Appliance Design - March 2008 - (Page 45)

METALS looks, brushed and non-brushed surfaces and dyed, translucent variants, Pohl says. It comes in different levels of shine including glossy, matte and brushed finishes. Standard options are bright steel finish, titanium finish and aluminum finish, but custom designs are possible depending on the size of the order. The product can be used in fabrication operations such as deep drawing, folding, roll forming, punching and stamping. Testing of the material has shown good results, says Pohl. For instance, the material undergoes a T-Bend test, a formability test in which the panel is impacted and must show no hairline cracking (≤ 2.5 T), and the Erichsen-cupping test, a ductility test to measure sheet metal quality (> 6mm). Pohl says the material is finger print resistant, as well as durable against various chemicals and abrasions. In chemical resistance tests, the material was exposed to 10 percent acetic acid, 10 percent citric acid, shoe polish, mustard, vegetable oil, insect repellent spray, chloride cleanser, onion, butter, black current juice, Coca Cola and red wine. The material also underwent a surface hardness test measuring (sensitiveness against marking Erichsen stick 318 ≥ 2.5 N) as well as corrosion resistance tests (under creepage ≤ 2 mm / >72 h; blistering on surface m0g0 / >72 h). After the test, the surface showed no visible damage. The type of testing that ThyssenKrupp subjects its products is typical of the industry. A close-up of ThyssenKrupp’s Metal Look product. flow, higher yields, shorter process times, and less environmental issues. “Stainless steel is our know-how,” she says, “We can coat on any material, but we focus on stainless steel because it has so many advantages such as corrosion and abrasion resistance, stiffness and environmental benefits.” When specifying materials, performance and cost are often trade-offs. For company’s looking for a stainless steel appearance, but without the upfront costs, ThyssenKrupp of Duisburg, Germany, offers a new product called PladurM that comes in a number of metallic looks, including stainless steel. In fact, the M stands for Metal Look, according to Axel Pohl, project manager with the Profit Center Color of ThyssenKrupp Steel AG. The company offers a family of Pladur products that can be used in a variety of hot, cold and wet applications. What is new with this product, Pohl says, is the vast array of colors and finishes that are now available. The material was developed in conjunction with a home appliance manufacturer of stoves. Its uses have expanded, as have the manufacturers who use PladurM. The material is now being used by BSH Bosch und Siemens in its refrigerators and stoves, and by other manufacturers who manufacture such products as computer cases and stereo components. PladurM is a hot-dip finished, galvanized steel. It is a thin-sheet product that is covered with a metalized decorative film that is applied by coil application. The metalized film gives the steel the appearance of highprice materials such as aluminum, copper, stainless steel and titanium. “It is a carbon steel product and the charm of it is that you can imitate and emulate the look of much more expensive materials,” Pohl says. Available in coils and cut lengths, the new product comes in a variety of metallic A range of possible variations that can be achieved using ThyssenKrupp’s PladurM. www.applianceDESIGN.com applianceDESIGN March 2008 45 http://www.appliancedesign.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Appliance Design - March 2008

Appliance Design - March 2008 Contents Editorial Shipments/Forecasts News Watch A New Appliance is Set to Break into Homes Soon - the Micro CHP Unit, which Generate both Heat and Power. Thermally Enhanced Varistors Help Protect Low-Power Systems Against Damage Caused by Over-Current, Over-Temperature and Over-Voltage Faults. Hybrid Controller Reduces Standby Power Consumption and Improves Active-Mode Efficiency. Battery-Management ICs Solve Design Challenges for Cordless Appliances Using High-Voltage, Lithium-Ion Battery Technology. A Semiconductor Solution Protects the Relay in a Temperature Controller for a Cooking Appliance. New Polyurethane Foam Insulation System Optimizes both Insulation Performance and Productivity. Innovations in Decorative, Pre-Finished Metals Expand Range of Design Options for Appliance Designers. Design Marts Association Report: AHAM Advertiser's Index

Appliance Design - March 2008

For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.