Design World – August 2019

28 August 2019 http://www.designworldonline.com DESIGN WORLD

Bus, RV, and truck body manufacturers currently use an old

design and outdated Fender Flare around their wheel wells. This current part has

a two-part manufacturing method, meaning that it is extruded as raw rubber

and coiled onto plates. Those plates are then placed into an autoclave, which

cures the part through high pressure and heat. The main benefit of this older

manufacturing process is that the part cures in the shape required for end-user

assembly.

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DESIGN WORLD http://www.designworldonline.com August 2019 29

A modern shape and design

updates the look of buses, RV’s and

truck bodies while eliminating rust and

corrosion potential caused by drilling

and bolting.

The challenge is that installation is cumbersome and costly;

holes must be pre-drilled through the fender, drilling creates

potential for rust and corrosion, and hardware such as plated

or SS bolts, washers, and nuts are expensive. Often, the

length of time for each fender flare installation is longer than

desired and the look of the fender flare is outdated.

That is why Trim-Lok designed, developed, and patented

its FENDER FLARE with a modern shape and design

combining its Edge Trim for ease of installation and 3M

Automotive Grade Bonded Tape system for added strength

and security. The Fender Flare is manufactured from EPDM

Dense Rubber using a continuous extrusion process, which

is more efficient and cost-effective than autoclaving. Fender

Flare can be coiled or cut in straight lengths for shipping and

continues to have to the ability to install around the tightest

radius without buckling. Lab testing shows that over 30

pounds of force per inch is needed to remove Fender Flare

after installation.

Efficient installation without the need for pre-drilling,

nuts, bolts, and costly fasteners, thus eliminates rust and

corrosion potential — there are also labor savings from the

reduced installation time. DW

Trim-Lok | trimlok.com

Design Notes 8-19_Vs3.LL.indd 29 8/5/19 10:58 AM