The UK's Leading Manufacturer of Polycarbonate Tableware
What is Polycarbonate?
Polycarbonate is a very high quality plastic used in the manufacture of riot shields, crash helmets, safety windows as well as used in baby bottles, water bottles, spectacle lenses and CDs.
Polycarbonate is naturally transparent, with the ability to transmit light nearly that of glass. It has high strength, toughness, heat resistance, and excellent dimensional and colour stability.
Polycarbonate has many uses - not just in the manufacture of tableware. The material is being used in an ever increasing variety of different applications. When it was created over 50 years ago, polycarbonate was initially used in the electrical industry. Polycarbonate sheeting (as seen in green houses, conservatories first came into use in the late 1960s. Its most common usage at the moment is in the manufacture of CDs and DVDs. It is also now moulded into five-litre gallon water cooler containers and packages over 500 million litres a year.
Recent innovations have led to its use in the automotive sector - specifically headlamps and will soon be used for windscreens. The properties of polycarbonate are leading to its use in more and more sectors and is helping to fuel growth in UK manufacturing industries.
Polycarbonate's most recent celebrated use was at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games. Manufactured in the UK by Doncaster firm Palram Polycarb, the Athens roof is the biggest of its type in the world and is made from Polycarbonate with a special additive that allows light through but not heat. This resulted in helping to keep the spectators cool by not heating up the air mass in the stadium.
Harfield saw the potential of polycarbonate for use in light catering equipment back in 1953 and our products are suitable for use in schools, armed forces, hospitals, nursing homes, prisons, camping, caravanning, out door activities and barbecues. Our products will not break if dropped, are shatterproof, dishwasher safe, microwave safe*, heating trolley safe, and freezer safe.
Our products are available in a range of colours from bright primary colours through to soft pastel shades, white, clear and black.
The Polycarbonate grade used is the FDA grade that fulfils the requirements of the EU countries (including the former BGA, now the BgVV, recommendations) and the FDA regulations governing materials for food contact.
Its advantages over Melamine are:
- It is lighter and more durable
- It will not shatter, break or splinter
- It is stain resistant
- It is Dishwasher & Microwave safe*
* Microwave use is limited to heating rather than cooking and is not suitable for very oily or fatty foods.