Borealis partners Bosch Siemens in landmark dishwasher metal replacement application

Borealis, a leading supplier of polyolefin materials, has worked with leading household appliance OEM Bosch Siemens to develop the first all polypropylene dishwasher tub in Europe. Key to this landmark development is Borealis’ MB350WG PP material, a new grade designed specifically for replacement of the stainless steel traditionally used in the highly corrosive environment typical for this type of application.

Driving the development was the OEMs’ dual objective of improved performance and customer value, and manufacturing cost reduction. The stainless steel tub represents one of the highest cost components in dishwasher manufacture and therefore presents an ideal candidate for decreasing cost and increasing competivity in the white goods’ marketplace.

Having established the potential of the tub for metal to plastic replacement and for its significant economic advantage, Borealis worked with Bosch Siemens’ technical team to develop MB350WG, a talc-filled polypropylene grade specifically optimised to satisfy the performance criteria set by the OEM.

Central to the new PP grade was the inclusion of an excellent stabilisation system. Although standard polypropylene exhibits a high resistance to chemicals, the in-use environment of the tub, which combines rinse aid, hot water and detergent, required the extension of the material’s property profile. The stabilisation package for MB350WG ensures resistance to hydrolytic or degradation caused by other chemicals and the maintenance of the material’s outstanding stiffness and impact performance (absorbing up to 100 percent higher impact stress than normal 30% talcum filled grades), as well as minimising its discolouration.

Other key benefits devolving from the use of MB350WG were the decrease in both thermal and acoustic transmission it offered, thereby contributing to the dishwasher’s user friendliness, and high as-moulded surface quality and scratch resistance which add to its aesthetic appeal.

According to Mr. Werner Posch Borealis: “Borealis is justly proud of its tradition of product design and functionality improvement through material innovation and technical support, and our contribution to this ‘all PP’ tub application confirms our record in this respect. It also provides another clear example of how we work in partnership with OEMs to achieve their cost and performance goals.”

Further Mr. Anton Sageder Borealis, says: “The combination of our material and design knowledge, such as Computer Aided Engineering and Design Simulation, brings significant benefits to our customers. This is evident in this new product introduction.”

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