From keeping clean to conveying quality, copper is trending as a coveted material for a Post-Covid-19 world.
Copper suggests quality and can elevate a product with distinctive aesthetics, from high-end shine to an aged or handcrafted design. A reflective, high-polish copper finish can appear luxurious and expensive. The look of worn copper with a mottled patina can show truth in materials, conveying the evolving beauty of oxidation. Many of our customers take advantage of our transparent paint finishes and PVD plating to emulate copper. These finishes on our authentic textures, like hammered metal or slate, result in superior nameplate and decorative trim designs. For the appliance industry, LaFrance has utilized authentic copper, a desirable metallic accent for several brands’ top-tier products. We are also exploring the use of corrosion-resistant antique copper for the automotive industry, where copper details are trending in designs.
Have you ever found a heads-up penny and not picked it up because you thought it was too dirty to be lucky? Germophobes can rejoice, as copper-coated pennies can actually kill germs. Unlike the original 100% copper penny, today’s penny is mostly zinc with a copper layer on the outside. In fact, every U.S. coin has some bacteria-fighting copper in it. Copper alloys are registered with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as antimicrobial health materials. From surgeons’ scalpels to countertops in bars and restaurants, copper is a popular choice. In a new climate where health-defending strategies are top-of-mind, copper is even more coveted for its self-cleaning and anti-microbial properties. At LaFrance, we have created copper alloy products like hygienic touch tools to distribute to our employees to support healthy lifestyles.
Embellishing a product with copper can warm up your design, and connect with consumers. The earthiness of aged copper exudes a sense of comfort. A shiny-penny finish has visual warmth and a feeling of positivity. Copper is versatile and can be paired with darker shades or shown with whites and natural woods for a contrasting, yet harmonious appeal. For a fashion eyewear account, LaFrance replicated the look of oxidized copper by developing a proprietary painting process to achieve verdigris patina on electroform. The intent was to create a part that had a time-worn appearance of a treasured keepsake. In our ever-changing world, consumers are looking to feel calm, and the various colors and finishes of copper can resonate with their desire for visual stimuli that convey peace and quiet, and protection and strength.
Whether you are seeking to use authentic copper, or trying to emulate it with a copper-like finish, contact us to incorporate the aesthetic into your next product design at info@lafrancecorp.com.