Fleetguard LF3487 change in design - Baldwin!?!

[Extreme-Duty]

The Fleetguard LF3487 used to be more or less identical to the Donaldson P169071. Apparently, Fleetguard decided they wanted it to look like a Baldwin filter featuring a fluted shell and a thinner filter media, rather than Microglass. The first time I noticed the change was in late 2013.

Is this a European thing or part of Cummins' global cheapness program?

 

[ZeeOSix]

I think ever company skirts the lines of "cheapness" (aka "lean practices") to help increase the bottom line. The trick is to not sacrifice quality/performance to do so. Once the quality/performance line is crossed, it can backfire on their goal of making a larger bottom line.