Archive for the ‘Safety Issues’ Category

Fatal Shooting at 1st Class Upholstery

Published by Nadeem Muaddi on May 8th, 2013

The Hog Ring - Auto Upholstery Community - 1st Class Upholstery

Sad news to report this morning: An employee of 1st Class Upholstery in San Pedro, CA was fatally shot yesterday when a masked gunman struck him down in front of his shop.

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Beware of Meth-Contaminated Car Interiors

Published by Nadeem Muaddi on April 22nd, 2013

The Hog Ring - Auto Upholstery Community - Mobile Meth Lab Car Interior

Remember the “world’s most disgusting car interior” that we profiled in May of 2012? Soaked in methamphetamines and a drug dealer’s blood, it was literally a biohazard.

Well, don’t be surprised if a car comes to your shop in similar condition. According to the NY Daily News, mobile meth labs are a growing trend.

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Steering Clear of Toasted Skin Syndrome

Published by Nadeem Muaddi on April 8th, 2013

The Hog Ring - Auto Upholstery Community - Seat Heater Kit Burns

The Detroit News ran an interesting, yet strangely unseasonal, op-ed in this morning’s opinion section highlighting “Toasted Skin Syndrome” – which is the term that doctors use to describe the burns caused to vehicle-passengers’ skin after prolonged exposure to seat heaters.

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China Begins Battle Against Toxic Car Interiors

Published by Nadeem Muaddi on March 2nd, 2013

The Hog Ring - Auto Upholstery Community - New Car Smell

Last year, it was reported that “new car smell“ – which stems from plastics and chemicals used to form car interiors – is, in fact, toxic.

To combat the negative health effects associated with the smell, governments have begun enacting stricter regulations on the auto industry. The latest comes from China.

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Roof Collapses on UAE Trim Shop

Published by Nadeem Muaddi on January 3rd, 2013

Sad news to report from the UAE – an auto trimmer in Ajman was injured after the roof of Al Fahlel Cars Upholstery and Accessories collapsed, leaving him buried under a pile of rubble.

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Nissan Responds to ‘Do Not Resew’ Inquiries

Published by Nadeem Muaddi on December 28th, 2012

Earlier this year, we reported on Nissan’s controversial use of “do not resew” tags on new vehicle seat covers. Nissan had implemented the restriction without giving an explanation as to why it had been put in place or what other repair options were available to auto trimmers. Not even SEMA was able to get the automaker to comment on the issue.

Well, after months of no response and then endless back and forth, we finally got Nissan to talk.

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Creating Custom-Fit Car Seats Using Creafoam

Published by Naseem Muaddi on December 19th, 2012

Follow Bald Spot Sports (BSS) as they fabricate a one-off race-car seat shaped specifically for the driver.

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6 Ways Auto Trimmers Can Prevent Back Injury

Published by Nadeem Muaddi on December 18th, 2012

Auto upholstery is not a craft that’s easy on the body. No matter how strong you are, all of the pulling, bending, heavy lifting and long hours spent crouched over a sewing machine will eventually take their toll – especially on your back.

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Ford Takes On Stinky Car Interiors

Published by Nadeem Muaddi on October 26th, 2012

Early last year, a study conducted by researchers at Queen Mary University in London found that car interiors are home to more bacteria than public toilets. Since then, the idea of developing a self-sanitizing car has kept automakers busy.

The biggest advancement, of course, came when Nissan announced that its new NV200 taxi cab would be trimmed in antimicrobial nonstick upholstery. Now, Ford is getting in on the action.

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Warning: Rise in SUV Third-Row Thefts

Published by Nadeem Muaddi on October 23rd, 2012

Auto upholstery shops with front or non-gated parking lots beware. Media outlets are reporting a sharp increase in the number of third-row seats being stolen from SUVs. Thieves are scouring neighborhoods for unattended SUVs, hauling the seats away and selling them online.

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