Bosch has upgraded its wiper blade portfolio to provide a comprehensive premium wiper series. The Bosch wiper portfolio includes advanced extensive coverage for domestic and imported vehicles and includes bracketless and conventional blades for the windshield, as well as blades especially designed for rear window applications.

"For more than 75 years, motorists have relied on Bosch wiper blades for superior performance, long life and the latest in design and technology. Attractively packaged and available in all popular sizes, the Bosch wiper blade portfolio is designed to meet the needs of every motorist who demands superior visibility when driving," said Otto Stefaner, Group Product Manager, Wiper Systems, for Bosch.

The Bosch wiper portfolio consist of:

• ICON™ - Featuring patented bracketless OE technology with fx dual rubber for ultimate all-season performance, the pioneering Bosch ICON wiper blade lasts up to 20 percent longer than other premium wiper blades. Each year, more and more vehicle manufacturers are specifying bracketless blades as original equipment. Bracketless wiper blades are designed without metal or plastic brackets, joints or hinges, offering design and performance improvements over conventional wiper blades. The award-winning design of ICON distributes more uniform pressure along the entire length of the blade for ultimate all-season, windshield-hugging performance that provides crystal-clear visibility over a longer service life, with better resistance to ice and snow build-up
• Excel+- With an enclosed steel tension spring and advanced dual rubber technology, Bosch Excel+ delivers quiet operation, clean wipes and long life. Advanced dual rubber technology means Excel wiper blades clean windshields better and last longer than ever before. This ultra performance wiper blade features an exclusive dual rubber compound with a fully enclosed metal tension spring, housed in an aerodynamic steel frame. The result is less streaking and unmatched resistance to wear from weather and corrosive elements. And with the exclusive Bosch DirectConnect™ one-step system, installation is quick and easy.
• Micro Edge - Also featuring enclosed tension spring protection from water, snow and ice. Bosch Micro Edge wiper blades offer a specially blended natural rubber wiping edge for crystal clear visibility. Designed for dependable wiping performance, every blade incorporates a fully enclosed metal tension spring and a precision cut natural rubber wiping element. That means premium wiping performance and crystal clear visibility for safer driving. The DirectConnect™ one-step system ensures fast, simple for over 90% of vehicle applications
• Hindsight - Bosch Hindsight™ rear windshield wiper blades are designed with a pre-installed universal adapter that fits most applications for premium rear window wiping performance. Even though it may not see as much action as the front blades, the rear wiper blade is exposed to the same damaging effects of temperature extremes, ozone and road chemicals, and should be replaced regularly. Hindsight wiper blades feature an exclusive fully enclosed metal tension spring that provides more direct pressure to the wiping edge to reduce streaking.

Bosch Developed First Electric Wiper System A pioneer and innovator in automotive technology, Bosch, has been a leader in windshield wiper systems for more than 75 years. Bosch developed the first electric windshield wiper system in 1926, and has been responsible for many new developments in wiper technology, including the first intermittent windshield wiper in 1971 and the two-component wiper blade element in 1994.

Today Bosch operates the world's largest windshield wiper factory in Tienen, Belgium. At this facility Bosch makes 350,000 windshield wipers every day, and manufacture 700 different types of blades. In 1999, Bosch introduced the Aerotwin “bracketless” blade for OE applications. Bosch is the largest OE manufacturer of bracketless wiper blades with over 33 million Aerotwin blades supplied to the OE and the aftermarket.

The Bosch Group is a leading global supplier of technology and services. In the areas of automotive and industrial technology, consumer goods, and building technology, some 260,000 associates generated sales of 43.7 billion euros, or $54.9 billion. In fiscal 2006. The Bosch Group comprises Robert Bosch GmbH and its roughly 300 subsidiary and regional companies in over 50 countries. This worldwide development, manufacturing, and sales network is the foundation for further growth. Bosch spends more than three billion euros each year for research and development, and in 2006 applied for over 3,000 patents worldwide. The company was set up in Stuttgart in 1886 by Robert Bosch (1861-1942) as “Workshop for Precision Mechanics and Electrical Engineering.

The special ownership structure of Robert Bosch GmbH guarantees the entrepreneurial freedom of the Bosch Group, making it possible for the company to plan over the long term and to undertake significant up-front investments in the safeguarding of its future. Ninety-two percent of the share capital of Robert Bosch GmbH is held by Robert Bosch Stiftung GmbH, a charitable foundation. The majority of voting rights are held by Robert Bosch Industrietreuhand KG, an industrial trust. The entrepreneurial ownership functions are carried out by the trust. The remaining shares are held by the Bosch family and by Robert Bosch GmbH.

In North America, the Bosch Group manufactures and markets automotive original equipment and aftermarket products, industrial automation and mobile products, power tools and accessories, security technology, thermo-technology, packaging equipment and household appliances. Bosch employs 24,750 associates in more than 80 primary and 20 associated facilities throughout the region with reported sales of $8.8 billion in 2006. For information on Bosch automotive aftermarket products visit www.boschautoparts.com.