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PALRAMNEWS
PALRAM PANELS - USA
HUILI-TUVGAL - CHINA
PALRAM DPL - UK
PALRAM 2000 - USA
PALRAM - ISRAEL
PALRAM POLYCARB - UK
May 2007 EditionYour Corporate News Bulletin
In This Edition
u From the VP Marketing Desk
u Proven Sustainability - PALSUN® Will Reign over European Champion’s League Final
u Going Environmental - Working to Correspond with ISO14001
u New Cover for an Old Tradition
u PALRAM Enters India
u PALRAM News Spotlight on...
u Cover Photo Story: Striking Deep Architectural Roots in China
u Focusing on Distributors at PALRAM Americas
u Addressing the Architectural Sports Market
u PALRAM College: U-Value And Related Terms
u PALSUN® Polycarbonate Sheet CreatesShock Waves in UK
The Olympic Center Stadium for the Beijing 2008 Olympiad
Dear customers and partners,
This year, we are witnessing significant increase in product demand and our counter efforts to
meet customer needs and requirements. It will be much easier to meet PVC product demand
once the modern US PALRAM Panels PVC plant reaches its staggering 3000kg/hr (6600lb/hr)
production capacity. This should be a reality this coming month.
PALRAM is developing a number of promising new technologies and products that will be
revealed at the K-2007 exhibition this October. Based on preliminary beta testing with a few
of our customers, these products may fulfill new market needs.
2007 began with significant increases in costs of all polymers and additives. This makes
it difficult to even maintain existing price levels. Unfortunately, this is unlikely to change
throughout the rest of the year. I hope the market will understand this situation.
Wishing everyone the continuation of a successful year and a period of price stability.
Hanoch Goldman VP Marketing
u From The VP Marketing Desk
u Sustained Performance - PALSUN® Will Reign over European Champion’s League Final
An example of the continual high performance delivery of PALRAM products will be on display at the premiere European
Club Football (Soccer) event of 2007. Once again, PALRAM PALSUN Solar Olympic polycarbonate sheets and the GA-2004
architectonic glazing system will reign over a major sporting event. This time it will be the 2007 Champions League Final,
which will be held on May 23, 2007 in the Olympic Stadium in Athens. Installed in time for the 2004 Athens Olympic Games,
the 24,000sqm roof was constructed from the GA-2004 advanced pre-assembled system, and glazed with 4750 12mm thick
tailor-made PALSUN® sheets. The finished project, totally satisfied the renowned architect and project designer, Santiago
Calatrava. The Roof will provide a breathtaking aesthetic frame for the night time event, just as it did for the opening and
closing Olympic ceremonies. The roof is as attractive and elegant 3 years later as the day it was installed. There are many
examples of PALRAM sheets installed well over a decade ago, still performing at the highest of levels. This includes clear
greenhouse coverings, where continual high light transmission is critical for high yield and revenue.
PALRAMNEWS
u New Cover for an Old Tradition
A new retractable roof can now shield the events of a Spanish bullfighting
arena from heavy rains and storms, turning the structure into a multipurpose
venue. The people of Vitoria, capital of the Basque province of Álava, can
now hold events in the “Plaza Del Toro” (Spanish for bullfighting arena)
without regard to weather conditions. A modern solution to an old Spanish
tradition, the bullfighting arena is now covered with a mechanically
retractable roof glazed with 10mm PALSUN® flat polycarbonate sheet.
The structure and visitors will benefit from the glazing’s special properties:
resistance to extreme weather and blocking of harmful UV radiation.
Inside view, roof opened
Outside view, roof closed
u Going Environmental - Working to Correspond with ISO14001
PALRAM Israel is now working to raise the level of operations. The objective is to meet two important
standards: the ISO14001:2004 environmental standard and the Israeli 18001 health and safety
standard. The accreditations will result in improved safety and environmental management, a
marketing edge, and will help Palram meet various institutional and constitutional requirements.
