This article is sponsored by CS Hyde. In this VIEWS article, Design World spoke with Arik Barrera, Marketing Manager at CS Hyde, to discuss and debunk some of the misconceptions about material converting, and what engineers need to know to make the right materials choices.
When engineers hear the term “material converter,” many picture a warehouse that simply resells tape, film, or fabric pulled off a shelf. However, that perception can overlook the value a converter brings to design, sourcing, and prototyping, especially when off-the-shelf options fall short.
In fact, several common misconceptions about converting may be limiting how engineers approach materials. Misunderstanding what converters actually do can lead to missed opportunities—slowing development cycles, limiting access to specialty materials, or preventing components from being sized to exact requirements. Some converters, like CS Hyde, operate more like production partners than distributors—offering in-house capabilities such as slitting, laminating, die-cutting, and low-volume prep to support custom needs at every stage of the design process.
Below, we take a closer look at three of the most persistent myths engineers encounter, and how CS Hyde challenges them.
Misconception 1: “It’s just tape.”
It’s easy to assume that converters simply supply standard adhesive tapes—the kind used in packaging or general assembly. CS Hyde works with materials engineered to meet specific technical requirements, not just general-purpose needs.
“The different types of plastics that we utilize are engineering-grade plastics, commonly like Kapton, PEEK, Kevlar,” says Arik Barrera, Marketing Manager at CS Hyde. These materials are selected for their performance in high-temperature, aerospace, and electronic applications.
Adhesive systems are equally specialized. “Sometimes there’s a conception that there’s a one-size adhesive that fits all, which really isn’t the case,” Barrera notes. “Being a converter, we can construct specialty film tapes to match surface properties as well as adhesive properties.”
Some engineers may also write off films or tapes based on assumptions about temperature or chemical resistance. “There’s misconceptions that films cannot go into an application because they don’t meet certain specifications such as high temperature,” Barrera adds. “We have a wide range of materials that exceed high temperature resistance, as well as have properties that make them chemical resistant or resistant to UV exposure.”
Misconception 2: “Converters just resell materials.”
A common misconception in the engineering world is that material converters operate like distributors, receiving bulk material from manufacturers and passing it along unchanged. At CS Hyde, converting refers to a hands-on process: reengineering material formats in-house to support specific design, prototyping, and production needs.
“We get correlated with the label or term ‘distributor,’” Barrera said. “All of our materials are made to order. We are still pulling from shelves, however materials are converted to customer specifications”
CS Hyde’s services include slitting, laminating, die-cutting, and sheeting. The company can also work with customer-supplied materials. “Customers can send us materials that we don’t supply, and we can utilize our converting machinery in-house to convert their material,” Barrera explains.
In one case, a customer in the satellite communications industry needed a specific material width that their supplier couldn’t provide. “CS Hyde was able to slit to width the supplied materials to their tolerances, making the rolls compatible within their production process,” says Barrera.
Misconception 3: “I’ll need to order a full case.”
In many industries, engineers assume they’ll need to buy materials in bulk—full rolls, large sheets, or case quantities—even for R&D and prototyping. CS Hyde takes a different approach, offering materials in smaller, more manageable quantities. Films can be ordered by the foot, fabrics by the yard, and silicone rubber sheets in formats as small as 12”x12”. Many in-stock items are available with minimums as low as a single roll or one lineal foot.
“This goes more into creating accessibility for products that normally require large minimum orders,” says Barrera. “It gives engineers the opportunity to test and feel and understand how the products would be compatible within their application before requiring a large minimum order.”
Additional Advantages
When production stalls or prototyping hits a standstill, CS Hyde is structured to respond quickly, with same-day or next-day turnaround times. Their domestic sourcing model also supports both lead time and cost control.
“Over 90% of our products are made in the U.S.,” says Barrera. “We also ship both domestically and internationally. We’ve created some of the strongest relationships with premier material manufacturers in the world.”
Sourcing domestically reduces exposure to tariffs and helps make supply chains more predictable. Beyond logistics, the company also aims to streamline how engineers access materials. Through CS Hyde’s online storefront, engineers can place quick orders using a purchasing card, without needing to set up a new vendor account.
CS Hyde offers a more responsive, flexible approach to material sourcing. Its catalog includes high-performance materials such as thin insulator films and flame-retardant silicones—and those materials are easily accessible. For engineers who need more than what’s on the shelf, CS Hyde offers a smarter way forward.
To learn more, visit CS Hyde.