Skip to content
Piedmont Plastics | Plastic Supplier

Aluminum Composite Material (ACM)

A three-layer panel material suitable for indoor and outdoor applications.

ACM combines durability, versatility, and aesthetic appeal to elevate your projects, from signage to architectural facades and wall linings.

Your Branch: San Francisco Zip code: 94587 |

Product Overview

Performance Characteristics:

Easy To Bond Easy To Fabricate Easy To Machine Good Dimensional Stability Good Electrical Insulation Weatherable Impact Resistant Stain Resistant Strong and Stiff Printable Abrasion Resistant Moisture Resistant Patterns and Finishes

Typical Properties of Aluminum Composite Material (ACM)

Common Properties

  • Common Profiles Sheet
  • Typical Lengths 96, 144 in
  • Common Brand Names AluPOLY®, DIBOND®, Alucobond®, ePanel
  • Typical Thickness Size 0.118 in
  • Friendly Names Panel, Aluminum Composite Material (ACM)
  • Typical Widths 48, 60 in

Regulation Properties

ASTM/Mil-Spec REACH Compliant RoHS Compliant FAR 25.853 Heat Release (OSU 65/65)

Aluminum Composite Material (ACM) at Piedmont Plastics

Aluminum Composite Material (ACM) is a strong, lightweight, and durable panel made from two thin layers of pre-finished aluminum bonded on either side of a solid polyethylene (PE) core. This three-layer structure makes ACM panels a top choice for a wide range of indoor and outdoor uses. Known for their excellent dimensional stability, aluminum composite panels are used in everything from building signage and architectural cladding to POP displays, kiosks, and interior design features.

Because ACM panels are weather-resistant, easy to clean, and available in a variety of colors, finishes, and thicknesses, they’re a popular solution for projects that require both functionality and aesthetics. Whether you're working on a commercial renovation, a creative display, or an exterior facade, aluminum paneling offers the flexibility and strength needed to bring your vision to life.

At Piedmont Plastics, we supply high-quality aluminum composite material in multiple grades, including fire-resistant options, to suit your project needs. As a leading plastic distributor, we also offer value-added services such as cut-to-size and custom fabrication to meet the specifications of your application.

Need help finding the right aluminum composite material for your application? Contact your local Piedmont Plastics branch today. Our experts are ready to assist you in choosing the right ACM panels, making us your trusted partner in plastic distribution and aluminum paneling solutions.

Available Product Options

Piedmont Plastics offers multiple ACM product options to support a wide range of signage, architectural, and display applications. Learn about the available product types below to find the best solution for your project requirements.

An Expert is just around the corner.

With over 100 years of combined product knowledge and industry experience, we are confident our plastics experts can help you find a solution for your application.

Key Features of Aluminum Composite Material (ACM)

ACM has many advantages that make it a prime choice for indoor and outdoor applications, including:

  • Versatility: ACM panels can be easily cut, routed, fabricated, mounted, and installed using everyday tools.

  • Durability and Appearance: In addition to its eye-catching designs and durability, ACM remains flat over time, which reduces oil canning and rippling effects.

  • Light Weight and Cost-Effectiveness: Weighing approximately half as much as traditional aluminum, ACM panels offer a more cost-effective alternative to similarly gaged aluminum sheets.

  • UV and Weather Resistance: ACM provides excellent UV resistance, scratch resistance, weatherability, and an anti-corrosion skin, maintaining its sleek appearance over time.

  • Ease of Maintenance: ACM panels are easy to clean, preserving their brilliant finish.

  • Printability: Regarding signage and display applications, ACM readily accepts traditional inks, paints, digital printing, and PSA print media. Suitable for constructing type II electrical enclosures, it meets UL compliance (UL879) as a component for sign accessories.

Benefits of Aluminum Composite Material

ACM offers various advantages that make it a great material for architectural cladding, signage, displays, wall linings, and more. Contact our team today with any questions about the benefits of using ACM for your application!

Common Applications of ACM

The aesthetic qualities of ACM paired with its ability to be easily fabricated without sacrificing durability makes ACM an attractive material for various end user products. Some of these include:

  • Signage: ACM works well for sign-grade applications such as channel letters and POP displays due to its aesthetic appearance, light weight, and durability.

  • Specialty Vehicles: This material is excellent for exterior wall applications in trailers, emergency vehicles, food trucks, and RVs, reducing fuel and maintenance costs, improving aesthetics, and enhancing safety.

  • Building and Construction: ACM is excellent for applications like building facades, architectural cladding, insulation, and wall linings, offering long-term value due to its durability and low maintenance properties.

Frequently Asked Questions

Have questions about aluminum composite material? Our FAQs cover the essentials to help you make informed decisions.

Yes, ACM (Aluminum Composite Material) panels can be bent, but not like regular sheet metal. To create clean, precise bends, the panel is typically routed on the back side using a “V-grooving” technique. This allows the panel to be folded without damaging the outer aluminum layer. For curves, some ACM panels can be cold bent, but sharp angles require fabrication tools.

Aluminum composite material (ACM) is a sandwich-like panel composed of two thin sheets of aluminum bonded to a polyethylene core. Lightweight, durable, and stable, ACM is ideal for both interior and exterior applications.

SCM consists of two thin steel skins bonded to a polyethylene (PE) core, while ACM is made with two thin aluminum skins bonded to a similar core. SCM is heavier, stronger, and magnetic receptive, while ACM is lighter and more corrosion-resistant.

Yes, Aluminum Composite Material (ACM) is considered stronger than standard aluminum sheet in terms of overall performance, especially for signage and architectural cladding. It's stronger in terms of rigidity and form stability, has better impact resistance, and is lighter than solid aluminum.

Piedmont Plastics supplies ACM through our network of local branches. Our team can help you choose the right size, cut material to spec, and deliver directly to your facility.

Why Buy Aluminum Composite Material (ACM) from Piedmont Plastics?

At Piedmont Plastics, our plastics experts are ready to provide you with the solutions you need for your applications. In addition, our dedication to the signage industry is evident through the expertise of our sign and graphics market specialists, who are fully prepared to support customers seeking ACM for sign and graphic applications.

Learn more about the benefits of partnering with Piedmont Plastics for your ACM solutions:

  • Wide Production Selection: We offer an extensive range of ACM panel options, available in multiple sizes, thicknesses, and colors to suit a variety of applications.

  • Custom Fabrication Services: Our advanced CNC technology allows us to provide accurate cutting and fabrication, delivering ACM panels customized to your exact specifications.

  • Trusted Industry Knowledge: Backed by decades of experience, our knowledgeable team is ready to guide you in selecting the best ACM solution for your project.

  • Nationwide Availability: With a broad network of branches across North America, we make it easy to access ACM and other high-performance plastic materials wherever you are.

  • Consistent Quality Assurance: We are committed to delivering ACM products that consistently exceed industry standards for quality and performance.

Want to learn more? Contact our sign and graphics experts today for further insights!