September 2007
Because of solid engineering and manufacturing, some products become timeless--in both the way they're built and how they work. Yet we can't always say the same thing about design. Some products, regardless of how relevant they might be in the 21st century, will appear "stuck" in the '60s or '70s, mainly because of their appearance. The solution? Updating plastic enclosures through innovative processes, such as thermoforming.
Below are some "modernizing" tips to keep in mind when making updates.
Tips On Updating Your Product's Look
Cool Colors
Remember the orange and lime green kitchens of the '70s? What was cool then isn't so much now. Color has a profound impact on us from marketing and psychological standpoints. Blues and greens can connote calm and environment friendly. Earth tones, such as whites and creams, suggest cleanliness. Louder colors, like purple, scream "notice me." While you will probably opt for "clean" shades for medical parts, such as operating room carts, you'd probably choose bold purples and reds for parts geared toward kids.
At ThermoFab, we can bring your "color vision" to life since we control all painting in-house. On a recent project, we matched the color of Titleist's Launch Monitor to the color of their metal club head. Now that's progress!
Modern Features
The little things make all the difference--the sleek, smooth look of a part or its detailed undercuts--and can give a product a contemporary feel. With modern processes, such as thermoforming, the sky's the limit with what can be accomplished:
- blind venting
- louvers
- undercuts
- molded logos
ThermoFab can easily handle all of the above--plus much more!
Fast Turnarounds
In the old days of designing and prototyping, making changes to a design would eat up time and money. But now it doesn't have to be like that. At ThermoFab, we can go from "art to part" in four to six weeks. This means that as trends change in regards to what's "in" and what's "out," your part can change as well (easily and economically).
Case in Point--Going From "Then" to "Wow!"
When this company--the world's leading provider of light-based products for medical and aesthetic skin care--came to ThermoFab, the company's managers knew they wanted an up-to-date look for a product they already had on the market. The client asked ThermoFab for assistance with revamping their current design.
The designer chosen for the product hand rendered three different design concepts. Each drawing was presented to the client for feedback. ThermoFab worked closely with the client while coordinating the design process in order to provide input on manufacturability. Because of our proprietary process, clients achieve their time-to-market goals and can get greater detail in the product than they could with other thermoforming manufacturers.
The result? A contemporary look for an already great product.
People Who Make ThermoFab Fabulous: Meet Chere Chapman
Chere Chapman (pictured far left), one of ThermoFab's two purchasing agents, decided she wanted her sixteen-year-old daughter Rachael's (pictured second in from the right) summer to be extra special. After doing some Internet sleuthing, Chere learned about a trip to Alaska where participants would build condos for Habitat for Humanity. Having always wanted to visit the land of the midnight sun, Chere asked Rachael how she would feel about a mother-daughter trip where they'd build homes for those less fortunate. Rachael loved the idea, and the two embarked on a two-week adventure in June that would forever change them--but not before it changed everyone at ThermoFab as well.
Chere approached ThermoFab for sponsorship and ThermoFab contributed to the trip! "We couldn't have gone without ThermoFab's help," Chere says.
Chere and Rachael worked and lived alongside a group of 21 other people, sharing close sleeping and living quarters in a local church basement in Anchorage. Working full days Monday through Thursday, the group worked on condos for ten different families. The first family moved in this summer. On the two weekends during their trip, Chere and Rachael explored many of Alaska's wonders, including awe-inspiring glaciers.
Would she and Rachael do it again? "In a heartbeat," Chere says. "I'll never forget it."
ThermoFab is committed to being the leader in custom plastic enclosures.
Contact us today to learn how we can take you from files to finished product in just 4-6 weeks!
Sincerely,
Thomas A. King, Jr., President
ThermoFab
email: engineering@thermofab.com
phone: 888-494-9777
web: http://www.thermofab.com