Bosch Asks, Can You See Where You're Going?
3 November 1999
Bosch Asks, Can You See Where You're Going? BROADVIEW, Ill., Nov. 2 -- Did you know that 90 percent of
the choices you make while you're driving are based on what you can see? Did
you also know that a surprising number of drivers can't see where they're
going during a rainstorm thanks to old or worn windshield wipers?
Some surveys indicate that one in five vehicles have windshield wipers
and/or washer systems in such bad shape that they're barely functional. Other
data suggests that one in three drivers never change their wiper blades.
Their blades are an average of seven and one-half years old. "Wiper blades
have an expected useful life of about six months to one year," Martin E.
Kashnowski, director, product management, consumer products for Bosch said.
"It's amazing that those drivers can see at all."
The drivers who do change their wiper blades regularly usually do it
themselves. Seven out of ten blade replacements are done by the vehicle
owner. But, most of the seven people who are changing their own wiper blades
are men. A recent study found men bought wiper blades more often than women
did by a ratio of almost two to one. And surprisingly, only two percent of
those surveyed reported safety as a reason why they purchased new blades, and
they were men.
"Perhaps one reason that women don't buy wiper blades is that they are
uncomfortable going into auto parts stores," Kashnowski continued. "That has
changed. The retail outlets where our Bosch branded products are sold are
well merchandised and customer friendly. Most retail outlets today actually
perform wiper blade installation as a customer service. And, because we use
only nine part numbers to cover the market, it's easy to choose the correct
wiper blade for your vehicle.
"We also found that many women prefer to have automotive repair work
performed by someone else. They may have tried changing wiper blades and
found the blade adapter difficult to understand or install. At Bosch, we kept
this in mind when we redesigned the Micro Edge Excel," Kashnowski continued.
The Micro Edge Excel's new pre-installed universal adapter virtually
eliminates the need for other adapters. Eighty percent of Excel's
applications fit the pre-installed adapter directly. Should you have one of
the 19 percent of vehicles that require an additional adapter, it requires
only an easy click-in-place installation.
Not only is the Micro Edge Excel easy to install; its performance is
unsurpassed. Excel uses an exclusive dual rubber technology, that is one
Bosch-blended rubber formulation for the body of the wiper element to keep it
flexible, and a second rubber for the wiping edge for optimum cleaning and a
longer performance life in all types of climate extremes.
In general, exposure to the harsh elements of sun, salt, cold, ozone and
ultra violet rays limit the life of a wiper blade. The new Micro Edge Excel
has been specially formulated to withstand extreme environmental conditions.
Over a six month testing schedule, it demonstrated little, if any decline in
wiping performance.
Wiper blades are constructed with a tension spring to help keep the blade
surface in contact with the windshield. During inclement conditions, snow and
moisture, caught by an exposed tension spring, can freeze and reduce the wiper
blade's flexibility. Bosch addressed this problem by insulating the metal
tension spring by fully enclosing it in the rubber wiping element, helping to
prevent the buildup of snow, ice and moisture, thereby ensuring superior all-
weather performance.
Another problem that drivers can encounter with today's aerodynamically
designed cars is that the wrong windshield wipers may lift away from the
windshield at highway speeds. The Micro Edge Excel is built on an aerodynamic
all-steel frame to work with the wind, keeping it in contact with the
windshield at all speeds. The frame is coated with a zinc dichromate primer
for corrosion resistance and extended service life.
"People today have an incredible number of demands on their time,"
Kashnowski concluded. "They recognize that a product will 'save you money in
the long run' by offering superior performance and extended service life. The
Micro Edge Excel is just one in a family of Bosch branded parts that offer the
highest quality, best performance and best value over the life of the
product."
Robert Bosch Corporation, a subsidiary of Robert Bosch GmbH, headquartered
in Stuttgart, Germany, has for more than 111 years been committed to
developing innovative products for the automotive industry. A global company
with more than 189,000 employees and annual sales in 1998 reaching
$28 billion, Bosch has earned a reputation as a quality supplier to both the
automotive original equipment and the aftermarket.
