Toughness. Ruggedness. Resilience. These are admirable personality traits that help individuals get through difficult times or challenges. And in some cases, they are also attributes required for products used in harsh environments.
It’s one thing to design a product that works in the lab. It’s another to make sure it’s ready for real-world conditions and usage. That’s where the selection of innovative and durable materials can make or break a product.
What is considered an extreme environment?
There’s no definition or black-and-white criteria that determines a “harsh environment.” Instead, an extreme environment can include any factor (natural or man-made) that affects the performance or durability of a material, component, or entire product.
Here are some challenging conditions that need to be accounted for during product development. It’s also important to keep in mind that a product may be subjected to multiple harsh elements at once.
Water – Unsealed products can become damaged when submerged in water.
The bad news is that you can’t always control or avoid a challenging environment. The good news is that thanks to advancements in materials science, you can design a product to better withstand and thrive in these harsh conditions.
Here are a few examples of rugged applications:
With extensive experience serving the medical and industrial industries, Tapecon knows a thing or two about creating products used in demanding environments. We have strong relationships with leading materials suppliers and can guide material selection to “toughen up” your design as needed. We also offer a wide range of converting services to turn the raw material into a customized component that will improve the durability and performance of your product.
With over 100 years of manufacturing experience, Tapecon works with product teams to solve challenges, create products, and enhance lives. Learn more about our custom materials converting services.