CONTINUING EDUCATION COURSE
Understanding Metal Composite Material, Installation, and Systems
Distinguishing quality and understanding warranties.
While many products are marketed as metal composite materials, a significant number are not actually metal composite materials at all. Metal composite material (MCM) is made from several different components. It is a factorymanufactured panel consisting of metal skins bonded to both faces of a solid plastic core.
METAL COMPOSITE MATERIAL (MCM) HISTORY AND BACKGROUND
The term metal composite material is a more general and inclusive term than its predecessor, aluminum composite material (ACM). The first ACM was developed in Europe in 1969. It was not until 1979 that the first ACM was produced in North America.
In the early 1980s, there were a number of companies worldwide producing ACM and shipping to North America for architectural projects. By the 1990s, there were several ACM manufacturers producing products in North America. In addition, several other countries around the world were also manufacturing and providing ACM for North American import.
