ShieldUp Flex Acrylic Revolutionizes Trimaran Glazing on Arkema 4

Arkema Group’s latest innovation, the ShieldUp Flex acrylic sheet, has debuted as the transparent roofing and cockpit glazing on renowned sailor and designer Lalou Roucayrol’s new trimaran, Arkema 4. The sheet can be manually bent without thermoforming, marking a major breakthrough that cuts both time and cost in creating curved, flexible components.

Developed by scientists at the French Lacq Research Center of Altuglas International—a subsidiary of Arkema Group—the ShieldUp Flex acrylic addresses a long‑standing limitation of PMMA: its inherent rigidity. By engineering a formula that retains PMMA’s optical clarity and mechanical strength while introducing true flexibility, the team achieved a plasticizer‑free, chemically and impact‑resistant material. This patented solution delivers transparency, durability, weight savings, and resilience—an ideal match for demanding applications.

For Lalou Roucayrol, architect of Arkema 4, a Multi50‑class trimaran, the ideal glazing needed to combine several critical attributes:

• Unobstructed visibility and superior shock resistance under extreme weather, enhancing skipper safety.
• Significant weight reduction through the use of a thinner, lighter sheet, boosting overall performance.
• Seamless installation—ShieldUp Flex eliminates the costly thermoforming step, allowing designers to bend the sheet by hand and affix it directly to the vessel.

“ShieldUp Flex was THE product we’d been waiting for: reduced weight, better resistance and, above all, flexible implementation without the need for a long and painstaking thermoforming phase. Thank you Flex!” – Lalou Roucayrol

Beyond its straightforward implementation, the new flexible acrylic sheet unlocks unprecedented design freedom for 2D curved elements. It is poised for widespread use across traditional PMMA applications—vehicle glazing (RVs, boats, cars, motorcycles), industrial glazing, signage, lighting, interior architecture, and COVID‑secure protective screens. Its versatility also promises breakthroughs in electronics, such as smart display panels, and personal protective equipment, areas that are increasingly critical.