It’s understood within the audio industry that metal transmits sound better than all types of plastic. For years the enhancement of using metal speaker grilles has typically come with a premium cost versus plastic. The Oakwood Group continues to develop innovative ways to offer the best performing audio speaker grilles while minimizing cost premiums versus plastic. Escalating oil prices have assisted in this endeavor by driving up the cost of raw plastic resin used in the plastic grille manufacturing process. In addition, Oakwood’s designed attachment schemes that allow for low cost manufacturing processes to be utilized are assisting in closing the cost gap. Realizing these savings in most cases requires the OEM design studios to incorporate these low cost attachment methods into the interior design at the earliest design stage possible.

As critics and consumers alike continue to characterize automotive interiors as plain, unappealing, full of hard plastic, and lacking any type of luxury amenities, powder coated expanded metal speaker grilles offer a textured covering that breaks the sight line of an all plastic door or instrument panel. Powder coating is available in over 100 different shades for Oakwood’s expanded metal and perforated grilles.  How many parts can you change on the interior of the vehicle that impact the consumer’s senses of sight and sound for only pennies per vehicle? This is one of the biggest opportunities for interior providers to recognize and take advantage of, and Oakwood is capable of supporting any and all inquires of those who want to delight their customers.