KerfCase, a US-based manufacturer of smartphone accessories, recently released a wireless charger using advanced composite technology, which is derived from Covestro, one of the world's largest polymer manufacturers. This wireless charger will debut for the first time at the Covestro booth (Booth 52934) during the 2019 International Consumer Electronics Expo (CES), and consumers can pre-order at the KerfCase online store.
The KerfCase wireless charger combines natural wood with composite materials. Natural wood is the ideal material for the top panel of the charger to support the smartphone, while the one-piece structural part made of Covestro Maezio ™ continuous fiber reinforced thermoplastic composite material is used as the support shell below the contact surface, with For a beautiful and elegant visual experience.
High-quality materials enhance user experience
Although wireless chargers are not a new invention, the quality of materials for different charging devices varies. KerfCase wireless chargers rarely combine natural wood with composite materials. Its core design philosophy is to use high-quality materials to enhance the daily experience of consumers. Natural wood is the ideal material for the top panel of the charger to support the smartphone, while the one-piece structural part made of Covestro Maezio ™ continuous fiber reinforced thermoplastic composite material is used as the support shell below the contact surface, with For a beautiful and elegant visual experience. The charger supports 10W wireless fast charging, and has a fast-charging USB-C interface, which supports all Qi-compatible devices.
"Materials are at the core of all our design choices. We reflect our philosophy through the materials we choose," said KerfCase founder and chief designer Ben Saks. "Maezio ™ composite material has a natural carbon fiber unidirectional texture and has a very similar appearance to wood. At the same time, it is very lightweight and has a metal-like texture, which perfectly complements the natural materials used by KerfCase."
Sustainable development
What makes the two companies work together is much more than just beautiful looks. KerfCase, headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is committed to sustainable development in the selection of materials and production processes, using only FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified wood, or wood that was recovered from storm damage in the area. Covestro is committed to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, taking sustainable development as the company's core strategy, and continuously developing products and technologies that can reduce the impact on the ecosystem. An example is Maezio ™ composites: at the end of their life cycle, the material can be recycled to produce chopped fiber composites for injection molding. In the context of today's growing use of disposable materials, Maezio ™ is a truly sustainable material.
New Trends in High-end Consumer Goods
Maezio ™ has previously entered the home appliance industry, extending the excellent performance of carbon fiber composites in industrial and aerospace applications to the field of high-end consumer goods, increasing consumer awareness of the "high-end" concept. Previously, the casing of a high-end air conditioner was made of Maezio ™ material.
"Composites provide new high-end material choices and exciting new design possibilities for next-generation products," said Paul Hassett, market development manager for thermoplastic composites in North America at Covestro. "By partnering with KerfCase, we have proven As composite technology can enhance the daily experience of consumers, we are very much looking forward to seeing it bring us more surprises. "