OE Sunshades now has a patent, which, as well as covering the way the shades clip into the window surrounds (allowing the windows to open with the shade in place), also covers the unique semi-permanent way it fixes the material prior to edge binding. "The shades have been a real success," Giles continues. "In one major future car launch only five optional accessories are being offered, one of which is our shades. In another instance we are supplying a major OEM to cater for rear window glare on one of its new models. 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.

"At the moment we are adding about two new car models per week with many manufacturers sending us newly launched vehicles to measure up." Giles elaborates. "It is perfectly normal for us to accept 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. I think it is fair to say that the tapes and other products supplied by 3M through Anixter Adhesives have revolutionised the way we are able to manufacture and we are certainly not facing the same quality issues we encountered early on in the development process."

3M 950 Tape is ideal for attaching a wide variety of similar and dissimilar materials where an aggressive adhesive with high initial adhesion is desired. This pressure-sensitive, medium-firm acrylic adhesive also features good shear holding power and at just 0.13mm thick, the clear adhesive does not impact on the aesthetics of the substrates being bonded. The tapes can also be used on a huge variety of substrates and variants cater for simple paper/card bonding to high-pressure, high-strength versions suitable for metals and ceramics. Other applications include point-of-sale shop fittings and furniture and automotive interior trim fixing.

3M is a trademark of 3M Company