To ensure it accomplishes its goal, PALRAM Israel established a safety, security and environmental
array that reports to the region manager. Once PALRAM Israel meets these important standards, the
company will be will be categorized as an organization implementing a “Combined Quality System”,
subsequently entitled to a “Golden Mark” from the Standards Institution of Israel. This will pave the way for
similar accreditations in other regions around the world.
Academic Background: NEBOSH – Health & Safety, CPC – National
Road Haulage Operation, Quality & Environmental Management
PALRAM History: In total, I have spent 8 very enjoyable years in
PALRAM starting as Logistics / Quality / Health & Safety Manger.
After the introduction of the SAP/ERP system and the continued
growth of the UK operation, I moved into the position of Sales
Administration Manager. Previous to being with PALRAM, I spent
25 years in Plastics Distribution.
On The Job: I work with a team of six dedicated Sales
Administrators, the production plants in the UK, Israel & America,
as well as our Logistics Departments, to provide an effective
supply chain through enquiry, order and delivery. My mission in
PALRAM is to deliver efficient answers and effective solutions as
well as the reliable transfer of information to both marketing/sales
and customers. As the company grows both in stature and sales,
I expect our levels of customer service to grow as well. PALRAM
Europe has grown considerably over the past 8 years and I would like
to think that we still see our clients as names rather than numbers.
It is always important to remember that our clients are at the ‘cutting edge’ of our industry. It is our duty, as a manufacturer,
to ensure that we give the most effective supply chain solutions from a quality manufacturer of quality products.
David K i rk
Administ rat ion Manager,
PALRAM Europe
u PALRAM News Spotlight on...
u PALRAM Enters India
PALRAM has announced an official
representation structure in India: New
Delhi, Mumbai and Hyderabad as well
as distributors in different regions.
One of the appointed distributor,s
Suprana Polycab, will serve the
southern part of the country from his
new office in Hyderabad (see right
photo). A fast growing market and the
largest democracy in the world, India
is evolving into a large scale business
opportunity and the interest in quality
thermoplastic sheets manufactured
by PALRAM is growing. India is now
another location where PALRAM
products are regularly supplied,
increasing the company’s reach and
worldwide spread.
PALRAMNEWSu Striking Deep Architectural Roots in China
For several years now, PALRAM Hong Kong and PALRAM Beijing have been working closely with the Chinese architectural
market. Efforts in this rapidly modernizing country, which will host the highly anticipated 2008 Olympiad, are starting to bear
fruit. Competing with well-known and major market players, our local technical and marketing team is gaining a foothold in the
market. As a result, PALRAM’s products are gaining acknowledgment as materials of choice for roofing and glazing applications.
Some examples of projects, where PALRAM’s products were selected and installed, appear below.
Project: Qingdao Airport New Terminal
Location: Qingdao, China
Material: 25mm Clear SUNLITE® X-Lite
Application: SkylightBuilt to accommodate 2008 Olympiad visitors
Project: Olympic Centre Stadium
Location: Olympic Village, Beijing, China
Material: 16mm Solar Control SUNLITE® X-Lite
Application: RoofingBuilt to accommodate football (soccer) games and athletics finals
Project: Capital Airport Terminal 3
Location: Beijing, China
Material: 25mm Clear SUNLITE® X-Lite
Application: SkylightBuilt to accommodate 2008 Olympiad visitors
Project: 5th Ring Road
Location: Beijing, China
Material: 6mm Clear PALSUN®
Application: Acoustic Barriers
u Focusing on Distributors at PALRAM Americas
PALRAM Americas will be able to produce most of
the products that it offers domestically, as its fellow
subsidiary PVC plant is planned to be opened in mid-
2007. This will complete a metamorphosis from a “Distributor” of PALRAM products
to a “Manufacturer” of all PALRAM products. To facilitate this transformation, PALRAM
Americas must carefully shift its sales and logistics efforts from small and medium-sized
customers to large Distribution Partners who are capable of handling much higher
volumes and who can service PALRAM Americas’ existing smaller customers.
