Blog / FAQ

Meet the Team!

Meet the Team! Like any growing business, change is inevitable. Throughout the past 32 years Mark has navigated Replex in one direction, continuous improvement and growth. Most recently, Replex has had some changes in management and office staff that we would like to...

ISO 9001:2015 Recertification

ISO9001:2015 Recertification- At Replex we strive to produce the highest quality parts for our customers. One way we continue to achieve this is through the ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System. This past March Replex completed its yearly ISO audit. Led by the...

Not All Clear Plastics Are The Same! Know Your Different Types

Many people assume that plastic is plastic, but saying all plastic is the same is much like saying all wood is the same or that all metal is the same. Replex primarily uses two different types of transparent polymers (clear...

FAQs

First vs Second Surface Mirrors

First vs Second Surface Mirrors

Mirrors may come in a range of shapes, curvatures and sizes and they are furthermore distinguished as either first-surface or second-surface mirrors. Knowing the difference between the two, and understanding their different applications, is vital to choosing the right...

Here Comes the Sun: Can Your Playground Domes Handle It?

Here Comes the Sun: Can Your Playground Domes Handle It?

It’s fair to say that manufacturers of playground equipment are generally looking for durability and long-lasting functionality, to keep kids safe and parents happy. One of the important decisions to be made surrounds the ordering of those clear plastic domes that...

Two Types of Thermoforming: Free Blowing vs. Molding

Two Types of Thermoforming: Free Blowing vs. Molding

There are two predominant methods of thermoforming that can be used to create shapes out of plastic substrate: free blowing and molding. The overwhelming majority of Replex mirrors are created by free blowing. Free Blowing: Vacuum Pressure vs. Air Pressure During the...

FAQ’s: Acrylic

FAQ’s: Acrylic

Concern with Breakage of Acrylic vs Glass vs Polycarbonate:  The impact strength of Acrylic is 0.4 ft lbs/inch.  The impact strength of tempered glass is very dependent on the geometry of the object impacting the glass as well as the edge condition of the glass, so...

Dome vs. Convex Mirrors: What’s the Difference?

Not all mirrors are created equal. Domes and convex mirrors, for example, have different shapes, different properties and are used for different purposes. Domes can be either metalized — making them reflective — or clear. Metalized domes offer a wider field of view,...

FAQ: Are we able to vacuum metallize on metal surfaces?

In general we do not vacuum metallize onto metal surfaces. There are several reasons, the main issues being: 1) Any oils or other contamination on the metal substrate will spoil the evaporated metal by chemically reacting with the metal, usually turning the metal...

NEWS

Meet the Team!

Meet the Team! Like any growing business, change is inevitable. Throughout the past 32 years Mark has navigated Replex in one direction, continuous improvement and growth. Most recently, Replex has had some changes in management and office staff that we would like to...

ISO 9001:2015 Recertification

ISO 9001:2015 Recertification

ISO9001:2015 Recertification- At Replex we strive to produce the highest quality parts for our customers. One way we continue to achieve this is through the ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System. This past March Replex completed its yearly ISO audit. Led by the...

Replex Plastics: Quality Above All Else

Replex Plastics: Quality Above All Else

Replex once had the capabilities to color our parts in any color imaginable on our line of CCTV domes. That product line, however, was soon overwhelmed by competition that flooded the market with products composed of cheap parts made in China. Replex had a decision:...

From Casinos To Telephone Poles: The Versatility of Camera Domes

From Casinos To Telephone Poles: The Versatility of Camera Domes

Whether it’s to keep the watchful eyes of casino cameras hidden from the public or to protect sensitive equipment from dust and smoke, the quality of camera domes goes directly to the effectiveness of the camera itself. Camera domes can be rugged enough to spend their...

The Science of Light: Using Math to Get the Most Out of Optics

The Science of Light: Using Math to Get the Most Out of Optics

The genesis of today’s solar mirrors can be traced back to the 1970s and the work of Roland Winston — a scientist and professor who is widely considered to be the father of non-imaging optics. Winston’s mathematical calculations served as the basis for a type of...

From Clear to Shiny: The Incredible Science of Vacuum Metallization

From Clear to Shiny: The Incredible Science of Vacuum Metallization

Coating a sheet of plastic with a thin, even layer of metal is no easy task—but without this step, a mirror is not a mirror. Laboratory science and precision manufacturing must converge to send acrylic or polycarbonate and aluminum on a remarkable journey that ends in...

Polycarbonate: The Hammer-Proof, Hurricane-Proof Super Plastic

Polycarbonate: The Hammer-Proof, Hurricane-Proof Super Plastic

If they were all the same thickness, a small rock could break a sheet of glass, a hammer could break acrylic, and — unless it was swung by Thor — the hammer would bounce off a sheet of polycarbonate. In Coastal Florida, hurricanes with winds up to 150 mph are a part...

Ongoing Efficiency Improvements in 2019

Ongoing Efficiency Improvements in 2019

In the past year we participated in the Ohio Development Services Agency, State Energy Efficiency Program for Manufacturers (EEPM). The program started with an energy audit to assess our current energy usage, identify areas for potential energy savings and a...

ISO 9001:2015 Update & Recertification

ISO 9001:2015 Update & Recertification

The most recent update to the ISO 9001 Quality Management System was to the 2015 version which companies had to be re-certified to by September of 2017. Replex was no exception, and our 4th quarter 2016 was focused on updating and revising our QMS to comply with this...

TIPS

Don’t Hire a Supplier Without Asking These 3 Crucial Questions

Don’t Hire a Supplier Without Asking These 3 Crucial Questions

So much of mirror manufacturing comes down to the quality of the materials and the reliability of the process. Before committing to a supplier, make sure you make the right inquiries to ensure you’re getting the best in both categories. Ask the following questions...

Why Free Blowing Excels in Forming Precision Mirrors

Most Replex mirrors are made with a thermoforming process called free blowing. Free blowing uses heat and differential air pressure to manipulate plastic into specific shapes that will eventually become mirrors. Preparation Before work begins, an intellectual...

Do’s and Dont’s of Cleaning a Mirror

Replex ships you a pristine mirror with film masking to protect it from scratches during shipping and installation. Knowing how to keep your mirror looking fabulous is equally critical. CLOTHS: DO – use a microfiber cloth. There are many suppliers of these cloths and...

Keeping Quality High and Mirror Cost Low: A Checklist

Keeping Quality High and Mirror Cost Low: A Checklist

The challenge of offering value to a customer is to reduce cost without compromising the quality or the integrity of a product. But with internationally shipped products like transportation mirrors, the stakes are raised. The competition is the entire world, and...

Laser Cutting or CNC Cutting Your Mirror – That is the Question!

Laser Cutting or CNC Cutting Your Mirror – That is the Question!

Do you have a preference for laser or CNC cut mirrors? Both processes are good processes and both processes have their advantages and disadvantages. You will be much happier if you select the right process for your application, and can avoid problems if you follow a...

Temperature, Moisture & Plastics

The plastic used in mirrors (typically acrylic or polycarbonate) is a thermal insulator. This means that when there is a change in temperature, one side of a piece of plastic may be warmer than the other, and it takes some time for the heat to soak through and...

No Results Found

The page you requested could not be found. Try refining your search, or use the navigation above to locate the post.