Design & Prototyping
Windshield wipers are designed to efficiently remove water from a windshield. The majority of cars have two windshield wipers on the windshield, some have one on the rear window, and others even have them on the headlights.
The original idea for windshield wipers came from J. H. Apjohn in 1903 but he is not typically credited because his invention was essentially just brushes that moved up and down on the windshield of car windows, not the windshield wipers we know today. The windshield wipers we know today were invented by Mary Anderson later that same year. Mary Anderson is responsible for the pivoting motion, swinging design, and the rubber squeegee blade that we still use today (“Windshield Wiper Facts, information, pictures” 2002).
Wipers are typically 12 to 30 inches long, increasing in 2 inch increments depending on the size of the car. They typically are composed of six parts, a critical one being the balance beam. An essential part of designing a wiper blade goes into distributing pressure evenly along the blade. To do this there are claws on windshield wipers with more claws distributing pressure better along the blade (“How windshield wiper is made” n.d.).
The usual two windshield wiper design uses one motor and a tandem scheme, having both wipers move simultaneously. Usually one wiper is positioned on the driver side and the other is positioned in the middle with a pivot that allows it to wipe the passenger side of the window. The wipers are moved simultaneously through a connecting link. As the motor pushes one end of the connecting link, both wipers are moved. On the other end there is a spring that pushes the link back to its resting position (“How windshield wiper is made” n.d.).
There are different types of windshield wipers such as traditional beam wipers, winter wipers, and beam style wipers. Traditional wipers are the most common and affordable of the three types. They are made up of a metal framework that mounts the actual wiper blade. Winter wipers include a traditional blade also but the blade is wrapped in a rubber shell to increase durability. The shell also helps to keep the frame of the wipers ice and snow free which manufacturers claim help the blades last longer. Beam-style wiper blades are supposed to last the longest and have the sleekest appearance but they are also the most expensive. The beam-style blades have more parts but they are encased to look more sleek. Also, unlike the other two styles, the beam-style includes a spring-steel band which helps the wiper blades conform to window curvature better (“Wiper blades,” 2013).
Manufacturing & Production
After looking at two popular brands of windshield wipers, TRICO and Rain-X, I was only able to find information on production of TRICO. TRICO is based in Rochester Hills, Michigan and claims to be the #1 aftermarket brand for windshield wipers in the US while selling wipers in over 50 countries. At their headquarters in Rochester Hills they have about 70 engineers, altogether around the world they have 200 engineers. At their Rochester Hills headquarter they have 60 test chambers where they have 6 full sized vehicle simulators they can test (“What Makes TRICO Wiper Products Better” n.d.).
To produce windshield wipers the manufacturer must gather the many materials needed such as aluminum, steel, rubber blades, plastic brushings, and the motor (“How windshield wiper is made” n.d.). In the factories steel is galvanized (coated in zinc), blade frames are made from aluminum, the squeegees are made from rubber, and motors are typically retrieved from a subcontractor (“How windshield wiper is made” n.d.).
Marketing
Marketing for windshield wipers is minimal because they are essential to anyone that drives a car. Cars come with wipers already installed when purchased but still need to be replaced about every two years, more or less depending on the amount they are used. Typically the only marketing for windshield wipers is within car part stores which carry multiple brands of windshield wipers but the advertisements are never more extensive than a sign saying why someone should choose one brand over another.
Sales
Calculating sales for windshield wipers is difficult because there are so many different brands of windshield wipers and almost none report how many sets of windshield wipers they sell annually. The only statistic I was able to find was the TRICO claims to sell millions of wiper blades annually (“What Makes TRICO Wiper Products Better” n.d.).
User Support
Within all windshield wiper companies’ websites there is a page that helps users determine which windshield wiper size they need. An example is TRICO’s Find Your Wiper Size page. On these pages users enter in their vehicle type, year, model, and make. When entered, a new page is loaded with all the specific windshield wipers that will fit the user’s car. When I entered my car model into TRICO’s Find Your Wiper Size page I got a list of eight different wiper styles and lengths that would fit my car.
Another page on TRICO’s website is the Where to Buy page where users can enter in their zip code and find a dealer of the specific windshield wiper brand near them.
The last helpful page I found on TRICO’s website is the Installation Videos page. This page has users enter in their wiper arm type and the product they purchased to provide the most helpful installation instruction video possible. This step can be difficult because there are many different wiper arms to choose from and it is likely to be too difficult for someone without any experience to decipher the different arm types.
While all the pages on TRICO’s website talked about above were helpful, they can all be bypassed by going to an auto-parts store. When going to an auto-parts store the attendants can do everything from helping you choose the correct windshield wipers to fit your car and your needs to installing the windshield wipers for you.
Maintenance
Windshield wiper maintenance can be broken down into five different steps: inspect the blades, wipe the blades, prep the blades, use a rubber protectant, and choose the right blades. Inspecting the blades is important to maintenance because not only can windshield wipers be broken down through use, they can also be damaged by extreme weather, hot or cold. It is important to check blades for discoloration or cracking. If either is found the blades should be replaced for optimum visibility. Next, windshield wipers should be wiped down every three months. Dirt can accumulate under the blade of windshield wipers or anywhere the blade meets the frame. This accumulated dirt can lead to corrosion of the rubber or smears on the windshield after each swipe. Running a clean cloth along wiper blades is all it takes to prevent buildup of dirt from occurring. Next, apply a protective coat to your windshield wipers but first make sure they’re clean by wiping them down like in the previous step. Dab some rubber protectant on a cloth and wipe it along the blades. This should be done about every time you get your car’s oil changed. Last, the most important step is to buy quality windshield wipers that fit your car. While the previous steps were important to help prolong windshield wiper life, bad blades will still be bad blades no matter how well you take care of them. A simple upgrade to silicone rubber windshield wipers will help ensure blades that will last longer and work better (“How to Properly Maintain Your Windshield Wiper Blades,” 2014).
Recycling & Disposal
During the production process of windshield wipers there is typically small quantities of scraps or rejected parts. These parts are sold to salvage yards, then to metal manufacturers who melt down the scraps and recycle them (“How windshield wiper is made” n.d.).
Unfortunately whole, used wiper blades are not recyclable because the rubber part is too firmly attached to the metal frame of the windshield wipers. In theory windshield wipers should be easy to recycle because they are essentially just made of rubber and metal. Windshield wipers being recyclable would be beneficial to the earth but also economical to manufacturers as they could easily melt down the returned scraps and use them towards new products. Right now the only option users have to try and be green is to opt for blade replacements, although reviews have said that blade replacements are more trouble than they’re worth and that replacing the whole windshield wiper is much easier. Those that have tried blade replacements report that getting the tension right when putting the windshield wiper back together is nearly impossible (“Why Windshield Wipers Should Be Recyclable – Adam’s Auto Advice,” n.d.).
