PMMA leads innovation in lighting, design and circularity

A global leader in the methacrylate sector, Röhm supplies customers across fast-growing markets such as automotive, construction and healthcare. It serves the global market with its Meracryl methacrylates and PMMA-based compounds marketed under the Plexiglas and Acrylite brands. With production sites in Europe, North America and China, the company combines local presence with global expertise.

Renowned for decades as a byword for transparency, durability and versatility, the Plexiglas brand is now at the forefront of the sustainable transition and a new functional aesthetic that merges technology with environmental responsibility. At the recent pre-K conferences in Düsseldorf, Röhm demonstrated how this iconic material is meeting the challenges of today’s industries – from mobility and urban lighting to microfluidics.

As Röhm prepares for its participation in the upcoming edition of the K fair in Düsseldorf, the company is sending a clear message: Plexiglas is no longer just a material, but a visual, emotional and technical language shaping contemporary design. Its ability to combine optical properties, processability, impact resistance and design freedom makes it ideal for meeting even the most demanding aesthetic and performance requirements.

One concrete example comes from the automotive sector: the new Lancia Ypsilon has replaced its traditional chrome front grille with an iconic lighting feature known as the “Calice”, consisting of three slender LED strips. The two horizontal lines and central vertical bar are made using light guides in Plexiglas Optical HT – a compound developed to withstand high operating temperatures while maintaining long-term optical clarity. Used by Magna Lighting, the material delivers excellent optical performance over long distances and enables the injection moulding of slim, continuous components, perfectly aligned with modern design trends.

But innovation goes beyond form. At the heart of Röhm’s strategy today is sustainability: the use of low-impact methanol, production plants applying mass balance processes, and the development of carbon-neutral product portfolios. Notable among these efforts are Plexiglas proTerra – a recycled PMMA that retains high optical performance – and depolymerisation technology that regenerates PMMA back into MMA, its base monomer, ready for reuse in new production cycles. A closed-loop approach that is efficient, scalable and geared towards recycling.