I often wonder how one can account for life experiences in product design.
We make metal chassis for computers. There are two kinds of steel sheets available to us - CR (cold rolled) and GP (galvanized plain). Once the sheets are cut and bent, they are powder coated for finish and to prevent rusting. Our vendors proudly stand behind the quality and durability of their powder coating.
As someone who has spent a considerable amount of time in Chennai, I have seen corrosion first hand. Sea air, with salt in it, can eat through anything and everything. Steel is simply no match to the sea. Therefore, I prefer using GP sheets, which are simply CR sheets with a coating of Zinc. The Zinc provides a layer of protection. Even without powder coating, a GP sheet does not corrode in coastal regions.
Between my company, and the offices of our vendors, I am the lone warrior who keeps insisting on using GP for all our chassis.
Any amount of education or work experience cannot account for life experiences. I wonder how great product designers accommodate for this. Do they constantly travel? After all, even an uneducated house owner in a coastal area knows that bathroom fittings would much rather be bought in plastic or brass, than in steel with chrome finish.
We make metal chassis for computers. There are two kinds of steel sheets available to us - CR (cold rolled) and GP (galvanized plain). Once the sheets are cut and bent, they are powder coated for finish and to prevent rusting. Our vendors proudly stand behind the quality and durability of their powder coating.
As someone who has spent a considerable amount of time in Chennai, I have seen corrosion first hand. Sea air, with salt in it, can eat through anything and everything. Steel is simply no match to the sea. Therefore, I prefer using GP sheets, which are simply CR sheets with a coating of Zinc. The Zinc provides a layer of protection. Even without powder coating, a GP sheet does not corrode in coastal regions.
Between my company, and the offices of our vendors, I am the lone warrior who keeps insisting on using GP for all our chassis.
Any amount of education or work experience cannot account for life experiences. I wonder how great product designers accommodate for this. Do they constantly travel? After all, even an uneducated house owner in a coastal area knows that bathroom fittings would much rather be bought in plastic or brass, than in steel with chrome finish.