When designing powersports equipment, consumer safety, component durability, and easy integration are three essential factors every manufacturer considers. Each component needs to meet strict specifications and standards to ensure the power equipment operates as intended.
When it comes to custom powersport covers, straps, buckles, or other textile solutions, who manufactures your components and how they manufacture them will have a big impact on the safety, reliability, and longevity of your equipment.
From custom buckles and harnesses to equipment covers and add-on accessories, it’s important to work with a manufacturer who has a proven track record of developing solutions for industry-leading manufacturers in the powersports industry.
In this article, we will discuss:
- Custom Textiles: A Trusted Solution
- Custom Covers and Components
- Trusted Solutions for Powersports OEMs
- Custom Textile Guide
Custom Textiles: A Trusted Solution For Powersports Covers, Components, and Accessories
While the demands of the average consumer in the powersports industry have steadily changed over the years, three core principles still drive consumers' purchasing:
- Reliability
- Durability
- Safety
No consumer wants to spend thousands on a new ATV, UTV, personal watercraft, or other powersport equipment and only to be able to use them for a limited time.
Since most powersports equipment operates in harsh environments, integrating textiles with extreme abrasion, chemical, and/or UV resistance is imperative to the overall durability and longevity of the machine. For example, an ATV designed to be used in desert terrain will need to have straps, harnesses, and other components that provide abrasion, heat, and UV resistance.
While sand is highly abrasive yet ever-present in these conditions, consumers expect (and demand) their equipment to last for several years. Integrating premium textiles into the design of the machine not only implies luxury and durability to the end consumer, but also protects the manufacturer from costly litigation and potential brand fallout.
Replacing the seat, as well as any straps or buckles, several times over the lifespan of the equipment will tarnish a consumer's view of the brand and end up costing the business a future sale. While it’s clear that consumers demand premium textiles with enhanced durability, how can OEMs ensure they’re getting the best product available?
Custom Covers and Components: Trust the Experts
With over two decades of providing custom solutions and our extensive knowledge of textiles, Python Protective Sleeves + Covers has proven experience in the powersports industry.
Here at Python, protecting your equipment is our top priority. That’s why we’ve created seven proprietary blends of fabric that feature everything from high-abrasion resistance to multi-colored, high visibility solutions. Our custom textile blends:
- 40 HDA: Heavy Woven Fabric with Proprietary Polymer Coating Ideal for heavy abrasion, chemical, petroleum, salt water, UV resistant, and static dissipation
- 18411: 1000D nylon with Neoprene Coating on both sides Ideal for underwater, petrochemicals, sea salts, mild solvents, and sparks/spall
- 1050B: 2 x 2 Basket Weave Ballistic Nylon with Polyurethane Coating. Ideal for high abrasion, moisture, and industrial chemical resistance, excellent UV protection
- Signal Sleeve: Featuring a 1000 Denier Textured Nylon with a Polyurethane Coating and Ideal for lightweight and flexible needs
- TGS: Woven Fiberglass material with Polytetrafluoroethylene (Teflon) Coating Ideal for resisting infrared, oils, sealants, adhesives, and abrasion - up to 600°F
- 5601: 1000 Denier Cordura with Heavy Thermal Polyurethane Coating Ideal for high abrasion, water and chemical proof needs, sonic weldable
In addition to these proprietary fabrics, Python has both pioneered and perfected new manufacturing processes and material breakdowns.
Present-day operations at Python include machining capabilities such as:
- Automatic cutting tables
- Programmable pattern machines
- Slitted
- Ultrasonic welds
- & more
No matter the application, Python has a material or manufacturing process designed to protect your equipment and its operator.
Trusted Solutions for Powersports OEMs
Producing any type of equipment comes with challenges, one of the biggest being supply chain constraints. Unexpected shortages and fluctuations in demand are common in today’s market.
Python helps OEMs alleviate supply and demand constraints, as well as mitigate raw material shortages by offering supply chain agreements for OEMs and blanket orders. For OEMs in the powersports industry, this means taking full responsibility to allocate shelf space for your custom stock parts and planning for future demand spikes.
Our Vendor Management Inventory program provides superior supplier benefits, including:
- Upstream and downstream collaboration
- Quality forecasting, safety stocks, lead time, service level, etc.
- Elimination of stock-outs
- Customer visibility of inventory levels
- Continuous review of the agreement to offer improvements
With our extensive textile know-how, proprietary technology and manufacturing processes, and next-level after-sales support, Python Protective Sleeves + Covers has become a recognizable manufacturer for custom textile solutions.
Have questions about our manufacturing process or specially-designed textiles? Download our Custom Textiles for OEM guide below or reach out today to get in touch with a member of our talented sales team.
Download the Custom Textiles for OEM guide