Rob, that's what it looks like to me, too, and why I called it a no-brainer decision. Now, if they can just figure out how to make it out of an organic material that doesn't compete with food production or kill trees, it will be an even better solution.
Sounds like there are plenty of efficiency gains here. Even if the new materials and process come with additional costs, those costs may be offset by the efficiency gains.
Jim, that's a good question. But this was not designed for UV protection, and it was designed to peel off easily without damaging the surface it has adhered to. So I doubt it would be a good candidate for those applications.
I've left a clear coat on the backsplash of my dryer, and then wasn't sure if I should have, since it began to peel off unevenly. Wish I'd had this stuff instead, as well as clear instructions!
Thanks, Rob. This one looks like a no-brainer choice. The entire process is speeded up, and costs all appear to be the same or lower for that reason, as well as for the decline in waste of both raw material in reject products sent back, as well as less waste in the skin film application process. The skin film process materials can be recycled in an existing waste stream, so no special handling is required there. No information was given about cost differentials between materials alone, but this is a materials-plus-process system, so that might be difficult and/or less relevant to measure.
Any idea if the packaging-for-shipment intent could evolve into a permanent outer protective jacket-? I usually leave the protective films on new appliances and cellphones for as long as they still cling --- the one on our oven's back-splash membrane switch panel is still there today.Question is, would the Surlyn hold up as a permanent coating on outdoor items such as patio furniture to keep thinks looking newer longer-?(Thinking about UV degradation).
Dave, thanks for the Surlyn feedback. It looks like a pretty amazing material, and I noticed the high gloss right away. Interesting that a version of it has been applied to injection molding. I'll check that out.
Thanks, naperlou. I like reporting on improvements that result from better design engineering, or that benefit engineers, but also what might be thought of as a form of technology transfers: using one or more technologies that have previously been applied to some apps and figuring out how they can benefit other apps or uses.
Surlyn ionomer is good stuff. Besides the use of Surlyn in packaging films, a blend of Surlyn ionomer and nylon-6, called Surlyn Reflections, is available as a mold-in-color injection molding compound. (Although originally developed by DuPont, Surlyn Reflections is sold by LTL Color Compounders). It has the highest gloss of any mold-in-color plastic I've seen. It looks for all the world like a high-quality paint job. We are looking at using a mineral filled grade for improved rigidity and temperature resistance.
Indeed, Naperlou. It's interesting to see how materials advances, and new applications for same, are enhancing not just products but packaging and thus supporting quality assurance and enabling better yields (less damage). The key difference recently is the affordable cost and flexibility of materials so that we're not talking replacement but actually the ability to use them in applications where previously there weren't any options.
For 3D printing to make the jump from rapid prototyping to manufacturing, engineers will need to find easier ways to move products from their CAD screens to their printers.
Gigabit and PoE are two networking technologies moving ahead in tandem as industrial users power remote Ethernet devices such as IP security cameras at 1,000 Mbps over existing CAT5 cable.
New versions of BASF's Ecovio line are both compostable and designed for either injection molding or thermoforming. These combinations are becoming more common for the single-use bioplastics used in food service and food packaging applications, but are still not widely available.
From Dell / Intel® New Paradigms in Design Work Scott Hamilton, vertical market strategist for Dell Precision workstations, 5/2/2013 5
Early in my career, I worked as a draftsman and remember the days of drawing on vellum with numbered pencils and Mylar with plastic lead. This was a fun experience in the sense that I ...
I've been using workstations for more than 10 years and love finding ways to get more performance from my system. With demanding professional applications that require more power each ...
A lasting memory from my first job as an engineer in an auto assembly plant is standing on hard concrete at six in the morning, vending-machine coffee clutched in hand, listening to ...
For industrial control applications, or even a simple assembly line, that machine can go almost 24/7 without a break. But what happens when the task is a little more complex? That’s where the “smart” machine would come in. The smart machine is one that has some simple (or complex in some cases) processing capability to be able to adapt to changing conditions. Such machines are suited for a host of applications, including automotive, aerospace, defense, medical, computers and electronics, telecommunications, consumer goods, and so on. This radio show will show what’s possible with smart machines, and what tradeoffs need to be made to implement such a solution.
To save this item to your list of favorite Design News content so you can find it later in your Profile page, click the "Save It" button next to the item.
If you found this interesting or useful, please use the links to the services below to share it with other readers. You will need a free account with each service to share an item via that service.
Tweet This
2 
