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Float Displays
Expanded Polystyrene: The Perfect Material for Events
When it comes to organising memorable events, whether it’s an exhibition, parade, festival, or any other outdoor gathering, the choice of materials can significantly impact the overall experience. Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) stands out as a top-notch material for these occasions due to its exceptional properties and versatile applications.
Lightweight and Easy to Handle
One of the most remarkable features of EPS is its lightweight nature. This makes it incredibly easy to transport, handle, and set up, saving time and effort for event organisers. From large-scale sculptures to intricate signage, EPS can be shaped to fit any creative vision without the heavy lifting.
Durability and Weather Resistance
Outdoor events are often at the mercy of unpredictable weather conditions. EPS boasts excellent durability and weather resistance, ensuring that structures remain intact and visually appealing, rain or shine. Its resilience to moisture and temperature variations makes it a reliable choice for any season or climate.
Customisable and Versatile
EPS is highly adaptable and can be customised to meet specific event needs. It can be cut, carved, and painted to create eye-catching displays, props, and decorations that captivate audiences. Whether it’s a lifelike parade float, a visually stunning exhibition booth, or whimsical festival decor, EPS brings creativity to life.
Cost-Effective and Sustainable
Budget considerations are always crucial in event planning. EPS is a cost-effective material that offers excellent value for money. Furthermore, it is recyclable, aligning with sustainable practices and reducing environmental impact. Event planners can achieve impressive results without compromising on quality or breaking the bank.
Safety and Comfort
Safety is paramount at any event. EPS is non-toxic and free from harmful substances, ensuring a safe environment for attendees. Its insulating properties also provide comfort, whether it’s used for seating, stage elements, or interactive installations.
In conclusion, expanded polystyrene is the ideal material for various events due to its lightweight, durable, customizable, cost-effective, and safe properties. It empowers event organisers to create unforgettable experiences that leave a lasting impression on attendees. With EPS, the possibilities are as expansive as your imagination.
Example Project – Float Display For Conlon
Have you ever seen a lorry wearing a hard hat and ear defenders? Not something you ask yourself every day. However, for Molygran, it’s nothing unusual! How to begin making a hard hat for a float display? The hat needed to be large enough for a lorry as well as light enough not to crush it. Think polystyrene!
Based in Preston, Lancashire, Conlon undertakes construction projects, design and build, new build and refurbishment for public sector and private clients. On their 50th anniversary, they were proud sponsors of the UK Corporate Games which coincided with the Preston Guild 2012 festivities. Therefore, they needed something unique for their float display, and polystyrene props was the way forward.
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Benefits
- As 98% air, giant props made out of polystyrene are not too heavy to handle
- Polystyrene can be easily cut and sanded to any shape
- Polystyrene can be decorated to make eye catching features for float displays
- Molygran took the challenge with eagerness
- Molygran were able to provide the whole process from draw up to painting
- Molygran were extremely helpful and approachable
The brief
Looking to make their float display stand out in the grand parade, they needed a unique design – hence the idea of a lorry with hard hat and ear defenders to represent their line of work. Next they required a material which would be lightweight enough to sit on the cabin of the lorry but be durable enough to withstand the elements. It also needed to be malleable, to create the 3D shapes of the hard hat and ear defenders, but rigid enough to keep its shape once created.
The solution
Introducing Molygran – convertors of polystyrene. No task is too strange or big for Molygran, and a giant hard hat with ear defenders was right up our street! A full design service was required to take the idea to the model stage. Molygran worked alongside Conlon drawing up the desired products from the samples provided. Through CAD, we then accurately replicated and proportionally increased the different pieces to fit the lorry.
The polystyrene props were sanded down to achieve the final shape of the hard hat and ear defenders, then painted to improve the visual appearance and protect the props from the elements.
Polystyrene comes into its own in unique projects such as this. Made from 98% air, when the bead is small and the correct equipment is used, polystyrene can be cut extremely accurately. Despite being lightweight in comparison to competing materials, the density of polystyrene enabled it to be strong enough to be fixed to the lorry cabin.
“It was a strange one to be honest!,” admitted Lynsey. “Polystyrene was chosen because I thought the shape would be easy to create in this material.
“I found Molygran on the web at the time and actually came down to the offices with a hard hat and ear defenders – I remember thinking that it would probably be a strange request but the office seemed to take it in its stride!”
