Bed Liner Thickness

Finding a truck bed liner sprayed at ¼ inch thick is as difficult as finding “Big Foot”. You hear they’re out there but no one has ever seen one.

There are two realities in this situation;

1. If the coating being applied isn’t good enough at 1/16 inch, putting in more probably isn’t going to help. It’s like adding more trash to trash to give it value, it is still trash. This is not to say that Rhino Linings, LineX, Reflex, Vortex and other polyurea sprayed on bed linings are trash. It is a buyer’s decision.

2. Implying that a bed liner will be sprayed ¼ inch thick and not faithfully applying this amount of materials constitutes deceptive sales practices, which is the nice way of saying “fraud”.

The long term health of the truck bed lining industry depends on applicators providing high quality products at affordable prices. Deceptive sales practices (fraud) hurt those in the industry who are in it for the long haul.

Scorpion has never instructed applicators to deceive their customers. An extensive customer survey in 2007 indicated that 97.4% of all people who had their trucks sprayed with Scorpion were extremely satisfied and over 99% were satisfied. Scorpion is very proud of these numbers and is even prouder of the fact that their dealers don’t have to deceive their customers.

Everyone in the industry is aware of these deceptive practices. They go along with high pressure sales tactics. As the state of Maryland told consumers about LineX – Be Very Cautious!

What Should a Truck Bed Lining System Cost?

According to the Better Business Bureau;

“Before investing money in a business opportunity or franchise offer, investigate the offer carefully. To protect yourself from unscrupulous salespersons, you should be aware of your rights. The Federal Trade Commission requires the promoter of a franchise to provide prospective buyers with detailed disclosure documents at the time of the offering.

You should be aware of several warning signs, including the following: high pressure sales tactics where the promoter does not want you to take the time to investigate the offer; representations of extraordinary profits with very little risk; excessively high start-up fees; or lack of communication or evasive answers about the plan. You should also be wary of any projections of income that are not backed up by specific experiences of existing franchisees.

Something else to consider is the possibility that area saturation could exist. Learn how many sales people are in your area and whether you will have an exclusive territory.”

Line-X received a “D” rating from the BBB and was stopped from doing business in Maryland by the attorney General of that state because they violated these rules. The BBB had enough concern about this company (their offer, customer complaints, advertising etc.) that they recommended caution in doing business with them.

If you spend more than $2,500 for a polyurethane or polyurea truck bed lining system you are spending too much.

Some bed lining companies and their applicators such as Speedliner, Rhino Linings, Line-X, Reflex, Ameriguard, and Vortex have had numerous complaints. They have violated the guidelines set out by the Bureau.

The Scorpion Truck Bed Lining System can be bought for as little as $1,500. Scorpion does not use high pressure sales tactics, nor do they make representation of excessive profits. Adherence to these guidelines is what has propelled Scorpion to the very top of the truck bed lining market. Scorpion is easily the fastest growing polyurethane system in the world and by the way, is very proud of it’s applicators in Maryland!

Owners of Reflex Liners File Suit

The applicators of Rhino Linings, Pinnacle West, Ultimate Linings, Vortex, Zefr Composites, and Ziebart Sprayed in Bed Liners could all have possible patent infringements lawsuits served them by Langeman Manufacturing, Ltd., of Leamington, Ontario, Canada. Langeman is the parent company of Reflex Liners and Gardit Liners. The lawsuit revolves around the use of wire tape.

To view the release by Langeman and the associated court documents in which individual Sprayed in Truck Bed Liner Applicators were sued, click here.

We are very pleased that no Scorpion Bed Liner Applicators were involved. The price increase announced with the lawsuit release will significantly increase the cost of sprayed in bed liners for non Scorpion applicators.

To view the entire case document, click here.

Reflex vs. Scorpion

This is an email sent out by one of our sales associates lately...

As for a direct comparison between Scorpion and Reflex:

