PPB launches aluminium composites range

PPB has launched its first range of premium aluminium composite materials (ACM) targeted at digital printers, signmakers and fabricators.

PPB said the product, proBond Aluminium Composite, offers a high-quality sheet for short-term digital print projects or high-end corporate ID signage.

According to the company, proBond Premium, which is manufactured from 5005 alloy, is suitable for all signage and fabrication applications and is available in a range of colours and metallics. It is sold with a 10-year warranty.

ProBond Digital White grade is said to offer strong ink adhesion from an "optimised digital paint surface" to give the good results for UV flatbed applications, including hoardings. It is made to ISO 9001 standards and has a five-year warranty.

ProBond Lite has a 0.2mm aluminium skin, suitable for use where a slightly higher thickness of alloy is preferred to the thinner hoarding grades, or for signage where 3D fabrication is not applicable. Lite also comes with the optimised digital paint for UV flatbed Printing.

PPB has also hired Paul Neale as ACM manager. Neale formerly worked for Paperlinx and has wide experience of managing large signage and POS customers, according to PPB.

Neale said: “The range has been specifically developed with a premium optimised paint that works well on a wide range of UV flatbed printers.

“There are lots of products with standard polyester paints out there that may or may not work on a particular flatbed printer. We wanted our product to work across the entire range of flatbed printers.”

He said pricing would depend on the customer and volumes, but said "they are economic prices against the likes of the well-known European brands like Dibond”.

PPB managing director Richard Proctor said: “Our range of proBond products carries numerous certifications to demonstrate compliance to all necessary standards, including RoHS and Reach.”

He added that his business could support customers on special projects such as colour matching, traffic grade ACM, construction grades and a wide variety of additional special finishes.

PPB has just established Westland Digital, a new wide-format business arm. The company, which recently rebranded from Proctor Paper & Board, has a turnover of £25m and employs 75 staff.