An early success was the creation of a new relationship with Green-Tek, one of the most
respected - and highest volume - distributors in the North American horticultural mar-
ket. Green-Tek now services all PALRAM Horticultural customers, offering ready supply,
cut-to-size services, and reduced lead times. PALRAM
Americas’ share of the North American Horticultural
Market, through Green-Tek, is now estimated to be
considerable. Another more recent success includes a
new relationship with Cannonball: HNP, LLC., a well-respected distributor in the Agricul-
tural and Metal Building Market. Cannonball is now purchasing full - length sheets in
truckload quantities and offering cut-to-size services for many of PALRAM Americas ex-
isting smaller distributors and customers. PALRAM Americas also continues to expand
its relationship and its offerings through other national and regional distributors, such
as Orgill, BlueLinx, and HDW.
By focusing on increasing the intake capacity of its distribution
pipeline, PALRAM Americas will be able to accommodate the
current and planned growth of its production lines.
u Creating Solutions for the Sports Architectural Market
PALRAM exhibited at Venue Expo, which took place in Hamburg, Germany between
April 15 to 17, 2007. Venue Expo combines an international exhibition with a world-
class conference for sports venues. PALRAM
presented its wide range of solutions, which
include PALRAM’s latest system - SUNGLAZE™
- an innovative architectonic polycarbonate
glazing system with an elegant design and
appearance. It offers high versatility, low main-
tenance and a sustainable design for various
architectonic challenges. The SUNGLAZE™
system of glazing panels and profiles will en-
able ultra-wide spans. In addition, PALRAM
presented its GA-2004, a practical glazing so-
lution that enables cost effective, simplified
structure and sustainable design.
[It is not too early to mark the week of October
24 – 31, 2007 on your calendar. During that
time, PALRAM will exhibit in a stand at K-2007
in Hall 8, Stand C29. To set up an appointment
with PALRAM personnel during the exhibition
- please contact us at [email protected].)
PALRAMNEWS
u U-value and Related Terms
When energy is absorbed or accumulated within objects, it is usually followed by emission of heat that spreads as heat
waves. U-value, or heat transfer coefficient, measures how well a sheet prevents heat flow from passing through it (or how
well it insulate against heat loss). U-value in buildings, sometimes referred to as U-factor or Ug, can also be defined as the
rate of heat loss through a window or a roofing assembly. A lower U-value means greater resistance to heat flow and better
insulation rating. U-value of a sheet can be derived from the thermal conductivity of the sheet material (usually called k or
λ), the sheet thickness and structure, and the surface coefficients at both front and back sheet surfaces.
Practically, U-value is measured by testing the heat flow through a standard sheet area, at a standard temperature difference.
The ISO standard units of U-value are watts per square meter per 1 degree of temperature difference (W/m2·ºK).
[Note that some sheet producers report U-values of their sheets by quoting data measured in Kcal/hour·m2·ºC. By this way,
often used by certain European manufacturers, sheets appear to present a “better” thermal performance. A sheet with U-
value of 1.5 W/m2·ºK will yield 1.3 Kcal/hour·m2·ºC, or 14% lower numerical value, when presented this way.]
Since U-value deals with heat radiation, it is not to be confused with solar radiation, that is characterized by much shorter
wavelengths. Contrary to solar transmission, U-value is not affected by additives or colors.
This point often creates some confusion, so let’s demonstrate the difference by a practical example, comparing SUNTUF
Smart to SUNLITE Clear 10mm for pergola roofing:
SUNTUF Smart Grey has low solar transmission (21%), and high U-value (5.8 W/m2·ºK).
SUNLITE Clear 10mm has High solar transmission (79%), and low U-value (3.0 W/m2·ºK).
