When it comes to building supplies, the people have spoken: Australians choose Australian made over foreign imports. That’s the findings of a recent Roy Morgan survey, which found that 65% of Australians prefer Australian Made building and renovation materials.

So, why are Australian consumers preferring to buy Australian made building products? According to the Roy Morgan survey data, the main reasons are:

Regardless of the industry you work in, creative signage is a great medium for raising the profile of your business and elevating awareness of your brand. Great signage, when executed with true creativity and imagination, can stop passers-by and would-be customers in their tracks. It may even be the difference between someone doing business with your company instead of with your competitors.

The most eye-catching type of signage is 3D signage. Unlike traditional signage on flat 2D surfaces, 3D signage really pops and grabs the attention of people who see it. It’s a more tangible and visually appealing medium that can draw people into your message much more effectively than traditional signage. 

The most versatile material for 3D signage

At Foamex we use our proprietary Styroboard™ ™ EPS sheets and blocks to deliver a number of creative applications for our clients, from signage, lettering and shop fittings, to events and props. The lightweight nature and long-lasting properties of Styroboard™ ™ EPS make it ideal for such creative applications.

Tennis Australia, the governing body for tennis in Australia, recently engaged Foamex to produce Styroboard™  EPS expanded polystyrene 3D signage for the official launch of the 2019 Australian Open, one of only four annual grand slam tennis championships.

For the function, which took place in early October 2018, Tennis Australia tasked us with producing a rush order for large Styroboard™ EPS 3D signage that read “#AUSOPEN”. The seven letters and hashtag in the sign each individually measured 120cm x 120cm x 80cm, making the total dimensions of the sign 960cm x 120cm x 80cm.

Charting the rapid rise of expanded polystyrene (EPS) in the building and construction industry.

In short time expanded polystyrene (EPS) has rapidly grown in popularity to become one of the most versatile and widely used materials in the construction industry. Indeed, EPS is now depended upon in some capacity for the majority of building projects.

While German apothecary Eduard Simon discovered polystyrene way back in 1839, it wasn’t until nearly a century later that scientists at German chemical company BASF discovered a way to commercially manufacture it in 1930. And it was another 21 years after that that BASF developed and patented EPS, under the name ‘Styropor’, in 1951.

PurlinK® rigid roof insulation spacers are specifically designed to help reduce the amount of heat loss in commercial roof decking applications. In action, PurlinK® provides a thermal break, giving the insulation time to recover its nominal thickness which results in maximised thermal efficiency and increased thermal resistance or R-values.

Foamex developed PurlinK® rigid roof insulation to inhibit thermal bridging. Also known as heat bridge or cold bridge, thermal bridging can be responsible for an estimated 30% heat loss when there is a break in the insulation within the building envelope.

In the world of building and construction, careful consideration must be given to every element of the build to ensure stringent environmental standards are adhered to.

Everything, from the building plans and design through to the very materials used in the build, needs to be examined to ensure it meets the long list of guidelines set out by the relevant governing bodies.

Some building products stand head and shoulders above the pack when we consider the environmental impact of producing them and their sustainable characteristics. One such product is expanded polystyrene (EPS).

Australia can be a land of extremes when it comes to weather. We are able to bear the everyday temperatures quite well, but it is only when things become extreme that we wished we had installed air-conditioning or heating in the home. Once they have been bought and installed, we’re still reluctant to use them because of the energy costs associated with the running them. Yet what most are unaware, is that insulation is one of the best ways in which to lower heating and cooling costs throughout the year.

Heating and cooling can consume 44 percent of all energy used in the home. In cold weather, insulation is used to keep the warm air in. In warm weather, it keeps the hot air out.

The best way to quantify how well building insulation works is by its R-value, which measures its resistance to heat flow. The higher the R-value, the greater the insulating power.

3D signage is the first thing everyone sees, it has a unique look and feels that other signs can’t quite match.  The depth of 3D signs serves to grab the eye in a completely different way from a traditional or digital sign – making an immediate impact on your business.

