K&N Factory Tour: 25 June 2011

[dirtyblueshirt]

Many thanks to the folks at K&N for opening their doors to allow Fiesta and Focus owners to see their facility in Riverside, CA. Only two Fiestas showed up (hey guys, we need to start representing!) and there were over a dozen Focii in attendance. Many things were learned (did you know K&N filters aren't actually red, it's the oil that gives it the trademark color?) and fun was had by all.

See everything here and more at my Photostream:
K & N Tour 25 June 2011 - a set on Flickr

It was definitely a warm day in the Inland Empire...

IMG_20110625_134018 by dirtyblueshirt, on Flickr

We even had a couple 2012 Focii to gawk at...

IMG_20110625_100633 by dirtyblueshirt, on Flickr

After the intro, we were broken into two groups. Our group started off in one of the R&D Labs where K&N tests mass airflow sensors sent to them by customers to identify causes of failure (K&N will also send the sensor to an independent lab to verify contaminants in a spectrographic analysis against the chemical footprint of K&N's filter oil).

Untitled by dirtyblueshirt, on Flickr

After that, we went to the production floor to see K&N filters being made...

Untitled by dirtyblueshirt, on Flickr

Here's a shot of (most) of the facility. Production is on the far right, leading to packaging on the left.

k&npano by dirtyblueshirt, on Flickr

The grey things in the blue bins here are K&N filters prior to receiving their urethane ends. After that, they receive their red oil and are packaged for delivery.

Untitled by dirtyblueshirt, on Flickr

The tour ultimately ended in their race shop. 'Nuff said.

Untitled by dirtyblueshirt, on Flickr

Some shots of the attendees:

Untitled by dirtyblueshirt, on Flickr

Untitled by dirtyblueshirt, on Flickr

Untitled by dirtyblueshirt, on Flickr

Untitled by dirtyblueshirt, on Flickr

Untitled by dirtyblueshirt, on Flickr

Oh, there's the Fiestas!

Untitled by dirtyblueshirt, on Flickr

And on the 15 going home...

IMG_20110625_142654 by dirtyblueshirt, on Flickr

[Audrey]

Thanks for taking the pics. (Sometimes I) wish I lived down there to go to cool things like this.