Tiktaalik
Supporting Sponsor
Thanks everyone for the feedback. It is much appreciated and I don't take offense because I know what I'm doing. This isn't my first rodeo. I have been doing product design and development professionally for 12 years now. Indeed there are other manufacturers of headlight guards out there so you are correct on that point. If you think that these are just like everything else out there then you're simply not paying enough attention to the details. If you're someone who is more concerned about price over quality then these products are not for you. The good news is that there are already plenty of cheaply made products for your Defender out there for you to choose from.
While I like what Nakatenga is doing, my products are nothing like theirs. Their small headlight guard costs $236 and is made from powder coated steel. Their headlight surround requires you to use the flimsy series surround in conjunction with it. I already have a prototype of the surround they are making and I intend to take it one step further by including the cylindrical trim around the headlight that the original plastic one has. For all my products (except the surround which is one piece) I am utilizing a unique male-female interlock construction to increase durability and rigidity. No one else is currently doing this. It is more time consuming but it makes for a better product. So to recap, in terms of material, finish, construction and design my products are different from the competition.
Unique aspects of my products:
• material: aluminum. much lighter than steel and no corrosion issues.
• finish: type 3 (hard) anodization which unlike powder coat or paint will not flake.
• construction: unique plug-welded male-female interlock construction for increased rigidity.
• design: clean, simple and functional designs.
Against my better judgement I decided that these guards should be produced here in Portland, Oregon instead of overseas which would be cheaper. In fact, I have a Chinese factory lined up and ready to go but I am not interested in making things cheaper. I am interested in making things better, first and foremost. I'm going to be perfectly happy if I just sell 20 sets of each products and judging by the pre-orders I already have it's looking promising. I'm making these for me and for those who share my values in terms of craftsmanship and quality. I agree with the comment on seeing these installed. I plan to update the site with actual photos as soon as the golden samples are in hand and have been photographed.
The guards are just scratching the surface of whats to come. I have other tools for adventure currently in development that are not related to Defenders. If you're a fan of Snow Peak and the likes and if you appreciate quality outdoor products with a high attention to detail then stay tuned. Thanks everyone.
While I like what Nakatenga is doing, my products are nothing like theirs. Their small headlight guard costs $236 and is made from powder coated steel. Their headlight surround requires you to use the flimsy series surround in conjunction with it. I already have a prototype of the surround they are making and I intend to take it one step further by including the cylindrical trim around the headlight that the original plastic one has. For all my products (except the surround which is one piece) I am utilizing a unique male-female interlock construction to increase durability and rigidity. No one else is currently doing this. It is more time consuming but it makes for a better product. So to recap, in terms of material, finish, construction and design my products are different from the competition.
Unique aspects of my products:
• material: aluminum. much lighter than steel and no corrosion issues.
• finish: type 3 (hard) anodization which unlike powder coat or paint will not flake.
• construction: unique plug-welded male-female interlock construction for increased rigidity.
• design: clean, simple and functional designs.
Against my better judgement I decided that these guards should be produced here in Portland, Oregon instead of overseas which would be cheaper. In fact, I have a Chinese factory lined up and ready to go but I am not interested in making things cheaper. I am interested in making things better, first and foremost. I'm going to be perfectly happy if I just sell 20 sets of each products and judging by the pre-orders I already have it's looking promising. I'm making these for me and for those who share my values in terms of craftsmanship and quality. I agree with the comment on seeing these installed. I plan to update the site with actual photos as soon as the golden samples are in hand and have been photographed.
The guards are just scratching the surface of whats to come. I have other tools for adventure currently in development that are not related to Defenders. If you're a fan of Snow Peak and the likes and if you appreciate quality outdoor products with a high attention to detail then stay tuned. Thanks everyone.
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