Price:
The initial start-up cost is going to be the largest difference between the two companies. Reflex (like Line-X, Rhino, and all other polyurea companies) is a high pressure gun broker. The cost for their system can range anywhere from $9.5K to $30K depending on when and to whom they are selling. Other key components to the cost of their system is the fact that you will need a full spray booth and a supplied-air respirator to spray the materials (due to the isocyanates in the product). Also, due to the isocyanates, shipping may be an issue since their materials will be listed as hazardous. Another key will be how many gallons of material you have to put in the back of a truck (or on an object) to cover it. Many companies sell people on the fact they cost less per gallon, but negate that by having to use more chemical in the spraying process.
Scorpion is a low cost system. Starting at $1,500.00, we reach out to the customer with a high quality chemical and unmatched tech. support. Scorpion’s system only requires an $85.00 gun to apply the material. We do not look to put our customers in long term debt to keep ourselves in business. We want our dealers to start making money on day one. We could make our money by over-pricing our system, but, to be honest, we look to make our money by selling our unique chemical. Due to the fact that Scorpion’s chemical is one of a kind (low in isocyanates, virtually no VOC’s, Class 2 fire rating), it does not require a spray booth or supplied air to spray. It also ships Class 55 non-hazardous, so you don’t get killed on shipping costs. You are paying for the weight of the chemical only – not the volatility. Scorpion requires only 9 quarts (2.25 gallons) of chemical for a 6’ truck bed, other companies may require 4 gallons of chemical or more…

Coating Qualities:
As far as polyurea companies go, Reflex does offer an interesting coating. The upside is that they offer color, but that comes with many pitfalls. I am sure you have to buy the color injector separately from their standard system, and that can’t be cheap… When you do spray colors with their system, you probably have to flush the lines and go through an extensive cleaning process. Also, I see no warranty for the coating itself on their website. They offer a 5 year warranty for the spray system, but nothing for the coating. They talk about durability and UV stability, but they don’t guarantee it – that seems dangerous to me. It shows their focus is too narrow and that they are focusing on “system” sales only – not focusing on the important thing, the coating itself. Reflex also has no adaptability in the texture and surface of its coatings. It is always going to have a hard plastic look with an orange peel-like texture.
Scorpion has always offered the ability to spray in any color at any texture. As you have probably seen on our training video, the clean-up process is simple. Just let the material dry in the hopper, back out the six screws, and rip out the dried material. Scorpion offers a full warranty on all physical properties of its chemical. This includes bubbling, peeling, and any fading or degrading due to UV. Don’t forget that Scorpion also has fire-retardant and anti-bacterial formulations, things that no other company can boast.

Application:
The isocyanate levels in Reflex’s chemical is going to require a spray booth and supplied air in order to spray the coating. The isocyanates also react strongly to humidity. If a bead of sweat drop on the liner during application, it will “blister” at that spot.
All you need to spray Scorpion is some ventilation and a ½ face painter’s respirator. Due to the environmentally friendly make-up of Scorpion’s chemical, you can also spray it outdoors and in a mobile unit. Scorpion can be sprayed in any level of humidity and can be backed out into a rain storm after spraying.

What you will hear:
There are two great myths about “cold spray” systems. Drying time and prep. time. When we first came out, our tack free time was around 40 minutes, but over the years we have worked with our customers and developed special additives that allow the coatings to become tack free in as little as 10 minutes. Due to the fact that you can take it outside at any point after it is done, most dealers never feel that this is ever truly a problem. Everybody claims that their prep. time is less than everybody else’s. That is just the way it is. To be honest, new dealers can take up to 3 hours per truck in the beginning, and about 1.5 hours after some practice. There are no special ionizing processes or anything with Scorpion. The longest part of the whole preperation is masking off your area. We are constantly looking for ways to make it easier for the applicator, and even the process that is shown in the video online is not what we do anymore. Our coating is stronger now and the prep. process is simpler. We offer free training here at our facilities at any time, and will train or demo at your place if we happen to be in your area (we have someone on the road somewhere at all times).

Tech. and Customer Support:
Every Scorpion Dealer has a designated sales rep. that will be in contact with them at least once a month. We have a full tech. support team that is available to help you at any time during regular business hours (M-F, 8-5 EST).


Thank you and we look forward to hearing back from you very soon. Feel free to contact us at any time if you have any other questions or concerns.

Scorpion Bed Linings and Protected Areas

Misinformation: Part 3

Scorpion Bed Linings and Protected Areas

You don’t have to be an economic guru to understand that nothing will protect your business from competition. When you think about it, competition is what the U.S. economy is all about. To survive and thrive, you have to provide the highest quality service at the lowest possible cost. At Scorpion, we have always thrived because of competition. It allows us to be different. We are the fastest growing and largest bed liner supplier because of our differences, not because of similarities.

When you buy from a competitor because they offer you a protected area, it’s like buying a herd of lambs protected by a miniature poodle. You’re safe from another miniature poodle but not from the lion. Scorpion doesn’t offer to protect you from the lion because we make you the lion.

If you pay for a protected area, the only thing you’re accomplishing is raising your overhead with non-existent insurance. At Scorpion we think you’re at your competitive best when your over head is low and you’re maximizing profit.

Scorpion does go to extreme measures to ensure that applicators are not too close.

