Darmstadt, Germany, January 31, 2007. With its new 40-mm thick Makrolon® multi UV 5X/40-25 Bayer Sheet Europe continues to build its development and production portfolio of energy saving transparent and translucent construction materials. In view of the climate protection goals set by the Kyoto Protocol and the continuously rising energy costs, energy-conscious construction is becoming increasingly important. Since all EU Member States had to draw up their minimum national standards according to the EU Directive on the “Total Energy Efficiency of Buildings” by 2006, for instance in the form of key energy figures, energy use in new and existing buildings has entered a new era of sustainability. Energy-efficient construction materials, such as the highly insulating multi-wall polycarbonate sheets from Bayer Sheet Europe, are contributing significantly to this development.

„Cost-conscious energy management” and „Environmentally gentle construction” are the two guiding principles that Bayer Sheet Europe pursues in its strategic product development. Under the i-LINE quality label, the company offers a wide range of Makrolon® multi-wall sheets for intelligent, energy-saving solutions for industrial or residential construction projects. „ Because of the rising costs for energy, as well as oil and gas for heating, and also based on stricter regulations in European countries, the demand for construction materials with highly insulating properties is increasing,” says Günther Winnerl, segment manager construction at Bayer Sheet Europe. Especially the European-wide introduction of the Energy Certificate that records the total energy-performance situation of a building and is viewed as one of the most important instruments to save energy, is expected to jack up the market for energy-efficient technologies and products.

The efforts undertaken by many countries to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by launching various incentive programs have raised the public’s environmental awareness – there is increased readiness to invest in energy-saving installations. Builders, planners, and architects put an increasing focus on energy saving and ecologically compatible construction materials.
With its i-LINE range of products, Bayer Sheet Europe is ready to serve this emerging market, offering the right sheet for every construction project.

Due to its excellent heat-insulating properties, the multi-wall sheet Makrolon® multi UV 5X/40-25 is particularly suitable for transparent or translucent panels in industrial buildings, indoor sports facilities, sunrooms, and other structures where clear-colored heat-insulating paneling is desired.
The heat insulation of the multi-wall sheet Makrolon® multi UV 5X/40-25 exceeds the properties of conventional 32-mm sheets by 15 percent. For example, in a conservatory, the 5X/40-25 sheet, which has a heat transfer coefficient of 1.2 W/m² K, saves roughly 2 liters heating oil, or 2.5 cubic meters natural gas, per square meter of roof surface every year. The sheet’s X-structure guarantees exceptional sturdiness and a good load-bearing capacity – even large amounts snow do not affect the stability of the roof. With its high impact-resistance and low weight, the material is an ideal choice for large surfaces. Another advantage of its lower weight is also that unlike other materials, it does not require a massive substructure. As a result, architects are free to design a much more filigree structure, while builders benefit from cost savings. In addition, a special protective layer that is permanently and homogenously bonded to the sheet by co-extrusion, makes the material weather-resistant and provides long-term protection against yellowing.

Other multi-wall sheets in the successful i-LINE from Bayer Sheet Europe include  Makrolon® 6-wall and 4-wall sheets, and the Makrolon® multi UV IQ-Relax range.

The i-LINE quality label stands for a new generation of optimized products that provide innovative solutions for the highest requirements in construction.