It’s no secret that Austin Hardware® is in the business of offering solutions for your business, by creating custom-engineered products that are designed to be innovative, intuitive and perfect for a variety of industries. Through our quest to create innovative products, we were able to create the Flexi-Vent, Flexible Mounting Cowl Vent as a strong competitor in today’s market. We listened to our customers' needs about creating an innovative design that was practical as it was original. With the flexible cowl vent, we solved three major problems seen on the market and was able to provide a solution for a variety of applications and industries. Ready to learn more? Keep Reading below.

What is a Door or Lid Assist? 

One type of hardware commonly overlooked in daily lives is door or lid assists. Every time you open a heavy door or lid, more than likely, you are using a lid assist. They are not only practical; they provide a layer of safety as well. Assists also offer strength, but also allow doors to open and close smoothly. So what is a lid or door assist, and how are they most commonly used? 

There are many different types of truck bodies. To name a few, there are:  

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.