Product category:
Materials and components
News Release from: MacDermid Autotype | Subject: Kienzle Systems
Edited by the Engineeringtalk Editorial
Team on 09 April 2002
Polyester film protects marine panels
When Kienzle Systems chose a material to form the protective outer layer of its new marine panels it opted for Autotex UV, a reverse-printable, resilient and highly UV resistant polyester film.
Kienzle Systems, a company based in Neckarsulm, Germany, operates in the high technology sector developing state-of the-art processes for the manufacture of complex human interface devices Kienzle's flatbed keyboards have held a leading position in the European and international markets for many years
Recent product developments include marine control panels for powerboats and motor yachts as well as rugged portable computers for use on geological surveys and expeditions.
Such high-tech products require high-performance materials.
In particular, devices intended for outdoor use such as in a marine environment, will be subjected to high levels of UV radiation from the sun.
This would quickly deteriorate ordinary polycarbonates or PVC.
So when Kienzle chose a material to form the protective outer layer of its new marine panels it opted for Autotex UV, a reverse-printable, resilient and highly UV resistant polyester film from Autotype International.
Autotex UV is a high-quality textured Polyester film coated with a scratch and UV-resistant hard coat.
Bjorn Kienzle confirmed: "This industrial film has a uniformly textured and extraordinarily scratch resistant surface, as well as a high level of UV resistance which prevents the material from becoming discoloured or brittle prematurely.
These qualities make this the material of choice for any outdoor application that is to look good and perform reliably for many years to come.
In addition, the underside of the Autotype film is coated with a primer that ensures excellent adhesion of inks and lacquers.
This primer also enables us to use conductive inks to screen print circuit elements and even electroluminescent displays directly onto the film".
Another device developed at Kienzle Systems is a portable computer system for use in the field during geological surveys.
A GPS navigation system is incorporated into the device, and receives positional co-ordinates from five satellites in orbit that it then logs with the survey data in real time.
The user interface for this device is provided by a rugged yet user-friendly membrane-switch keyboard, and this keyboard too is based on Autotex polyester film.
The marine panels and portable PCs for geological surveys are already in production at Kienzle Systems, and are being distributed worldwide.
These are just two examples of the numerous state-of-the art applications that use Autotex industrial polyester films from Autotype International.
Bjorn Kienzle remarks: "In order to ensure that our products meet our clients' exacting demands even in very challenging work environments we have to work with great precision.
There is no room for error.
Consequently, in order to maintain the high quality standards that have made our reputation, we need suppliers who, like us, strive to be both innovative and totally dependable.
Autotype is the leading manufacturer of industrial films for membrane switch front plates and circuit layers, and they are the right partner for us.
Autotype polyester films fully comply with our own, exacting quality standards, and due to their excellent properties these materials have become the standard substrate for all types of membrane switch applications". Request a free brochure from MacDermid Autotype ...
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