OEM: Philips, Amsterdam, Netherlands Year: 2008 Industry sector: Upper sections of housings

Part design:

Manufacturers of appliances and fashionable accessories for household use and personal grooming are increasingly turning to film insert molding (FIM) technology to give their products high-quality decorative surface finishes. One example is the HQ 7140 electric shaver from Philips. The front and back of the shaver are made from Bayfol® CR 1-4 PC blend film (PC + polyester), which is screen-printed on the back with a honeycomb effect. The glossy, highly transparent film makes the decorative effects stand out even more. The shaver is also resistant to “shaving chemicals” such as after-shave and enables easy cold forming, thereby ensuring excellent positioning accuracy for the printed decorative elements. FIM technology can also be used for all kind of other applications, including hairdryer, curling tong and toothbrush handles, washing machines/dryer front panels and TV/radio fascias. Elegant cosmetics packaging is another particularly attractive area of application.