Notts shades it over Far East

A cheaper alternative to window tinting – even for vehicle manufacturers – the shades cover the entire surface area of the window while still allowing it to be wound down. Production for 300 car models was undertaken in the Far East, but OE Sunshades realised that the overly long lead times and the cost of airfreight were wiping out many of the savings achieved in the region. Engineering out as much of the labour as it could OE was able to bring production back to Nottinghamshire. One of the primary issues faced during development of the automotive OEM and aftermarket shades was the ability to keep the shade material taught on the metal frame prior to the application of a woven-edge binding. OE Sunshades operations director Stephen Giles said the company tried everything to overcome the problem - tapes, sprays, heat-applied adhesives - and nothing seemed to be able to hold the fabric firmly, with it often detaching or rucking prior to the final sewing operation. Eventually, after a series of trial runs, the solution was finally found in a paper-backed adhesive tape from 3M. "At the moment we are adding about two new car models per week – with many manufacturers sending us newly launched vehicles to measure up,” said Giles. Now it is feasible to receive a car at 08:30 and have it out of the door by 16:30; having measured the apertures, developed the CNC programme for the wire frame, created manufacturing procedures and fabricated initial quality-control samples – all in just eight hours. With just six people working in a single shift pattern, we are able to produce more than 500 sets of shades per week." "In one major future car launch only five optional accessories are being offered, one of which is our shades. From an aftermarket perspective, it looks like a major UK automotive replacement glazing firm will be handling our privacy shades, alongside the only other non-glass product it offers – windscreen wipers.”