As part of our continuous improvement initiatives, we constantly try to improve on current design, material and processes. We are now developing a blend material that substantially reduces the bushing material cost while also offering excellent durability and other performance parameters. This combines the best of what rubber and urethane have to offer.

In other developments, USF is currently working on a two-shot urethane bushing that we believe will allow our customer to "tune" the suspension dynamics via our bushing. This would be accomplished by stiffness adjustments to the bushing. A higher durometer inner ring would provide enhanced durability, while a softer durometer outer would provide the "softer" ride characteristics our customers desire.

This also provides a cost reduction due to smaller bushings, hence, smaller clamps. These bushings can take more load than rubber, thus, smaller I-D stabilizer bars, which have less weight and again less cost.

USF urethane bushings offer the following advantages over rubber:

• Durability is greatly enhanced
• The ride of the bushings is consistent from the beginning of the vehicle life until the end of its use
• Higher load bearing
• Ability to color, without affecting performance
• Cut and tear resistance
• USF can custom blend lubricants, Teflon, glass, etc., into our material to address any number of customer requirements.
• Immune to ozone