Today's kitchen appliance is a marvel of design ingenuity. It is also a showcase for pressure-sensitive (PS) films and adhesives, which are found on, under and within the appliance. PS products handle a variety of tasks and solve a number of problems.
The nameplate must be not only attractive, but also distinctive to capture the eye of the consumer and reinforce brand identity. The combination of polyester material-noted for its durability and printability-and a permanent acrylic laminating adhesive is an ideal solution. It helps the nameplate remain intact, legible and new-looking for the life of the appliance while withstanding environmental stresses such as abrasion and cleaning.
There are also product and parts identification on the appliance's back, underside and interior. Printed polyester labels carry safety warnings, electric ratings, operating instructions, warranty details, safety certification, and more. A typical electric appliance may include a half-dozen or more printed PS film labels, which, unlike paper, can contend with the tortures of the appliance environment, including vibration, heat, cold, moisture, soap, grease, and bleach.
PS films and adhesives are often key to appliance performance. Gaskets, for example, help provide a watertight seal. Noise and vibration damping is another application; viscoelastic polymers between layers of steel or plastic absorb the noise and vibration, helping to satisfy the preference for quieter appliances.
PS films and adhesives can play a role in the user/appliance interface. In membrane switches, for example, contacts are made of a flexible substrate. The film products used in membrane switches-including laminates, spacers and mounting adhesives-must be selected with care, as the switch must endure thousands of actuations throughout the life of the appliance without delaminating.
The contribution of PS films is even felt at the point of sale, in eye-catching window ads, stickers and graphic advertising on the floor.
For simplicity in meeting a product's many PS film/adhesive needs, a producer may consider consulting a single film supplier/consultant adept at all uses of film for appliance brand identity, parts labeling, compliance, performance, and brand promotion. The film/adhesive supplier can coordinate materials for an optimum overall design solution.
This information was provided by Christopher Drury, market development manager, FLEXcon
A Tip For Placing Online Orders
Protomold says it often sees a surge in request for quotes (RFQs) and online orders on Fridays. Like most companies, its service representatives work 5 days a week. Placing an online order on Friday means an OEM will probably not hear back from the supplier with order confirmation and proposed gate and ejector pin layout until Monday. The company can't start milling the mold until the gate and pin layout is approved.
So here's the tip: if possible, place the online order in the middle of the week. That allows a couple of business days before the weekend to send order confirmation with a proposed gate and ejector pin layout to review. If it looks good, the producer can give items like quantity, material, surface finish requirements, and color a final review-then approve the layout. Protomold