In both sheets, there is no dependence between U-value on solar transmission.
(SUNTUF Smart is well-suited for warm climates, while SUNLITE Clear is better suited for colder areas.)
The reciprocal of U-value is R-value, also known as the resistance to the flow of heat through the sheet.
R-value = 1 / U-value
The higher the R-value, the better the sheet is as thermal insulating.
While in the U.S., Canada & Mexico it is customary to use R-values for heat loss calculation in
buildings, in Europe and most other countries U-values are mainly used.
Unit conversion:
To convert a European U-value to an American R-value, divide by 5.68 to get American U-value,
then divide 1 by the result.
For example, given a European U-value of 2.12 W/m2·ºK for X-Lite 16mm, since 2.12/5.68=0.37,
the American R-value for this sheet is 1/0.37, or 2.70 hr·ft2·ºF/BTU.
Similarly, to convert an American R-value (given in hr·ft2·ºF/BTU) into a European U-value, divide 1 by the given R-value, then
multiply by 5.68 to get Ug in W/m2·ºK.
Aharon Ben-Shahar Technical Support Manager
u Accessing Expertise Through the New PALRAM Knowledge Management Portal
A new project is underway to create an on-line knowledge management system in PALRAM Israel called the
“PALRAM Portal”. This knowledge management system is a modern and fully computerized
service that will bind together PALRAM ‘s various file databases (all digital media) in one
central location, which will be accessed on a permission basis. The project is currently in
its early stage. It has been and implemented in several departments of PALRAM Israel for
testing. The system will go online for all of PALRAM Israel in the coming months.
u PALSUN® Polycarbonate Sheet Creates Shock Waves in the UK
PALSUN® clear polycarbonate sheets formed an integral part of
a dynamic art installation exhibited at the Wysing Art Centre in
Cambridge, England. The installation, called ‘Hemisphere’ was
designed and created by the innovative Scottish artist Renny
Nisbet. ‘Hemisphere’ is a collection of clear transparent cones
fabricated from PALSUN® polycarbonate sheet. The cones contain
water and, once suspended, are connected to atmospheric radio
energy waves. The radio signals drive bass speakers within the
suspended cones to generate standing waves in the water. The
wave patterns are projected to create an animated expression
of lightning on Earth. The energy waves originate from electrical
storms picked up by the British Geological Survey Observatory
at Eskdalemuir in Scotland and by the Modra Observatory at
Comenius University in Slovakia. Both organisations developed
signal processing and data transfer applications especially for the
exhibition. ‘I chose PALSUN® because I needed clear transparent
appearance along with acoustic resonant properties and a material which could be cold-formed
and welded’, said Renny Nisbet. The art installation was exhibited at the Wysing Arts Centre in
July and August 2006 as part of the Cambridge Fringe Festival. PALRAM is delighted to have been
a sponsor of this extraordinary, dynamic and stunning piece of artwork. Wysing Art Centre was
founded in 1989 on the 11 acre site of a former farm. There are 25 individual artist studios and
studios for artists in residence. The centre encourages and supports artists to take risks in the
process of personal artistic exploration.
Renny Nisbet graduated from Dundee University in 1996 having commenced studies in 1990 at the Exeter
College of Art. Renny also has a background in engineering. Since 1996 Renny has been studio based in
Edinburgh, participating in projects and exhibiting throughout the UK and continental Europe.
EUROPE
PALRAM EUROPE LTD.
Tel u (44) 1302 380 776
Fax u (44) 1302 380 788
ISRAEL
PALRAM ISRAEL LTD.
Tel u (972) 4 8459 900
Fax u (972) 4 8444 012
USA
PALRAM AMERICAS
Tel u 610 285 9918
Fax u 610 285 9928
©2007 PALRAM Industries Ltd.
PALRAM, PALSUN, SUNLITE and SUNGLAZE are trademarks of PALRAM Industries Ltd.
w w w . p a l r a m . c o m
