The Showroom
New Products
MACHINERY
Bystronic Develops Lamicut
Bystronic Inc. of Hauppauge, N.Y., is introducing Lamicut, a new, fully
automatic cutting machine for laminated glass. The machine is designed for glass
up to 130 by 240 inches, with a maximum cutting width of 185 inches available as
an option. The machine may also be equipped with an edge-deletion device to
process low-E glass, as well as with a shape-cutting tool for float glass,
according to the company.
Bystronic says the automated process provides for the CNC-controlled positioning
and process bridge to move the laminated glass sheet into position, to score,
break and separate the x-cuts, to rotate the sub-plate 90 degrees while the
residual plate moves back and to move the sub-plate into position to perform the
y-cuts. The machine also has an automatic loading system available as an option.
Tamglass' FBG OptiForce™ Meets Newest
Design Challenges
Tamglass Ltd. Oy of Finland has developed a new bending furnace with press for
automotive glass manufacturers. According to the company, the new FBG OptiForce
meets the increasing challenges required by the latest automotive design trends
by allowing more wrap-around corners, cross-bending and tighter tolerance
requirements for the whole glass surface with faster cycle times.
ADHESIVES
Protective Film Leaves No Residue
Bristol, R.I.-based Patco Corp. has
introduced a line of polyethylene clean removal tapes and films for protecting
all types of glass, metal and plastic products during assembly and shipping.
Patco clean removal tape and film combine a polyethylene film with an acrylic
adhesive that will not leave residue on most surfaces, and is available in a
variety of styles with either low- or moderately-aggressive adhesives and bright
colors for high visibility, safety and color-coding.
Sika Changes Label Design
Sika Industry’s Auto Glass Replacement (AGR) Group, based in Madison
Heights, Mich., has modified the design of the batch label for its AGR
adhesives. According to the company, the new design allows batch code labels to
be removed from the cartridge and affixed to work orders, insurance forms and
other tracking documents.
The change applies to all Sika AGR products manufactured in the United States,
including Sikaflex® 220FC, Sikaflex 255FC, SikaTack® Drive, SikaTack UltraFast
and SikaTack UltraFast II.
| GLASS Solutia Launches Vanceva™ 
St. Louis-based Solutia Inc. has launched Vanceva, its new brand of Advanced Solutions for Glass™ products, according to Victoria Holt, vice president and general manager of the company’s performance films division. Solutia’s Vanceva products will be used in superior performance glazing systems, according to the company. Near-term Vanceva products will be available through Solutia’s distribution partners.“Vanceva products offer architects, engineers and designers the freedom to think about glass as performing functions they never thought possible,” Holt said. “Our overall marketing strategy is to showcase the superior performance that can be achieved with Vanceva products—and to challenge the way we currently construct buildings and design cars.” |
LITERATURE
NAGS Releases Volumes of Information
San Diego-based National Auto Glass Specifications International (NAGS) has released two new guides, the
NAGS Air Bag Quick Reference Manual and the NAGS Older Model & Restoration Guide.
These two guides are now available as a joint package from NAGS.
The NAGS Air Bag Quick Reference Manual is filled with cautions, component locations, air bag disabling procedures and other information for both domestic and imported vehicles dating to 1985. The
NAGS Older Model & Restoration Guide covers auto glass for vehicles made between 1949 and 1989 and provides details on its installation and other aspects.
AAIA Releases 2001 Industry Data
The Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA) has published the AAIA 2001 Aftermarket
Factbook, which provides the industry with a variety of statistics on its makeup, growth and sales information. According to this new publication, the size of the U.S. motor vehicle aftermarket grew by 5.2 percent in 2000 to $245.6 billion, with the automotive segment recording the largest growth at 5.8 percent.
TOOLS
Dewalt® Makes Product for “Lefties”
Dewalt of Baltimore has developed a heavy-duty universal drill holster that fits both right- and left-handed users, according to the company. The D5120 is made from ballistic nylon and holds both pistol-grip and mid-handle drills. It is equipped with a large, heat-formed compartment that has a horizontal retention strap that can be secured on either side of the holster to accommodate left- or right-handed use. The user then can adjust the strap.
| BRIEFLY … San Diego-based Mitchell International is supplying free online access to its procedure pages for its print and electronic estimating products. These procedures apply to the printed Mitchell Collision Estimating and Reference Guides and Replacement Assemblies Estimating Guide, as well as to Mitchell’s UltraMate and FirstEstimate electronic estimating systems. The information can be accessed at www.eMitchell.com … Pilkington Automotive, based in London, is working with San Diego-based Peregrine Systems to provide customers with parts online. The system will be directed at the European automotive glass replacement market and is expected to reduce transactional and administrative costs and to increase productivity for both the supplier and its customers. Using the online service, which will be hosted by Peregrine Systems, European aftermarket customers will be able to order glass outside of normal business hours and receive it from Pilkington the very next day … Diamond Triumph Auto Glass Inc. of Kingston, Pa., has announced that Phase II of its e-business initiatives, initially announced in December 2000, has been implemented with 12 of its accounts. According to the company, its entire e-business initiative program included web-based job allocations and complete web-based insurance claims processing capabilities. Now, with Phase II implemented, the company can perform web-based claims management, allowing for immediate, real-time transfer of any claim information and eliminating the need for phone calls to glass shops or centralized call centers. In addition, customers using the program can confirm job scheduling, monitor job status and obtain detailed management reports via computer … The Automotive Service Association (ASA), which is based in Bedford, Texas, has updated its 2001 International Autobody Congress & Exposition (NACE) website, www.NACEexpo.com, to include online registration and housing, an itinerary planner, an exhibitor list, exhibitor/product search and an exhibit hall floor plan. The website also details the conference’s program, including keynote speakers and entertainment … |
AGRR
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