When it comes to Drawer Release Systems, there are a variety of ways you can incorporate them into your work truck, utility vehicle, or emergency vehicle. Drawer release systems are a great way to organize tools, emergency equipment, safety supplies, and more while keeping everything safely stored while the vehicle is in motion. These are just a few of the ways that you can use our products, but the possibilities are endless. There are many different types of drawer release systems and methods to be custom-fitted or designed for your specific needs.

Austin Hardware® has long served the RV market. Our location in Elkhart, IN, well-known as the RV capital of the world because the greater Elkhart region is where more than 80% of global RV production is based, has helped to make us the hardware supplier of choice for many RV manufacturers, dealers, and end-users alike.

We have a large selection of in-stock handles for every area of your recreational vehicles. Whether it’s a Class A motor home, an ice-fishing trailer, or a pop-up camper, the RV you’re driving sports various handles inside and outside the vehicle.

Here are a few of the locations you’ll find handles on most RVs:

Drawer slides assist in the opening and closing of drawers. From emergency and utility vehicles to server racks, battery trays, and medical equipment cabinets, the list of uses for drawer slides in vehicular and industrial applications is virtually endless. 

Choosing the right drawer slide for your application requires the answers to a few questions.

• What is the drawer used for, and how much weight will it be required to handle (load capacity)? 
• What are the environmental conditions in which it will primarily operate? Must the drawers lock in any position (i.e., open position, closed position, both, or neither)?
• Must the slides contain a disconnect to allow for the complete removal of the drawer?
• How much space is available, and how much of the drawer must be easily accessed?
• How often will the drawer be accessed?
• How much of a factor are aesthetics (i.e., will the slide be hidden)?

Often, the most critical element to determine and the best way to begin narrowing down your options is your required load capacity. From there, you can start to explore the available options. 

When it comes to lifting, latching, closing, opening, sealing, and so on, you're more than likely depending on a handle to help you out. We use handles so often that we don't even realize how much we use them daily. There are different types of handles for different types of applications. There are also different types of handles to address different kinds of issues.

There’s a tug-of-war taking place on production lines and assembly floors across numerous industries, but especially sectors under the transportation umbrella. It relates to the use of traditional mechanical fasteners versus modern adhesives. 

Both have well-earned positions in the marketplace, as they have on our shelves at Austin Hardware®. So, we’re not here to advocate for one over the other. The engineers, buyers, and other top executives at your company need to make decisions like this based on factors that are likely to be unique to you. Our goal in this space is to point out some of the benefits of both, and explain how, in some cases, using both in the same application could be beneficial.

We want to help you not only achieve but exceed your goals. That’s our simple mission. We know we can’t do that by just providing hardware. We have to do more, and we attempt that in several ways:

• We will help you find superior parts that will give your end product a competitive advantage. 
• If we can’t find something on the market, we’ll help design a modification that will meet your needs. 
• We can provide you with exceptional services, such as a vendor managed inventory program, designed to take the burden of day-to-day purchasing activities off your hands and allow you to focus on the bigger picture. 
• We can also do that via customized kitting and packaging services that will save you time in production. 

Most of the time, however, the successes we see are the result of a combination of these things.  

What is a Gas Spring?

Have you ever wondered how a gas spring works? Or maybe you don’t even know what one is. You would be surprised, though, by how much you use them in your daily life. Have you ever tried opening the trunk of your car? Or raised an office chair to desk level?

What you probably used as a gas spring. There are so many common daily uses for these helpful springs. They are most commonly used for doors but have a wide variety of applications. A gas spring works by using compressed gas to maneuver two different parts a 1) piston rod and a 2) cylinder. The gas compression creates a strong force, which is proportional to an increase in pressure as the two mechanisms work together. Even a small gas spring can generate a lot of force and, therefore, has impressive strength.

When it comes to safety, LifeDefender™ not only meets the industry standards, we helped to establish them. From our beginnings, we worked with a select group of emergency vehicle and ambulance manufacturers to set the toughest safety standards as well as design products that meet these standards. Our rigorous safety standards keep occupants inside emergency vehicles safe during transport. Austin Hardware's LifeDefender™ Cabinet Security Frames have been designed to provide a solution to meet the *SAE, CAAS GVS & NFPA safety standards. In addition to meeting strict safety standards, our frames are crash-tested to ensure that the vehicle occupants, EMS workers, and patients are safe during transport and in case of an accident.  

Not only is safety our top concern, but we also created a top-quality design for all of our products. We utilized our custom engineering services to create efficient, quality-designed products. The LifeDefender™ line designs feature a quick and easy installation for quick assembly of emergency vehicles. Our cabinets are designed for ease of use, and some only require one-handed use for on-the-go applications. The simple, functional design is not only handy but is also suitable for many different uses, including marine and RV applications. LifeDefender™ has designed one tough frame and offers a variety of products to fit different needs and applications. Each product is designed with safety in mind as well as easy installation and use.  

There are many ambiguous terms for the rubber products used to protect the edge of a manufactured product or create a weather-tight seal for a door, window, or enclosure.  Some of the terms you might come across include edge guard, gasket trim, edge trim, push-on trim, edge gasket, seal, trim seal, rubber seal, and weatherstrip (or weather strip, depending on where you look). Each end-user and each supplier might use any of these terms to describe different products. Many times, the names will overlap. 

Have you been looking for the right hinge for your project or design? Can’t seem to find the right one? You are not alone.  It’s not uncommon to have a difficult time determining what hardware you may need for a project. With so many options on the market, you might be wondering what to look for or have few questions to help you make the right decision. At Austin Hardware®, we have the product knowledge and customer service team ready and available to provide suggestions and solutions for your hinge needs. Whether you’re a large business, small business, or Do-It-Yourself enthusiast looking for hinges for a project, we are here to help you.