We solved an outdoor environment resistance problem on membrane switch for one of our customers, using high-performance materials tested in severe environments such as nautical or agricultural.
Not only in our industry, innovation is a crucial aspect. The matter is not whether to innovate, but rather how to gain competitive advantage through innovation.
I no longer remember where I read that managing innovation means finding an appropriate solution to the problem of how to deal with and solve a certain phenomenon, whether of a customer or internal to one’s own organization, quickly, efficiently and effectively.
Innovation thus becomes a company’s mental and experiential wealth, one of the few tools-if not the only one – that can ensure a competitive advantage over competitors.
Weather resistance issues
For just over a year, a Padova-based company has been a customer of ours that develops access control systems, all managed remotely, for which we produce membrane switches, or graphic overlay for NFC neutral systems or membranes with transparency for QR code readers.
With the previous supplier, the company had experienced problems related to the outdoor resistance of the products, then premature aging of the materials due to direct solar radiation and/or issues related to environmental temperature excursions. Within a few months of use, the membrane was aging, cracking and compromising the product’s aesthetics, functionality, and reliability.
On the advice of their electronic board supplier, and after a web search phase, they came to us. During their visit to our office, we were able to illustrate very similar case histories to them, showing items made for other clients.
Willingness, pragmatism and problem solving
To be honest, initially I was baffled by what the customer showed me: I couldn’t understand how the other supplier, a well-known competitor, had failed to come up with solutions.
For this reason, I preferred to take a cautious approach, promising nothing and proposing an initial sampling.
A viewpoint well received by the client, who appreciated the willingness to try to package an ad hoc solution, through trials, prototypes before starting with actual production-a pragmatic, problem-solving approach.
Tests passed
The sampling was tested in the field: the customer has test benches that simulate the exposure of the product to external weather: sun, water, temperature ranges, etc.
Their feedback was very positive, so a cooperative relationship was formed, which also resulted in subsequent OEM custom versions for our client’s customers.
The stress resistance of the tests is largely due to the use of extremely high-performance materials (e.g., polyesters that are particularly resistant to UV light and temperature ranges).
As we have already pointed out in a previous post , we know very well the stresses to which the membrane switches are subjected outside, thanks to the direct experience of various industries: agricultural, nautical, snowmobile, industrial vehicle, artificial snowmaking, etc.