Whiteboards are best known for their role in schools and workplaces around the world in capturing and explaining ideas graphically and interactively. But they have far wider uses in providing durable and attractive surfaces for architecture and interiors, in public and commercial buildings, transport infrastructure and the wider built environment.
Polyvision is the leader in the premium CeramicSteel whiteboard market. It has manufacturing centres in Genk, Belgium and Okmulgee, Oklahoma, USA, with more than 200 employees, and sales in over 60 countries internationally. Its products and installations now span over 185 million m2 around the world, from whiteboards to panels, facades, partitions and other surfaces.
Polyvision has recently worked with ArcelorMittal Europe – Flat Products’ team in Ghent, Belgium, to manufacture a 5-foot-wide (59.875 inch) steel for their enamelled steel coils and sheets - similar to the 4-feet (47.875 inch) product. Only Polyvision USA has the capability to enamel this width of coil, and has made a multi-million dollar investment in its new production line at Okmulgee to support this product.
For its part, only the ArcelorMittal Gent plant can make these wide profile coils in the DC01EK-PLUS-SOFT grade - a premium cold rolled steel specifically engineered for vitreous, porcelain enamelling. It combines an exceptionally clean, enamel-friendly surface with a soft temper to develop superior, stress-free formability for demanding industrial applications.
Polyvision has developed the capability to handle, de-coil and enamel the 5 tonne coils from ArcelorMittal, each of which hold 1.5 kilometres of 0.35 millimetre thick steel. Producing the CeramicSteel finish involves coating the thin steel sheet with a tough porcelain, enamel surface, bonded together in a 800°C continuous feed furnace. The new production line can now handle widths up to and including the 5-foot product.
Polyvision is now moving ahead with the full 5-foot-wide offering in Okmulgee. This supports market opportunities for the company as educational, public and infrastructural applications are increasingly demanding larger format whiteboard and panel installations. School and college whiteboards now frequently extend to 12-16 feet in length and can be splined together.
And in architectural applications, boards and panels can reach 30-40 feet lengths, often incorporating decorative graphics and signage, making them hugely attractive for public and commercial buildings and hubs.
“We’re very proud of our long-term relationship with Polyvision. It’s reflected in the collaborative and partnership approach we have shared on this project. Developing the 5-foot coil offering has required close technical cooperation between our two teams. The result is an exciting new capability, which is opening new opportunities for Polyvision not just in whiteboards, but across its many other applications,” concluded Philippe Symoneaux, Head of Technical Support Flat Products, ArcelorMittal International NAFTA and LATAM.
Surface matters. Be inspired by Polyvision's movie:
Polyvision's innovative CeramicSteel offers significant benefits over conventional spray-coated enamel and equivalent glass surface products. It has far greater durability and is extremely resistant to abrasion, heat, moisture, chemicals, solvents and even micro-organisms. For Polyvision’s fabricator customers, the enamelled coils and sheets can be cut easily through conventional laser, water jet and press cutting techniques, to form into their finished products.
A spray-coated orange peel surface
A roll-coated smooth surface
“This innovative coating process of our 5-foot-wide CeramicSteel is a significant milestone for Polyvision and for the markets we serve,” said Kimberly Allen, Global Director, Product Marketing, Polyvision. “As projects continue to demand larger formats, cleaner aesthetics, and more durable materials, we’re providing architects and partners with a solution that removes traditional size limitations while delivering exceptional performance and sustainability. This advancement strengthens our position as the global leader in CeramicSteel and opens the door to entirely new applications beyond the whiteboard.”
Kimberly Allen, Global Director, Product Marketing, Polyvision
Like ArcelorMittal, Polyvision maintains a strong sustainability commitment across its business. Its CeramicSteel is 99% recyclable, Cradle to Cradle™ certified and is produced with 100% renewable electricity, resulting in zero Scope 2 carbon emissions.
“CeramicSteel has evolved far beyond the whiteboard,” confirmed Norm Young, President & CEO, Polyvision. “Today, it serves as a high-performance surface for education, healthcare, transportation, corporate interiors, public architecture, and countless other applications. Its ability to meet the needs of diverse industries is what makes it such a powerful and enduring material.”
Norm Young, President & CEO, Polyvision
Copyright:
- the video and all the images on this page, except for the coil pictures: Polyvision
- coil images: ArcelorMittal
