Case Study.
A Major Appliance Brand’s Partnership with Polyfuze®:
Creating a Durable, Long-Lasting Dishwasher Button System with Polymer Fusion Labeling.
2024 Case Study
Ensuring Lasting Button Durability:
Table of Contents
- 1. Executive Summary: Focus on a Major Appliance Brand’s Labeling Challenge
- 2. Background: Renowned for Durability and Quality
- 3. The Problem: Challenges with Polypropylene Button Labeling
- 4. The Solution: Polymer Fusion Labeling as the Viable Option
- 5. The Result: Major Appliance Brand Implements Polymer Fusion Labeling
Executive Summary
Focus on a Major Appliance Brand’s Labeling Challenge
In this case study, we explore how a major appliance brand, known for its innovative line of high-quality dishwasher drawers that set industry standards for durability and design, overcame a significant challenge. Renowned for producing premium appliances, the brand faced an issue with finding a label that could endure the extreme conditions of the dishwasher environment. Testing various labeling technologies was crucial to ensuring they found a solution that could withstand daily use, water exposure, and high temperatures. Partnering with Polyfuze® Graphics Corporation, the major appliance brand validated a permanent solution that met stringent durability requirements. Had they chosen an inferior labeling method, it would have likely failed, but through careful testing, they ensured that Polyfuze®’s polymer fusion labels would endure the rigors of their products’ demanding conditions.
Background
Renowned for Durability and Quality
This major appliance brand is renowned for its dedication to quality and long-lasting products. Their line of dishwasher drawers, designed to provide years of dependable service, faced a challenge with finding a label for the control button area (made of polypropylene, a very low surface energy material) that could withstand the rigors and use of the dishwasher environment. The buttons, which were pressed and rubbed multiple times a day, were also exposed to dishwasher solutions, moisture, and high temperatures, and the label needed to endure these conditions for the lifespan of the dishwasher. The brand’s testing process was conducted to validate a solution that could meet these durability needs, as anything less would result in performance failure.
The Problem
Challenges with Polypropylene Button Labeling
The issue the major appliance brand faced was to find a label that could both bond effectively to the polypropylene surface—a low surface energy material—and, more importantly, endure the rigors of the dishwasher environment. The labels needed to withstand daily use, including being pressed and rubbed multiple times a day, while exposed to harsh conditions like water, detergents, moisture, and high temperatures for the entire lifespan of the dishwasher. Their testing aimed to validate a solution that would ensure long-term performance, as the risk of going with an inferior solution would have led to premature failures and damage to their reputation for durability.
The Solution
Polymer Fusion Labeling as the Viable Option
Polyfuze® polymer fusion labeling technology emerged as the perfect solution to meet the major appliance brand’s needs. Unlike traditional labels, Polyfuze® fuses directly with the polypropylene surface, becoming part of the product itself—permanent, durable, and able to withstand extreme conditions over the long term. This innovation provided a solution that the brand could confidently validate through rigorous testing. Polyfuze® not only solved the immediate problem of label degradation but also represented a value-driven change that prevented ongoing issues with label performance.
Sure enough, we stamped the Polyfuze Label, then I took a knife to it and it was fused in there! That blew me away! You couldn’t do that with a heat transfer… I can say that our scrap rate, using Polyfuze versus heat transfers, is far less… Once you start using it, it sells itself.
– Rubbermaid Engineer
The Result
Major Appliance Brand Implements Polymer Fusion Labeling
The implementation of Polyfuze® labeling technology for the major appliance brand resulted in exceptional performance. During assessments, several labeling and graphic methods were tested, but only Polyfuze® successfully passed the required tests. The labels maintained their durability throughout rigorous daily use, proving that Polyfuze®’s technology was the right choice. An engineer noted: “Observations confirm the viability of Polyfuze®’s own test report documentation. Polyfuze® is indeed an advanced performer for long-term polypropylene graphics longevity.”
These results led to the decision to expand Polyfuze® labeling solutions to other product lines, with over 1 million polymer fusion labels now provided across various brands within the portfolio.
The Solution: Polymer Fusion Labeling
Written By:
Matthew Stevenson
Published On:
January 15, 2024
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