ultra-light & sustainable GRP cover Sheets
made from recycled PET bottles

The fuel costs are rising. The pollutants harm the environment. Our resources are running out. The economic growth is increasing continuously. Is there a solution to this dichotomy? Is it possible to reduce the weight of a vehicle and thus reduce consumption? Can the environment be protected through lower CO2 emissions and the use of recycled waste?

OPTIPLAN has found an answer to these new market demands that can revolutionize the commercial vehicle and recreational vehicle sector: r-PET!

The r-PET product line represents the new generation of sustainable GRP products. In cooperation with business partners, OPTIPLAN has developed a GRP product based on a PET recycled resin, which is in no way inferior to the technical properties of conventional GRP materials. The resin consists largely of recycled polyester obtained from post-consumer PET waste. For every vehicle produced, dozens of PET bottles can be “upcycled” for a second life as sidewalls, roof or floors (sandwich panels) in commercial vehicles and recreational vehicles.

This innovative material makes everything easier. It can be used in 3.5-ton trucks up to heavy trucks/semitrailers, all inner-city delivery vehicles, recreational vehicles & caravans, electric vehicles and even cargo bikes.

The calculation is quite simple: Manufacturers who aim to protect the environment strive for a lower vehicle weight and at the same time a higher payload. As a result, fuel consumption and pollutant emissions (CO2) are reduced. The high-tech composite enables key objectives of modern, energy-efficient logistics to be achieved. OPTIPLAN has been inspired by these new challenges and has developed POLYDET® r-PET, an extremely lightweight, stable, durable and at the same time aesthetic material.

The surface is coated with a gelcoat that protects against UV radiation. In addition, end customers can implement all colour requests that correspond to their specific corporate design and appearance in RAL, NCS and individual colour shades. The great advantage: Since the coloration is already applied during the production process and is directly incorporated into the material, subsequent painting is unnecessary. Moreover, the paint is permanently resistant: It cannot be chipped by impact or corrosion.

What is the advantage of GRP over aluminium? OPTIPLAN Sales Manager Timo Hoffmann: “GRP is known to be frequently used as a lighter alternative to aluminium. It has low thermal conductivity, as well as higher hail and corrosion resistance. With our HighGloss surface finish, we also enable a near-aluminium appearance. POLYDET® r-PET is not only lighter, but also easier to process."

r-PET PowerStar and r-PET HighGloss
PowerStar is characterized by its robustness, wear resistance and lightness

PowerStar is extremely robust - heavy mechanical loading is no problem for this material. The laminated special fabric increases the glass content, which gives high impact resistance and increases durability. Due to the additional fabric stability, PowerStar also allows the lowest thicknesses starting from 0.7 mm, which makes it possible to produce ultra-light and resource-saving cover layers.

HighGloss shines with a glossy and visually attractive appearance
HighGloss is produced in a discontinuous cold curing process, which makes the surface quality of the gelcoat extremely weather, UV and colour resistant. Long life of the superstructure without yellowing and easy maintenance of the material (cleaning, polishing, touching up) are thus guaranteed.

OPTIPLAN launches the “Revolution of Lightweight Design" with these two materials. The versatility of these high-performance GRP cover layers means they can be used in almost any application: Commercial vehicles, recreational vehicles, boats, construction industry (interior fittings / facades), container and system construction