We look at the demographics like population and geography but also take into account existing dealer strengths. Only in this way, can we make sure the lions of the bed lining industry stay strong.

OSHA, Trailers, & Scorpion

The August/September 2007 issue of “Tracks” magazine features a very interesting article titled “Most Frequently Cited OSHA Standards for Trailer manufacturers” by Dorothy J. Walters, attorney.
For trailer manufacturers, the top three most cited OSHA Standards from September 2005 to October 2006 were:
1) OSHA1910.1200 – Employee chemical exposure and safety
2) OSHA 1910.107 – The use of flammable and combustible material
3) OSHA 1910.134 – Respiratory protection
This should come as no surprise to most coating manufacturers given the vast “misinformation” about many of the products used in the industry. With 1 exception, all thick film polyurethane coatings (meaning they are meant to be applied at depths over 1/16”) are either heavily loaded with isocyanates or thinners.
The heavy use of isocyanate to facilitate polyurethane cure time is very common. Uninformed or under-informed employees of manufacturers using such coatings are placed at considerable respiratory risk. OSHA is concerned not only with applicators but also any employee in the area since air born isocyanates can travel considerable distances. Applicators and personnel in these areas are required to wear supplied air respirators and either draw air from air tanks (SCBA) or from a remote pumping source. Extreme care must be taken to make sure spray booths are functioning properly. If the thick film system is a “fast set” or “instant set” system, if it is moisture sensitive, if it uses heaters and pressurized hoses, then it is undoubtedly isocyanate laden.
Systems not using heavy amounts of isocyanates take varying amounts of time to cure or set. Scorpion polyurethanes can be adjusted by the applicator to set as quickly as 5 minutes or as slowly as 45 minutes. Most non-isocyanate systems take one hour to set depending on the drying conditions. In these types of coatings, the polyurethane cures as the thinner evaporates. The Scorpion system uses vastly different technology so it isn’t dependent on isocyanate or thinner evaporation. The thinner loaded systems have the major problems of spraying thinner into the air during the application phase and the build-up of thinner during the evaporation phase of the application. OSHA insists on the use of a Class A spray booth with these systems as well as separate storage of unused product. These systems are considered Class 1 products, meaning they are very explosive and pose immediate danger. Only Scorpion is exempted from these requirements because it is classified as a Class 2 product, meaning that no spray booth or special storage is necessary.
Speedliner, Durabak, and Herculiner are all examples of these thinner loaded systems. Generally, respirators using chemical cartridges are required for these systems. Scorpion also strongly recommends the use of this type of respirator and, in fact, encourages the use of full-face respirators.
OSHA and the USEPA are moving strongly to control the use of isocyanates and VOC’s (thinners) both from a worker health standpoint and from an environmental standpoint. In conjunction with this, coating manufacturers are being encouraged to contact Scorpion Coatings. Scorpion has agreed to share their technology in an effort to improve worker and environmental safety throughout the industry. By taking advantage of this newer technology, coatings manufacturers can help their customers (and workers) enjoy a safer work environment and pave the way for a cleaner environment overall.

Colored Bed Liners?

An article appeared in Restyling magazine recently (June 2007) titled “Color-up Your Sales” that brought up several points about sprayed in bed liners that we agree with but as with some articles you have to read between the lines.

Let’s start by stating that there are several issues facing the bed liner industry. Isocyanates are a big elephant walking around the garden. Inexperienced, under informed, applicators are like people walking around with loaded AK-47’s. They’re just a mishap away from catastrophe. But the biggest issue facing the industry is U.V. stability.

U.V. stability? If you thought this was about colored bed liners, let me explain. Before you can venture into color, you’d better be able to spray black and keep it that way. At Scorpion, we expect our bed liners to retain color and shine for the life of the truck. When you see a bed liner that’s just 6 month old and has already started to fade or chalk, it is not only the company that supplied the bed liner that suffers, but also the industry as a whole.

Most bed liner suppliers and applicators attack the color question by painting it on. This is not what the customer expects. The customer expects a black bed liner to be black throughout and they expect it to look like new for more than 6 months. Yes, most bed liner companies warranty the bed liner in some obscure way, but not color stability.

Scorpion has had limited success with getting the bed liner industry to conform to reasonable standards. Yes, some companies are telling applicators about the severe danger of isocyanates, but the industry is still not addressing the other big elephants like U.V. stability and color retention. Scorpion has even gone so far as to offer technological help to the big names in the industry but to no avail. If you see a “colored” truck bed lining and it’s not a “Scorpion” – beware – you’re probably just looking a cheap paint job.