Hi-Tech® Frequently Asked Questions
General Inquiries
Why Hi-Tech?
Simple! We have the most comprehensive offering of innovative Professional Car Care Product accessories and specialty aerosols in the industry. We have an extremely competitive pricing structure. And…we offer unmatched quality on our over 500 premium products. Essentially, we believe we offer the most value to our distributors and end-users in the industry. With 70+ years of experience, we hope to get an opportunity to prove this to you!
How do I gain access to the “Product Portal” on your website?
We offer online product access to all of our authorized ‘Hi-Tech Dealers and Distributors’. This allows us to maintain an element of privacy for our distributors, while also protecting the proprietary nature of many of our products. For access to our cutting-edge product offering, please contact your local distributor for a catalog. For immediate service, please feel free to contact us directly at 1-800-789-9065 (US and Canada) 1-248-358-5533 (International) or simply follow this link and contact us online.
How do I find the closest Hi-Tech Distributor in my area?
Easy! With over 500 “Authorized Hi-Tech Distributors” throughout the World, we are pretty confident you have access to our offering within minutes from your shop. Our Customer Service team is always available and friendly. For immediate service, please feel contact us directly at 1-800-789-9065 (US and Canada) 1-248-358-5533 (International) or simply follow this link and contact us online.
How do I get more information on becoming a “Hi-Tech Authorized Distributor”?
As our industry grows, so does the demand for access to premium car care accessories and aerosols. Hi-Tech is always looking for new partnerships to further expand our global reach. Simply complete the short online form and one of our Executive Sales Team members will contact you directly to discuss our various options and answer any questions you may have.
Does Hi-Tech offer their products for international and export customers?
Absolutely! Hi-Tech currently has distribution established in 30+ countries across Europe, Latin and South America and Asia! Whether you are a shop looking for a distributor, or an importer looking to establish distribution in your marketplace, we are looking for you too! Simply complete the short online form and one of our Global Business Development team members will contact you directly to discuss our various options and answer any questions you may have. For immediate service, please feel contact us directly at 1-800-789-9065 (US and Canada) 1-248-358-5533 (International) or simply follow this link and contact us online.
Do you offer Private Label for your products?
YES! We have onsite private label capabilities for many of our products, including aerosols, buffing pads and wash mitt’s…Just to name a couple. Additionally, we have a number of “Quick Turn” selections that are competitively priced and typically have only a one-week lead time for reorders. Call (800) 789-9065 to discuss minimums, label options and pricing.
Why do you have so many products?
The automotive reconditioning market is always evolving. New water-borne paint technologies, recycled fiber interiors and carpets, State and Federal Environmental regulatory changes…. These are just a couple of examples of major changes to our industry in just the past 10 years. In order for us to stay on the cutting-edge of technology, we must always be searching for new product solutions. With our end-users always in-mind, we are diligently searching for the latest ways to make their job safer, easier and more efficient. For 70 years our company has been on the front-end of game-changing technology in our industry. This is our “Relentless Pursuit of Detail Perfection”.
Are your products used only in the Car Care Industry?
No way! We have customers in the Janitorial industry, Marine, Food Service, Industrial and many many more professional industries. Anywhere there is something dirty….There is a Hi-Tech product to make it look like new! If you are in the market for anything from aerosol glass cleaners and microfiber towels to mops and brooms, we have a solution for you.
Product Inquiries
What are the product categories you offer?
Over the years, our offering of products has become more-and-more comprehensive as our distributor base expanded and the needs of our end-users evolved. We offer the following general product categories:
- Aerosol Carpet Dyes and Specialty paints
- Aerosol Cleaners and Dressings
- Aerosol and Non-Aerosol Odor Eliminators
- Buffing Pads, Bonnets and Backing Plates
- Wash Brushes, Truck Brushes and Specialty Interior Detail Brushes
- Buffers, Extractors and Power Tools
- Gloves, Safety Gear and Razor Blades
- Microfibers, Chamois and Squeegees
- Wash Mitts, Sponges and Applicators
- Steel Wool and Abrasives
- Floor Mats and Adhesive Carpet Films
- Brooms, Mops, Pumps….and MORE!!
Don’t see what you were looking for? Chances are we have it, we just forgot to post it!
Call us! Our Customer Service team is always available and friendly. For immediate service, please feel contact us directly at 1-800-789-9065 (US and Canada) 1-248-358-5533 (International) or simply follow this link and contact us online.
Do you have ‘Made in the USA’ products?
Absolutely! And more than you might think… We at Hi-Tech are always searching for product and process solutions that can be manufactured and /or assembled in the USA. We are a Family-Owned, Detroit-based institution and we understand that “Buying Local” is an important feature for many folks. Due to the competitive nature of our industry, of course, we have to globally source many of our products and components, but this does not automatically mean that quality is sacrificed. If a product is not to our exact specification, it does not make it to the marketplace.
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)
What are VOC’s and how do these new laws affect me and my business?
Credited to the Official Website of the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA):
“Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are emitted as gases from certain solids or liquids. VOCs include a variety of chemicals, some of which may have short- and long-term adverse health effects. Concentrations of many VOCs are consistently higher indoors (up to ten times higher) than outdoors. VOCs are emitted by a wide array of products numbering in the thousands. Examples include: paints and lacquers, paint strippers, cleaning supplies, pesticides, building materials and furnishings, office equipment such as copiers and printers, correction fluids and carbonless copy paper, graphics and craft materials including glues and adhesives, permanent markers, and photographic solutions.
Organic chemicals are widely used as ingredients in automotive, industrial and household products. Paints, varnishes, and wax all contain organic solvents, as do many cleaning, disinfecting, cosmetic, degreasing, and hobby products. Fuels are made up of organic chemicals. All of these products can release organic compounds while you are using them, and, to some degree, when they are stored.”
VOC’s are regulated by different local governing bodies, depending on which areas of the country you operate your business in. Hi-Tech will continue to utilize our industry resources and internal expertise to stay on top of these changing regulations. However, please stay in-tuned with what is going on in your area by frequently visiting http://www.epa.gov/.
Which states have VOC restrictions?
As of this printing, they include California, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, and Washington DC.
How do the VOC rules affect me?
If you market products in any of the above states, you must comply with VOC regulations. Aerosols listed on our website and in our booklets that are VOC compliant are designated as such by the presence of our VOC icon. Extenuating circumstances notwithstanding, Hi-Tech cannot ship non-compliant aerosols into VOC states.
Isn’t there a sell through period for non-VOC compliant inventory?
In most cases, yes. Call (800) 789-9065 for details on your state.
My business is located in a VOC state, but I market products in non-VOC states. Can I buy non-compliant aerosols for my routes in non-VOC states?
Yes, however, in order for us to ship non VOC compliant aerosols into VOC states, we must have a notarized letter from the distributor that he will only market those products in areas where VOC rules do not apply.
What are the fines for violating VOC rules?
Penalties are levied at the discretion of the governing body in your state and can vary. However, in 2006, a company in our industry was fined in excess of $318,000 for violating VOC rules.
Does Hi-Tech offer solutions for areas governed by VOC Regulations?
Of course! Our Compliance and Technical Teams are always researching for new solutions that remain within the confines of current chemical regulations and standards. We have a variety of VOC-Complaint aerosol products. Just ask your distributor or customer service representative. We are always here to help.
Do you have Body Shop Safe Products?
YES! We have a variety of Body Shop safe aerosol options. We understand the time and cost implications of “Fish-Eyes” created by atomized silicone materials in the body shop. That’s why we offer a full-line of Body Shop Safe aerosol cleaners and dressings. Ask your distributor today!