First discovered in 1839 by German apothecary Eduard Simon, polystyrene is used in many different ways. At The Foamex Group, which has been supplying polystyrene solutions to Australian industries for over 35 years, the focus has primarily been on the building and construction sectors as well as the packaging industry.
But did you know that Foamex’s Styroboard EPS and Styroboard XPS products are also used for various creative purposes?
1. Theatre props
Theatre and prop sets made with polystyrene are lightweight and reusable, and will save time and money during installations. Polystyrene sheets and blocks are easily shaped, water-resistant and more durable than any fibreglass alternative, making them ideal for props. Easily carved into whatever shape or design required, polystyrene can be made to look like any other type of material – metal, wood, stone, and more – using paint and other finishes.
2. Movie & TV sets
Polystyrene is a versatile material that can be cut and shaped into any form or size, making it the perfect raw material for creating scenery and props for the visual arts industry. Once it has been primed and coated, it can look exactly like the real thing, whether it is the façade of a house, a statue, a sword, or anything else. Many backdrop manufacturers in Australia use polystyrene to create backgrounds for movies and photoshoots.
Creating a realistic movie set can be expensive, but polystyrene provides an inexpensive alternative that can create a backdrop that looks just like the real thing. Polystyrene is lightweight, so it can be easily moved and transported to the film set, whether it is a large-scale piece or just a simple stage prop. Polystyrene is a versatile material, so it can be made into just about anything.
3. Event & trade show displays
Polystyrene sheets and blocks are ideal and versatile for low-cost signage and lettering due to durability, light weight and overall ease of use. Polystyrene is widely used in the production of the highest quality foam core monument signs, plaques, foam sculptures, dimensionally carved signs and other custom foam products. Logos and messages can be recreated with computer precision, and letters and signs can be painted in corporate colours.
4. Product prototypes
For many years polystyrene has been used as the go-to prototyping material. It's inexpensive, readily available, white in colour, and it glues, sands, cuts, and paints well, all of which make it ideal for product prototypes.
5. Retail display
From mannequins to display heads, shop window concepts and product showcases, polystyrene blocks can be hotwire-cut into a range of imaginative designs for shop fittings and displays.
6. Art and crafts
Polystyrene can be used for a variety of art and craft projects. The material can be easily cut into various shapes and sizes, and ornamented with other supplies to obtain a beautiful craft piece.
Speak to the experts in polystyrene today
Interested in learning more about how Foamex’s range of polystyrene products can help you? Contact your local Foamex sales office today to discuss your polystyrene requirements. We have offices in NSW, Victoria, Queensland and South Australia.
