Month: March 2017

Do You Need It? – Splash Guard Set

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Do you really need splash guards? Whether you call them splash guards or mud flaps, there are lots of factors to consider. If the goal is to add protection to your vehicle, they can help prevent dirt and rocks from damaging your paint and fenders. If the goal is to minimize the debris that your vehicle throws up at the vehicle behind you, they can also do that. If the goal is to make your vehicle look a little more custom, they may even be able to do that.

Depending on your vehicle there may be a lot of splash guard styles to choose from. Genuine guards from the manufacturer may be the best choice because there are designed specifically for each year and model vehicle. Guards from the aftermarket may not offer the best fit for your vehicle. Most of the genuine guard sets can be installed without having to drill holes to mount them. They are designed to match up to preexisting holes on your vehicle.

Splash guards are available in a variety of materials. Some are a flexible rubber type compound. Some are rigid metal. Some are semi-rigid molded plastic. All are designed to offer added protection from water spray, mud, and rocks. Without guards these projectiles can cause dents and chip away paint that can lead to potential rust problems.

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Who Knew? – Smart Factories

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The future of vehicle production at Audi may be changing. Audi is looking into the principles of modular assembly.

Henry Ford’s idea of building cars in a rigid, sequential order is more than 100 years old and still the driving force behind mass production. Thoughts are the assembly line has served us well, but it’s outdated. Using stations instead of an assembly line, modular assembly is a more flexible way to build complex vehicles.

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Recent years have seen immense growth in the demand for many different vehicle models. Some models require more complex components than others. This forces other models on a rigid assembly line to sit idle. Using stations instead of an assembly line allows all vehicles to move to the next station with no downtime.

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Do You Need It? – Floor Mat Set

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Do you really need floor mats? For a number of reasons the answer may be yes. You could think of them as a way to protect your investment. The actual carpet or flooring material in your vehicle can be very expensive and difficult to replace. Having something between it and greasy shoes or two all-beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions and a sesame seed bun with mustard and ketchup could have an effect on the resale value of your vehicle.

In addition to the protection they offer they can make cleaning easier and perhaps even make your vehicle look nicer. Being able to remove the mats to dump off debris and wash or vacuum is handy. To have matching color or custom logo on the mats can add to the “nice look” factor.

You do have some options. There are carpeted and rubber versions. The carpeted mats can be made of a variety of materials, but most offer a plush look and feel. The rubber mats are made of a rubber or plastic type of material and often have a raised lip around the mat to contain dirt and water.

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