Materials / Acrylic / Perspex
Acrylic (Perspex / PMMA)
Crystal-clear optical-grade plastic in sheets, rods & tubes for displays, signage, and protective barriers.
92% light
Optical clarity (clear)
2-25mm
Sheet thickness
17x glass
Stronger than glass
Acrylic (Perspex / PMMA) is a glass-clear thermoplastic used wherever you need optical clarity, impact resistance better than glass, or the ability to cut, route, polish, bond and bend complex shapes that glass cannot do. P&M Plastics fabricates Perspex for retail display, point of sale, signage, marine windows, machine guarding, sneeze guards, splash backs, picture framing and museum cases.
Sizes and formats we stock
Cast acrylic sheet is stocked in 2mm, 3mm, 4mm, 5mm, 6mm, 8mm, 10mm, 12mm, 15mm, 20mm and 25mm. Standard sheet sizes are 2440 x 1220mm and 3050 x 2030mm. Extruded acrylic in lower thicknesses (1.5mm to 6mm) is held for signage, framing and vacuum forming. Acrylic rod and tube are stocked separately in clear, fluoros and standard colour ranges; see the acrylic tubes and rods page for sizes.
Colours and finishes
Clear is the workhorse, but we hold Perspex in opal white, black, smoked and a full Plexiglas colour range covering fluoros, satins and metallics. Frosted, satin, anti-reflective and mirror-backed grades are stocked for premium retail and marine work. UV-resistant exterior grades are available for any sign or screen that will live outdoors.
Acrylic compared to polycarbonate
Cast acrylic carries roughly 10 to 20 times the falling-ball impact resistance of standard annealed plate glass (per ACRYLITE / Polyvantis published data) at about half the weight, and polishes to true optical clarity. Compared to polycarbonate it is more rigid, scratches less easily and laser-cuts to a flame-polished edge, which makes it the standard for retail and signage. Polycarbonate beats acrylic on raw impact strength (roughly 100 times that of glass and around 30 times that of cast acrylic by notched Izod, ASTM D256), which is why we still use polycarbonate for machine guards, ballistic glazing and high-impact roofing.
Why P&M Plastics for acrylic fabrication
We run CO2 laser cutting, CNC routing, diamond-edge polishing, flame polishing, vacuum forming and thermoforming all in one workshop, which means complex acrylic builds (curved sneeze guards, multi-piece display cabinets, marine windscreens) come together quickly and cleanly. Our 35+ years of acrylic experience means we can spec the right grade, thickness and joining method for every job before the first cut.
Close-up of custom acrylic bar installation
Key Properties
Common Applications
Specialty Acrylic / Perspex applications on the Gold Coast
Project Gallery
How We Fabricate Acrylic / Perspex
We fabricate acrylic using CO2 laser cutting (clean flame-polished edge), CNC routing for engineering tolerances, diamond-edge polishing for showroom-quality joins, thermoforming and line-bending for curved shapes, and chemical bonding using Tensol 12 or Acrifix for invisible welded joints. Acrylic does not weld with heat the way polyolefins do; chemical bonding is the standard structural join.
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Related Services
CNC Router Services
Computer-controlled CNC routing for precision plastic cutting, profiling, and engraving.
Laser Cutting Services
Precision laser cutting for intricate shapes, clean edges, and polished finishes.
Acrylic Fabrication
Custom acrylic displays, cases, signage, and fabricated components in clear and coloured acrylic.
Cut to Size Plastics
Plastic sheets, rods, and tubes cut to your exact dimensions from a wide range of materials.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between cast and extruded acrylic? +
Cast acrylic is poured between glass plates and cures slowly. It has higher molecular weight, machines and laser cuts cleaner, polishes better and is the right pick for fabrication, signage, displays and any job that needs glue or polish work. Extruded is rolled from molten sheet, is more uniform in thickness, cheaper and good for framing and vacuum forming. For anything we cut, polish or bond, we use cast.
How do you join two pieces of acrylic invisibly? +
We use a chemical solvent cement such as Tensol 12 or Acrifix that softens the surface of each piece so the two flow together. Done well it produces an optically clear, structural bond with no visible seam. The edges must be machined or diamond-polished first; rough edges trap air and turn the join milky.
Can acrylic be used outdoors? +
Yes. Acrylic is one of the few plastics that holds up to long-term UV exposure without yellowing or going brittle. It is the standard material for outdoor illuminated signs, light boxes and skylights, and outlasts polycarbonate by many years in full sun. Specify cast UV-resistant grade for permanent outdoor work.
Will acrylic shatter? +
Cast acrylic carries roughly 10 to 20 times the falling-ball impact resistance of the same thickness of annealed plate glass (per ACRYLITE / Polyvantis published data) and will not produce sharp shards the way glass does. It will still crack under sharp impact, so for machine guards, glazing in high-traffic areas or anywhere safety glazing is required, polycarbonate or laminated acrylic is the safer pick.
What thickness do I need for a sneeze guard or counter screen? +
Most counter sneeze guards are made from 4mm or 5mm cast acrylic, which is strong enough to stand free in a slot base and is light enough to lift and clean. Larger free-standing screens above 800mm tall step up to 6mm or 8mm. Anything that needs to take a knock (POS-side or kid-height) is built in 8mm.
Can you cut acrylic to size from a drawing? +
Yes. Send us a DXF, DWG, PDF, SVG, AI, or STEP file and we will laser cut or CNC route to your dimensions, with tolerances down to 0.1mm. The pricing calculator on Perspex Online quotes rectangular cut-to-size instantly; complex shapes come back from us within 24 hours on email quote.
Can acrylic be bent or formed? +
Yes. We line-bend acrylic on heated wire benders for clean 90-degree folds (display risers, sneeze-guard bases, sign returns) and we thermoform full sheets over moulds for curved shapes such as boat windscreens, reef-tank curves and architectural cladding panels.
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Modified acrylic with enhanced impact resistance for safety glazing and protective applications.
Acrylic Tubes & Rods
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Acrylic / Perspex Cut to Size
Precision-cut acrylic sheets to your exact dimensions with polished or raw edges.
Acrylic Mirror Sheet
Lightweight, shatterproof mirror in silver, gold, and coloured finishes.
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Polycarbonate (PC)
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Lisa M.
3 months ago
“Amazing work on our acrylic display cases for the museum exhibition. Crystal clear, no imperfections. The team went above and beyond.”
David R.
2 months ago
“Good quality laser cutting work. The acrylic edges came out beautifully polished. Will definitely use again for our signage projects.”
Karen W.
4 months ago
“Had polycarbonate machine guards made for our factory. Perfect fit, great finish, and the team was really helpful with the design.”
Michael T.
2 months ago
“Excellent service and quality work. Had some custom acrylic display cases made and they turned out perfect. Fast turnaround too.”
Sarah L.
3 months ago
“P&M Plastics fabricated custom HDPE tanks for our water treatment plant. Professional team, great communication, and delivered on time.”
James B.
1 month ago
“We use P&M for all our CNC routing needs. Consistent quality and they really understand engineering plastics. Highly recommended.”
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