Standard polyester paint coatings have a shorter life of 5 to 10 years. PVDF is the standard coating for any quality signage and architectural ACP and is what we supply by default.

How does ACP compare to foamed PVC for signage?

ACP delivers a much better finish, much longer outdoor life and the ability to fold into three dimensional shapes. It is the right choice for premium long life signage and shopfront cladding. Foamed PVC (Foamex, Sintra) is much cheaper and faster to cut, but only lasts 2 to 5 years outdoors and does not have the same flatness or finish quality. We use ACP for premium signs and foamed PVC for budget and short campaign work.

Aluminium Composite Panel (ACP / Alucobond)

Name: Associated Plastics
Address: 1 Birdwood Ave, Moonah, Tasmania, 7009, AU
Telephone: 1300 198 924
Price range: $$

A lightweight sandwich panel with thin aluminium skins around a plastic core, ACP is the standard substrate for premium outdoor signage and architectural facades.

Overview

About ACP

Aluminium composite panel has a thermoplastic core sandwiched between two flat aluminium panels. The material is coated with a surface treatment suitable for digital and screen printing. ACP is a very rigid, strong and lightweight material, ideally suited for signage and printing applications, or where the weight of the material is a contributing factor.

It is far flatter than solid aluminium of comparable thickness, which is what makes large sign faces and facades look crisp. Finishes run from solid colours and metallics through to wood grain, stone and mirror. Fire rated mineral core panels are available and should always be specified for building facades and interior cladding under the National Construction Code.

We CNC route ACP to exact panel sizes, cut letters and logos, and v-groove panels for folding into sign boxes and cassettes.

Key Properties

Construction: Two aluminium skins with a plastic or mineral core
Density: Around 1.5 g/cm3 (about half the weight of solid aluminium)
Common thicknesses: 3, 4, 6 mm (aluminium skins 0.3 to 0.5 mm)
Core options: Polyethylene (PE), fire retardant (FR), mineral (A2)
Common sheet sizes: 3050 x 1500 mm, 4050 x 1500 mm, 6000 x 1500 mm
Service life: Typically 15 to 25 years outdoors with PVDF coating

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Key Features

What makes ACP useful

Premium painted aluminium surface in dozens of standard colours and finishes

Exceptional flatness with no oil canning, which makes signage look crisp

Routes and folds for letter cutting, signage and architectural cladding

Fire retardant and non combustible core options for compliance with NCC requirements

PVDF coatings deliver 15 to 25 year outdoor durability

Significantly lighter than solid aluminium sheet of equivalent stiffness

Applications

Common uses for ACP

Pylon and shopfront signage

Building facade cladding

Vehicle wrap base panels

Pan signs and illuminated signage

Real estate development hoardings

Interior wall feature panels

Bus stop and street furniture cladding

Lift lobby and corridor signage

Exhibition and trade show stand cladding

Shop awnings and canopies

Cut letter signage (routed shapes)

Wayfinding and statutory signage

Pros and Cons

The honest picture

Every material has trade offs. Here is where ACP shines and where it falls short.

Pros

Best in class flatness and finish for premium signage applications
PVDF coating systems deliver excellent colour retention in Australian UV
Routes and folds cleanly, opening up clean architectural detailing
Available in fire retardant and non combustible grades for compliance
Lighter than solid aluminium for the same stiffness, easier to install

Limitations

More expensive than foamed PVC, acrylic or steel for the same project
Standard PE core grades cannot be used on external facades in many compliance scenarios after the Grenfell and Lacrosse cladding fires
Cannot be laser cut on a standard CO2 laser due to the aluminium skins
Edges show the core unless wrapped or trimmed

Comparisons

ACP versus the alternatives

Foamed PVC

ACP delivers a far superior finish and outdoor durability, with 15 to 25 year service life versus 2 to 5 years for foamed PVC. Foamed PVC is much cheaper and easier to cut. Use ACP for premium long life signage, foamed PVC for short to medium life jobs.

Solid aluminium

ACP is about half the weight of solid aluminium for the same stiffness and is much easier to fold and route. Solid aluminium is more robust and is the right choice when impact and security matter. ACP is the better choice for signage flatness and architectural detail.

Steel signage panels

ACP is lighter, will not rust and has a superior factory paint finish. Steel is cheaper in raw material and tougher in heavy impact. For shopfront signage and architectural cladding, ACP is the standard.

Our Services

How we work with ACP

The fabrication methods best suited to ACP, and what we do with them in our Moonah workshop.

CNC Router Cutting

CNC routing is the primary method for ACP, allowing letter cutting, panel shaping and the V-groove channels that let ACP fold into clean three dimensional sign boxes.

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Custom Fabrication

We fold, drill, rivet and assemble ACP into pylon signs, shop fronts, pan signs and architectural cladding modules ready for site installation.

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Cut To Size

ACP cut to your panel dimensions, in standard signage colours, brushed and mirror finishes, and fire retardant grades on request.

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FAQ

ACP FAQs

Need ACP for Your Project?

Talk to our team about how we can cut, fabricate or repair ACP for you. Free quotes, expert advice and Australia wide delivery from our Moonah workshop.

Get a Free Quote Call 1300 198 924