PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) is one of the world’s most widely used plastics — and its journey to becoming a versatile building material spans over a century.
The first patents for PVC were filed in Britain and Germany in 1912. However, it was not until the early 1930s that PVC could be produced cheaply, which had until then limited its commercial applications.
World War II played a major role in popularising PVC, as manufacturers used it to make a wide assortment of items for soldiers. It was during this period that PVC’s excellent water resistance was recognised as a key property, with PVC tools finding use in many marine applications.In the 1970s, the demand for a strong, lightweight, moisture-resistant material led manufacturers to work with PVC to reduce its density. This resulted in the creation of PVC board — made by combining PVC with polyurea at the molecular level. The result is a lightweight, waterproof and easy-to-fabricate board, ideal for interiors, signage, furniture and partitions.
Om Industries’ PVC boards continue this tradition — lightweight, moisture-resistant and built to last.