Clean, Cleaner, Cleanest! Clean, Cleaner, Cleanest!

INSIDE LINE 36May 2002

This is a featureabout filters; thosecylindrical,paper-filled,cartridge-shapedobjects producedby HIFLOFILTRO,but called "Hiflo".They can make youserious money.

INTRODUCED five years ago, Hiflo nowoutsells every other filter in the market.That it surpassed the originalmanufacturer's [OEM] specification, and that Bike Alert [which created, and owns Hiflofiltro] has neverexperienced a single in-service failure, is fair explanation. Before witnessing Hiflo's clinical productionprocess, Inside Line incorrectly assumed thatall filters were similar; nothing in fact couldbe further from the truth. When examiningHiflo's range of 200+ oil and air filters, whichare produced specifically for motorcycleengines, it's immediately apparent this is nota run-of-the-mill product. To the untrained eye, filters consist of a steelcanister filled with concertina-folds of porouspaper, sealed with 'O' rings, and retained incylindrical shape by a perforated steel strip

By Mike Jackson

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! The HIFLOFILTRO Way!! The HIFLOFILTRO Way!

INSIDE LINE 37May 2002

and two tin caps. In truth the simplest filterwarrants far more than that. Below, weexplain how Hiflo's engineers tackle thecomplexities of keeping oil clean, and airpure, in today's high performance engines.An oil filter in a motorcycle relates to theliver in the human body; albeit it's easierreplacing the former with a spanner than thelatter with surgery! Engines clearly functionbetter on cleaner lube and fresher air, thoughmost motorcyclists are as guilty of ignoringtheir engine's liver as all the other taken-for-granted 'internals'. Filters are frequently the victims of unwittingabuse, a 'clogged or substandard' filter couldultimately inflict enormous consequentialdamage. In this regard Hiflo is justifiablyproud of its unblemished track record,where a score of 'nil' failures speaks volumes.The necessity for efficient filtration and zerofailures is not difficult to grasp! Six years ago, with JT Sprockets alreadywidely recognised, worldwide [Inside Line,September 2001], Chris approachedThailand's prime manufacturer of filterswhose customers included Toyota, Peugeot,BMW et al with ambitions for aninternationally accepted motorcycle filter. The established since 1955 family-ownedThai Yang Kitpaisan Company was highlyreceptive to Chris's concept of producing forthe global market; never mind it'd entailhigher quality levels than demanded by thecar giants or/and a more rigorous inspectionsystem. As with any 'clean sheet' product,the choice of raw materials was crucial. [Ifthere's a Hiflo filter within reach, pleasebriefly examine it! Contemplate for amoment the enormity of sourcing itsrespective 'ingredients'. Japanese steel; gluefrom Germany; and that distinctive red paperfrom either Finland or USA. Not every"widget" has quite such an 'international'pedigree, to be sure, but it's theseingredients which make Hiflo 'bullet proof'...]

In creating a definitive oil filter, Bike Alertemployed four fundamental criteria: SuperiorFlow Rate; Ability to Cleanse; Durability; andone other, which was revealed duringinspection. Read on.... It is rewarding to see that the diligenceinvested in the filter's initial high qualitydesign has now paid a handsome dividend, inas much that Hiflofiltro is currently producingfor all manner of household names.Protocol, unfortunately, prohibits theirmention. And, on the subject of 'diligence',thereby hangs a tale... At the point thatthe development engineers had concluded alltests, and were poised to commence volumeproduction, Chris called "Halt"! Regardless ofHiflo's confidence-inspiring specification —linked to competitive pricing, tech applicationliterature, 'snappy' green packaging, and soon. Like Heineken's Lager...Hiflo had to havesomething other filters didn't have. Duringseveral months of deliberately enforced delayhe committed to the expense of submittingthe entire Hiflo range to Germany's TUVCertification Body — whose technicalstandards are famously stringent — forapproval. Having done his homework heknew that the ever rigorous TUV hadn't yetwritten a standard. Patiently prepared toawait the implementation, Hiflo passed withflying colours, after those conscientiousGerman engineers duly created a newstandard for oil filters. Since then Hiflo alsoachieved additional standards such as QS-9000 and DIN EN ISO 9002. When wepressed Chris to reveal which other filtersalso complied..? he diplomatically declined toname names but gave us a hint,.... "none ofour competitors!"As already stated, Hiflo's productionprocesses are more clinical than industrial. Ascrutiny of the accompanying illustrations isworth several paragraphs of this writer'sprose...suffice to say every component partof the completed filter is made within thefactory's four walls, allowing for control ofeach individual operation. With Thailand'svisible abundance of labour there areinspections and random tests at each stage ofproduction and the finished filters go througha 100 per cent quality control inspectionbefore they are packed ready to be shippedout. However, before anything leaves thefactory, finished filter assemblies are put totest in "the laboratory". Within this sealedchamber a dozen or more new cartridgesundergo a high poundage pressure test,simultaneously. The purpose built test rig is

impressive; circular in appearance, andstanding five feet high, it resembles a clusterof 15 espresso cafe machines working inunison. If a filter is capable of passing thePressure Test it'll cope with anything inside amotorcycle engine. Yes, components arerejected off the production line but,encouragingly, discarded parts are scrappedin toto, allaying any fears of re-cycling. In addition to the established line of oil filters,since last autumn, Hiflo's comprehensive newrange of air filters has been available throughdistributors with additional fitments arrivingmonthly. Identical high standards apply. OK,...now we've familiarised ourselves with the'gestation', how does Bike Alert persuade themotorcycling fraternity to insist on a Hifloreplacement, as opposed to OEM? Riders

are long conditioned to choose ABC chains,or XYZ tyres...but, filters? Chris smiles, "Ibelieve our trade customers trust us tosupply a superior product. Hiflo is a top endquality filter, competitively priced, alwaysavailable with international accreditation'ssuch as TUV approval to overcome the oldfamiliar OEM's `warranty warnings'. I'mconvinced this same trust, confidence andknowledge is already filtering through to theend users." Which is why we now see moreand more of those HF green spots on dealers shelves.What is next? we asked. "Oil filters foraeroplanes. We are now at the final stage ofFAA (Federal Aviation Authority) approvaltests in the USA," replied Chris.An unexpected answer yet, we were notsurprised with Hiflo's next evolution;well...after all aeroplane engines use oil filterstoo... and it certainly appears that Bike Alertand Hiflo are definitely flying away with along, clean, sweep! Details: Tel: 0208-297970, Fax: 0208-2977992.

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