Independent Tests Show Poor Gloss Stability of Leading Spray-on Bedliners

    Industry-Standard UV Test Leads to Nearly Total Loss of Spray-on
'Reflectivity'
    After Just 2,500 Hours; Nissan Testing Confirms UV Instability of
Aftermarket Spray-ons

    PORTAGE, Wis., Feb. 18 -- Recent tests of the ultraviolet
stability of light-truck bedliners showed that leading "spray-on" linings can
lose virtually all of their gloss within as little as 2,500 hours of exposure
to sunlight.  By comparison, gloss (or "reflectivity") of the latest premium
drop-in bedliner actually increased over the same period, according to test
results.
    Conducted in accordance with ASTM International (formerly American Society
for Testing and Materials) standards, one recent liner reflectivity test
compared the UV-induced damage to leading dealer-applied spray-on linings and
the drop-in Pendaliner(R) SR Skid Resistor(TM) bedliner from Penda
Corporation.
    Test results show that all spray-on samples lost nearly 100 percent of
their gloss and exhibited varying degrees of "color shift" within 2,000 to
2,500 hours of UV exposure.  The Pendaliner SR Skid Resistor bedliner
experienced a nearly 100-percent gloss increase over 2,500 hours of UV
exposure.
    In separate testing conducted by Nissan North America, selected
aftermarket spray-on linings failed UV stability tests after less than one
year of evaluation, according to a recent news report.  Aftermarket spray-ons
also failed to meet Nissan's abrasion and temperature durability requirements,
according to a news story in Rubber & Plastics News.
    "These are a few more facts spray-on lining dealers and franchise networks
might not share with truck owners, who often pay two to three times more for a
spray-on lining in an effort to enhance their vehicles' appearance and value,"
said Mike Johnson, director of quality for Penda Corp.  "As the results
clearly indicate, however, that glossy finish touted by leading spray-on
brands can be a very temporary benefit; after the finish is worn, it can take
on an unattractive, chalky look that actually detracts from vehicle
cosmetics."
    The Skid Resistor, which is typically priced at less than leading spray-on
linings, features an ultra-high-gloss black finish that is virtually
impervious to UV-induced fading and other common wear.  The Skid Resistor also
offers an exclusive maximum-grip surface formulation that delivers twice the
skid resistance of other drop-in liners.  Unlike conventional drop-ins and
most spray-ons, the Pendaliner SR Skid Resistor's textured surface will not
wear away under everyday use.
    "Our message to consumers is that if vehicle cosmetics and long-term
protection are key issues, an expensive spray-on is simply not the solution,"
Johnson said.  "Spray-ons provide only a fraction of the sheet-metal
protection of modern drop-ins and they simply cannot deliver the long-term
cosmetics truck owners deserve, unless the consumer pays for repeated UV-
protective coatings or only operates the vehicle out of the sunlight.
    "And that's hardly a viable option."
    Truck accessories manufacturers urge consumers to visit a new Web site,
http://www.bedlinerfacts.com , for a list of considerations related to the selection
of a bedliner for any light truck.