When a technical refurbishment of the power plant was due in May 2001, Enel Produzione, the owner of the power plant in Priolo in Sicily, Italy, seized the opportunity to redesign the exterior façade of the industrial building as well. The contract was awarded to architect Michele De Lucchi from AMDL in Milano, Italy, who was commissioned to give the power plant a new look and turn it into an architectural highlight. De Lucchi came up with a design that required a translucent building material with little weight, high resistance, toughness to stress, and elasticity. With no sturdy sub-construction, the material on the 50-meter high façade had to resist winds with an impact of 270 kg/m2, and had to be weather-resistant and break-proof. Polycarbonate sheets from various suppliers were subjected to several tests for their physical suitability and compliance with fire protection and other safety regulations. The outcome was clear: Makrolon® multi UV 3X/25-25, modified for the façade of the power plant and weighing only 4.5 kg/m2, was chosen by the plant owner for its outstanding qualities. The material passed all of the tests and even exceeded the wind resistance requirement by 20 percent.

Another key factor in favor of Makrolon® multi UV was the physical presence of a technical expert from Bayer Polymers Sheet Europe during the entire construction process. “Being able to coordinate the project with an expert on-site at any time was a major element in guaranteeing a smooth construction. It allowed us to come up with solutions in a short time and respond to any challenges together”, says engineer Stefano Stefani from Enel Power about his company’s cooperation with Bayer Polymer Sheet Europe.

The high elasticity of the Makrolon® multi UV sheets also offered great advantages during transport and installation. The material was cut to the required length of 1 x 6 m and delivered to the construction site, where it was fitted directly into the outlines of the sub-structure. While the easy formability and processing enabled the architects to realize their extravagant architectural design, Enel benefited economically from the efficient use of the material.

Within three months more than 32 metric tons of polycarbonate sheet were installed in the façade of the Priolo power plant, which measures more than 7,200 m2. The façade, which was completed in November 2003, has a filigree look that conveys lightness and openness. The transparent layer surrounding the power plant withstands permanent temperatures of up to 120 degrees Celsius. UV-coatings of both sides of the polycarbonate sheets make Makrolon® multi UV-resistant against the impact of weather and UV-rays, which is a particular requirement in the hot Sicilian sun. The double coating will maintain the transparency of the plastic for many years to come.

After the very positive experience with Makrolon® and the project management provided by Bayer Polymers Sheet Europe, the owner of the power plant commissioned a second project, using Makrolon® in the modernization of the power plant in Porto Corsini. Corrado Santarelli from Bayer Polymers Sheet Europe, who was in charge of the technical coordination of the Enel project, is pleased about the second project and views it as the trend of the future. “Using the Makrolon® multi UV sheets in power plants shows the wide range of applications for the polycarbonate in industrial buildings,” he says. And he is confident about the future, “The need for transparent building materials for large surfaces will continue to increase. As a supplier of a material with a proven quality, Makrolon®, we are awaiting this development with a lot of optimism.”

The Makrolon® multi UV sheets are available in standard width of 980 to 2,100 mm, and in a length of 2,000 to 7,000 mm. The polycarbonate from Bayer Polymers Sheet Europe is translucent and can be used as a heat-resistant as well as a heat-insulating material in industrial applications and in private and public buildings. The UV-coating is perfectly bonded onto the sheet by coextrusion, which makes Makrolon® multi UV weather-resistant. Bayer Polymers Sheet Europe guarantees it for ten years.