Our Thinking
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:...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
A Plastic Holiday Ornament And The Reflective Tree It Hangs On — Holiday Season Is Mirror Season
Most businesses look forward to the holidays, and Replex is no exception — but not because of Black Friday or for the chance to boost fourth-quarter earnings before the end of the year. The holidays give us a chance to dial up our creative side and do some projects...
Are Polycarbonate Mirrors Really “Unbreakable?”
Polycarbonate "Impact Strength" The material property most related to cracking is called "Impact Strength". Calling that property "impact strength" is a bit of a misnomer because the unit of measure is actually a measure of energy per unit of material thickness. This...
Do’s and Don’ts 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...
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...