
TRICO ICE® launches in November 2026 ahead of the winter season, followed by a comprehensive new portfolio in January 2027
MEMPHIS, Tenn., Sept. 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Premium Guard Inc. (PGI), a leading global manufacturer and supplier of automotive products and solutions, today announced the relaunch of TRICO®, one of the automotive industry's most established names in windshield wiper technology, with a new generation of products built on more than a century of accumulated engineering knowledge, innovation and intellectual property.
TRICO's history dates to 1917, when the company introduced its Rain Rubber, recognized as the first mass-produced commercially available windshield wiper blade. Over the decades that followed, TRICO has built extensive know-how and IP across wiper technology, vehicle applications, attachment systems, and installation solutions.
Through its acquisition of TRICO-related IP, patents, engineering know-how and technical assets, PGI is now building upon that foundation to develop the next generation of TRICO products.
"TRICO represents generations of engineering knowledge, innovation and IP, but PGI's vision extends well beyond relaunching TRICO as a brand and product line," said Anan Bishara, Founder and CEO of PGI. "We see TRICO as a wiper technology platform. PGI will build upon its engineering, product technology and accumulated know-how not only to grow the TRICO brand, but also to support our customers in building their proprietary brands and executing their individual product strategies."
Building the Next Generation of Wiper Technology
PGI will build upon TRICO's accumulated engineering knowledge, IP and product heritage and reinforce that foundation with PGI's leadership in product development, category management, data analytics, global sourcing and supply-chain resilience.
The result will be a broader wiper technology platform designed not only to advance the TRICO brand, but also to help PGI customers build and strengthen their proprietary brands and execute differentiated product strategies.
"At PGI, everything starts with the customer," Bishara said. "Our goal is not to force customers into one brand or one product architecture. It is to understand how they want to compete and use our technology, engineering, and category expertise to help them execute that strategy. TRICO gives PGI an extraordinary technology foundation, and we intend to use it to create value for TRICO and for every customer we serve."
"The best way to honor more than a century of TRICO history is not simply to preserve what TRICO was," Bishara added. "It is to build upon everything generations of TRICO engineers learned and created, reinforce that foundation with PGI's advantages and customer-first culture, and use it to shape the next generation of wiper technology."
Exact Fit: Application-Specific Engineering Ahead of Its Time
A cornerstone of the relaunch will be TRICO Exact Fit®, first introduced in 1995.
Exact Fit was ahead of the market in recognizing that a replacement wiper should not simply fit a vehicle; it should be engineered for the specific application in terms of fitment and performance.
"Exact Fit was ahead of its time because TRICO recognized early that fitment and performance are directly connected," said Will Young, PGI's Senior Director of Product & Engineering for Wiper Systems. "A wiper may fit an application and still not deliver the performance expected for that vehicle. Exact Fit treats the blade as an application-specific engineered product rather than simply a universal replacement."
That approach also simplifies the purchase experience: identify the vehicle, select the corresponding Exact Fit blade, and install a product engineered specifically for that application.
Relaunch Begins with TRICO ICE Ahead of Winter
The new TRICO portfolio will begin rolling out in November 2026 with TRICO ICE®, strategically timed ahead of the winter season when drivers face the toughest demands on visibility and wiper performance.
Designed specifically for harsh winter conditions, TRICO ICE is engineered to deliver dependable performance through snow, ice, freezing temperatures and severe winter weather, while maintaining consistent windshield contact and a clean, reliable wipe.
In January 2027, PGI will expand the relaunch with TRICO Exact Fit®, TRICO FORCE®, TRICO FLEX®, TRICO Exact Fit Pro (Installer Series). TRICO Exact Fit® HD and TRICO Silicone Ceramic®, PGI's most advanced TRICO wiper technology will follow in early 2027.
Engineering Simplicity and Better Wipe Performance
PGI will also build on TRICO's long history of adapter and attachment-system engineering to simplify installation across an increasingly complex range of OE wiper-arm configurations.
At the same time, PGI is placing significant emphasis on rubber and material technology, recognizing that the quality of a wiper is ultimately measured by what happens at the windshield.
"Rubber technology is fundamental to durability and wipe quality," Young said. "The compound, wiping edge, integrated element coatings, and interaction between the blade and windshield all affect how smoothly and quietly a blade operates, how cleanly it wipes and how consistently it performs over time. Our goal is to improve durability while maintaining a smooth, high-quality wipe throughout the life of the product."
The focus on materials will be particularly important in TRICO Silicone Ceramic®, which will serve as the technology flagship of the new portfolio.
About Premium Guard Inc. (PGI)
Premium Guard Inc. is a leading developer and supplier of premium automotive filtration solutions serving retail, traditional, quick lube, and e-commerce channels across North America. Beyond its Premium Guard® branded product line, PGI powers many of the industry's most successful private-label programs, delivering turnkey solutions in engineering, product design, packaging, marketing, logistics, and data management. Through relentless innovation, global sourcing excellence, and a customer-first mindset, PGI continues to raise the standard for quality, agility, and value in the automotive aftermarket.
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SOURCE Premium Guard Inc.
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