Washing machines

Washing machine segment share a significant amount of market share in the white goods area and is growing faster.

With the right mechanical performance and various benefits over the metal, plastics, in specific PP and PP compounds have been penetrating the market heavily. For instance currently in Western Europe, more than two thirds of washing machine tubs are made of plastics. Plastics, and especially PP, are the material of choice for washing machines for the following reasons:

• Reduction of cost/unit
• Easier recyclability
• Non corrosiveness
• Sound damping nature
• Design flexibility versus traditional materials (e.g. steel)

The typical washing machine components produced using PP and PP compounds are:

• Inner/outer tubs
• Pump houses and functional parts
• Aesthetic parts (like control panels)
• Basements
• Balance rings
• Agitators
• Pedestals
  

Borealis aims to increase production efficiency at the same time by lowering costs and has developed several polypropylene (PP) grades to be used for different components.