Continuing in a long-standing tradition of sustainability, Polypack, Pinellas Park, Fla., unveiled a 1,000 solar panel system that can provide all of the power required to run the manufacturing facility, as well as the office space and attached automotive museum.

One of the most important aspects of the solar installation is its unique design. Rather than employing the traditional method of bolting down mounting hardware to the roof, Polypack’s roofing design uses spray foam to secure the mounts in place on the rooftop. The spray foam provides a unified mounting surface that is strong enough to sustain a Category 5 hurricane. The spray foam also provides insulation to the facility, reducing the amount of energy required for heating and cooling throughout the year. The spray foam roof also reflects sunlight, reducing the amount of heat absorbed by the buildings during peak hours.

The mounting system for the solar panels was designed in-house by Polypack, Inc. The mounts are made from 11 gauge stainless steel and the legs are perforated to allow the spray foam to permeate through the surface. They are manufactured from 304 stainless, which offers excellent corrosion resistance and long-term durability. Combined with the unified spray foam surface, the end result is a fully-integrated photovoltaic system capable of withstanding winds in excess of 157 miles per hour.