Valeo is the world leader among O.E. wiper suppliers. However, the company shares it’s considerable experience with aftermarket players as well. Nowadays, highly efficient premium flat wipers can be adapted to almost every car owing to a comprehensive offer of Valeo HydroConnect products.
Front, rear, hook lock style…
HydroConnect is a wide range of wipers dedicated to the aftermarket. These are versatile products, which despite a low number of references and adapters, may be matched to the vast majority of the vehicles on the European roads.
The range covers three groups of products: front wipers, rear wipers and Upgrade wiper blades allowing the replacement of a hook lock style wiper with a flat wiper blade solution. Valeo employs here its considerable O.E. parts manufacturing experience in order to provide the highest quality wipers catching up with the latest trends on the automotive accessories market. The range of HydroConnect front and rear wipers covers 96% of the market, whereas the Upgrade group covers up to 85%, which is quite impressive in this segment of flat wipers.
What HydroConnect offers?
HydroConnect is a proposal for customers expecting an O.E. quality aftermarket product. In other words, one doesn’t need to buy a brand new car to benefit from the most efficient wipers available on the market.
For a lay person different types of wipers look similar. In the case of these products the most important technical solutions are hidden inside. What counts most is the way the wiper blade was produced, the material that was used, as well as the spoiler design.
The wiper blades must overcome many hindrances, both mechanical and physiochemical. In order to play their role they need to display high resistance to mechanical wear, washer fluids (different types), road salt and UV radiation. Maintaining the optimal performance at different temperatures is also important. The maintenance of silent working without unpleasant sounds in changing conditions counts as well. Meeting all these requirements is a result of many years of research and development. The engineers work on the rubber compound, the shape of the internal steel profile and the coating – a special layer of material covering the rubber surface. The methods used to meet these requirements are the secret of each O.E. manufacturer.
Valeo has its own formula for durable, synthetic rubber and the highest quality protective coating. The company has also designed an asymmetric spoiler that ensures optimal wiper pressure to the windshield in all weather conditions, irrespective of the vehicle speed. HydroConnect wipers are 100% made in France, along with other O.E. products.
Easier to fit than you thought
The assembly of flat wipers, especially in vehicles that left the assembly line with the bone wipers solution, may seem difficult. Valeo did its best to simplify this process, as well as to limit the number of adapters in the box – for the environment’s sake. Each HydroConnect wiper is packed separately. On the box there is a list of vehicles it fits to. The inside of the box includes a user-friendly manual with many pictures. The side of the box has even a useful ruler to measure the wipers’ length.
Apart from the wiper itself, the box also contains the adapters. In the case of front wipers there will be three adapters allowing the matching to 12 different arms. Rear wipers are also sold with three adapters allowing to fit in 6 types of arms. All in all these solutions allow to cover together 96% of the European car park.
The Upgrade group includes 14 references of wipers owing to which we may mount flat wipers on a mere hook lock type arm. The market coverage in this case reaches 85%.
Owing to the Valeo HydroConnect range the premium quality products become available to everyone. Innovative solutions are no longer reserved for the latest car models leaving the assembly lines. By choosing the HydroConnect wipers you get higher driving comfort thanks to the efficiency of draining water and dirt from the windshields, as well as improved road safety for a long time.
