Time to Get Tough on Dirt this Winter The ToughGuard Story Interview with Dan Reid

By Annamarie Buonocore

Here at BizAvJets USA, we are big on products that work and get the job done. Aviation is a tough industry, and aircraft experience some harsh elements at times. That is why products like ToughGuard come in handy when it comes to washing and detailing aircraft of all kinds. We had the pleasure of talking with Dan Reid, owner of ToughGuard, and learning about his company. We hope you find the ToughGuard story and product line useful when it comes to caring for your aircraft.

BizAvJets USA: Tell me a little bit about the history of ToughGuard and how you got started with this product.

Dan Reid: The ToughGuard product has been around for more than 35 years. There was a gentleman up here in Oregon who was very involved in aviation and auto detailing. He started the product and then started distributing it throughout Oregon and into California. That was when I became a distributor of the ToughGuard product. The distributor network became larger and larger, and soon the product was being used on Air Force planes. It has been Air Force tested. After a few years, the owner of the company came down with some health problems, so he approached me to see if I wanted to manage ToughGuard. I gladly took it on, and that is how I got here today.

process from regular waxing where you wax on and wax off. Then you let it sit anywhere from a half hour to a couple hours. Then you can take it off. We have had very good results over the years and have never had a customer complaint. We have a 98-percent satisfaction rating. This product really protects the paint of the aircraft.

BAJUSA: Who is your target market?

DR: While we sell to private aircraft owners, our real market is B to B. We try to sell it in bulk to corporations with large flight departments or fleets of aircraft.

BAJUSA: Would you say this is an environmentally friendly product?

DR: I would say that it is. It’s non-toxic and gentle on the skin. It’s packaged in recyclable plastic and is overall an environmentally sound product.

ToughGuard is currently being used by Embraer and Dassault, both reporting excellent results. (Image courtesy ToughGuard)

BAJUSA: I understand you have been in contract with car companies such as Ford and Volvo. Have you been in contract with any aviation companies?

DR: Yes, several have purchased the product. We recently contracted with Embraer, and they love it. They did a before-and-after test and were very pleased with the results. They are currently using it on all of the jets in their fleet. We recently started working with Dassault as well, and they are also very pleased.

BAJUSA: Tell me a little bit about how the product works.

DR: We have a two-step process. The first step is to give the vehicle or aircraft a good wash. Then you apply the product to wax and wash. It is a bit of a different

BAJUSA: How is it sold?

DR: It is usually sold in tubes, but it can be purchased in a gallon jug. We can also do large bulk packages of

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