Expanded polystyrene, or EPS as it is known, is an ideal solution for 3D low-cost signage and lettering due to its durability, lightweight, cost, versatility and overall ease of use.

Versatility – Expanded polystyrene blocks can be hotwire cut into a range of original and imaginative signs and letter designs. We can recreate your logo, any messages or images you need with computer precision. Letters and signs can be painted in corporate or your nominated colours.

Being easy to carve into whatever shape or design required and can be made to look like any other type of material - metal, wood, stone etc - Styroboard polystyrene sheets are perfect to create stage and theatre props which can be replicas or oversized.

Its lightwight nature means that your theatre and set props will be easier to move and safer to handle.

Image with thanks to http://iconandco.co.uk/portfolio-item/3d-props-sculpting/ 

When Kmart’s creative advertising agency came up with the amazing 1,000 mums in a Kmart store to launch their OK campaign, the big red OK – laser cut and supplied by Styroboard - featured prominently in the commercial.

The logistical challenge for the agency of having 1,000 mums in a Melbourne Kmart store was made easier with the lightweight and easy to position Styroboard OK props.

You can make your next Christmas party theme a roaring success by adding oversized polystyrene props to the event. Imagine a Winter Wonderland complete with hanging snowflakes, a giant snow covered tree – or a Venetian Masquerade with larger than life venetian masks hanging from what looks to be the inside of an opulent Venetian palace. All these props can be created and sculpted by Foamex using expanded polystyrene – ready to bring life and flair to this year’s Christmas Party.

70’s Disco Theme, A Winter Wonderland, Life at the Beach or a Venetian Masquerade were some the top Christmas party themes from 2015.

Showcasing unique work using unique shapes and forms, the 18th Biennale of Sydney art festival opened today, exhibiting the works of 100 artists from 44 countries.

One of the largest displays is by artist Peter Robinson and features Polystyrene shapes and blocks. The display is called Snow Ball Blind Time. Foamex supplied the cut chain links to size that link the pieces together in the instillation.

Speaking of his use of Polystyrene, Artist Peter Robison said the following.

When choosing to renovate or extend your home, the planning stage can be extensive before any building works even begin. All too often energy efficiency doesn’t get factored into the planning, instead focusing on the design and increase in floor space. However, home renovation or extension is the ideal time to improve the energy efficiency of your home for long term gain. Expanded polystyrene is the ideal solution for building. Lightweight, strong and clean, polystyrene sheets for building are also highly valued for their thermal properties, providing think layers of insulation from temperature and noise. Performance wise, EPS has much better thermal properties than traditional brick veneer and is highly weather and moisture resistant when installed correctly. Traditional brick veneer walls offer a R-value of 0.45which does not meet the recommended levels of thermal resistance. Depending on your choice of thickness for expanded polystyrene, this translates to being only between 18% and 45% as effective as expanded polystyrene which has an R-value of up to 2.78. Ideal for home renovations and extension, polystyrene sheets and boards when rendered deliver a modern finish while adding layers of insulation to your home, making it more energy efficient.

Blog first appeared on www.foamex.com.au

It’s not just a letter that separates EPS (Expanded Polystyrene) and XPS (Extruded Polystyrene). When you’re selecting your polystyrene you need to evaluate the importance of key factors such as compressive strength, moisture retention, and insulating capability to ensure that you’re making the most cost-effective decision and material choice for the job.

A more common concern between these products is thecompressive strength of the polystyrene, or the capability of your polystyrene to withstand size-reducing loads. It’s important to ensure that your material has adequate compressive strength to withstand day-to-day loads but going too high can mean a dramatic cost increase for very little – if any – gain. Confirming with your engineers and project managers the required compressive strengthfor the job will enable you to make an informed decision regarding which polystyrene to use.

Foamex is a recognised leader in Australia for the development of innovative uses of expanded and extruded polystyrene, and our experience can aid you in choosing the most versatile and cost-effective materials while maintaining performance. If you need high quality polystyrene or require advice on whether XPS or EPS is right for your project contact your Foamex state office today.