KerfCase and Covestro join hands to present new charging accessory
Pittsburgh-based smartphone accessories maker KerfCase has released a wireless charging pad that takes advantage of an advanced composite technology developed by Covestro, one of the largest polymer manufacturers in the world. Available for pre-order on the KerfCase online store, this wireless charging pad will be featured at the Covestro booth (#52934) at CES 2019 for the first public viewing.
An homage to quality materials Wireless charging pads aren’t a new invention, but not all chargers are made equal. Featuring a rare combination of natural wood and composites, the KerfCase Wireless Charging Pad is designed with quality materials at its core to enhance the everyday experience of consumers. Natural wood provides an ideal rest stop for a smartphone, while a composite molded unibody made of Maezio™ Continuous Fiber-Reinforced Thermoplastic (CFRTP) composites elevates the device with elegance and beauty. It features 10W fast charging, a USB-C port and is compatible with all Qi enabled smartphones.
“Material is at the core of all the design choices we make. The materials we work with are a reflection of ourselves,” says Ben Saks, founder and lead designer of KerfCase. “With a natural unidirectional carbon texture, Maezio™ composites share common aesthetic properties with wood. At the same time, they are extremely light and strong with a metallic effect, making them a perfect complement to the natural materials that KerfCase is exclusively focused on.”
Sustainable by nature It’s more than beautiful materials that brought the two companies together. KerfCase is devoted to sustainable materials and manufacturing. Their products are made from FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) Certified wood as well as reclaimed, local wood sourced from storm-damaged urban trees. Committed to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), Covestro puts sustainability at the heart of its corporate strategy, working on products and technologies that reduce the impact on ecological systems. Maezio™ composites are no exception: At the end of their life, they can be reground and used in an injection molding process for chopped fiber composite materials, making them a sustainable material choice in an increasingly disposable world.
A new take on premium consumer products Following their entry into consumer appliances industry, Maezio™ composites continue the advancement of carbon fiber from industrial and aerospace applications into high-end consumer facing products to create and reinforce the notion of “premium” for consumers. They were utilized, for example, in a high-end air conditioner to house the air conditioning units.
“Composites bring a new premium material and exciting new design opportunities for next-generation products,” says Paul Hassett, market development manager in North America, Covestro. “Through our collaboration with KerfCase, we’ve demonstrated once again the potential of composite technologies in enhancing everyday consumer experience and we can’t wait to see where they will take us in the future.”
About KerfCase KerfCase, founded in 2013, is a designer and manufacturer of premium consumer accessories based in Pittsburgh, PA, U.S.A. The company is rooted in a passion for craftsmanship and an exacting attention to fine details. Using reclaimed, upcycled and local materials, KerfCase is focused on the intersection of sustainability and advanced technology.
About Covestro: With 2017 sales of EUR 14.1 billion, Covestro is among the world’s largest polymer companies. Business activities are focused on the manufacture of high-tech polymer materials and the development of innovative solutions for products used in many areas of daily life. The main segments served are the automotive, construction, wood processing and furniture, and electrical and electronics industries. Other sectors include sports and leisure, cosmetics, health and the chemical industry itself. Covestro has 30 production sites worldwide and employs approximately 16,200 people (calculated as full-time equivalents) at the end of 2017.
Forward-looking statements This news release may contain forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by Covestro AG. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. These factors include those discussed in Covestro’s public reports which are available at www.covestro.com. The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments.
