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Auto Glass News: february 2009

PROSTARS, an alliance of independent glass shop retailers in the U.S., has expanded to Canada with Pittsburgh Glass Works (PGW) in New York, conducting the recruitment for the program.

PROSTARS alliance launches program for auto glass shops in Canada
PROSTARS, an alliance of independent glass shop retailers in the U.S., has expanded to Canada with Pittsburgh Glass Works (PGW) in New York, conducting the recruitment for the program.

“We’re taking the skills and dedication of the independent glass shop community combined with the efficiencies of electronic connectivity to create an industry leading network,” says Bruce Christie, director of branch sales and operations for PGW Canada. “Because we electronically integrate coverage verification, dispatching, appointment scheduling and part ordering; policyholders and insurance companies benefit from a consistent, accurate process that meets the needs of each party,” he says. “With the METRYX Industry Services Registry that we’ve just launched, we enable our participating glass shop retailers to effectively and efficiently self-manage their service area, capabilities and marketplace offerings. ”

In addition to electronic integration and connectivity, PROSTARS participant glass shop retailers in Canada will have a variety of business growth, operations/training and marketing tools available to them. Further, retailers will be certified through I-CAR and will offer a warranty that will be honoured by all PROSTARS participant locations throughout North America.

“We know that independent glass shop owners deliver exceptional customer service and technical competency,” adds Christie, “but in today’s networked, single-point-of-contact marketplace, it has been difficult for them to win access to large insurance and fleet contracts. PROSTARS participant glass retailers and LYNX Services provide an alternative solution for Canada’s insurers and fleet managers.”

LYNX Services is a leading third-party administrator for auto glass insurance claims in the U.S., and offers an array of processes that deliver efficiencies and exceptional services for the insurance industry and their policyholders.  With three call centres, LYNX Services currently manages more than three million claims per year in the U.S.  The third call centre for managing Canadian claims opened in Winnipeg, Man., in the third quarter of 2008.

Fahmy Mechael, vice-president of business development for LYNX Services, says insurance and fleet management executives want a process that enables policyholders to deal with their insurance claims in a single phone call. “The electronic connectivity between our call centres and the independent glass shop owners offer the solution. Our clients in the U.S., know the value of having access to a connected marketplace versus the limitations of being restricted to the service from a single company,” he says.

Introduced in 1999, PROSTARS was developed to enhance the marketing, customer service and quality performance of independent glass shop retailers. It is a nationwide, independent alliance of auto glass professionals who back their work with a national warranty. Participants have access to sales, marketing and business development tools built for the auto glass industry.
www.ppgprostars.com

Courage Film Fest tints-off in 2009
With more than 400 attendees expected, multiple product demonstrations taking place, manufacturer representatives present and the always popular Tint-Off competition, the Courage Film Fests will continue their tradition of attracting industry specialists in 2009.

Courage Distributing holds Canada’s largest event for glass tint professionals, with Film Fest taking place this year on February 21-22, in Vancouver, B.C., and on March 7-8, in Toronto, ON., About 30 tint professionals participate in the Tint-Off competition which has become a popular highlight for the event.

“The competition gets fierce but there are also a lot of laughs and everyone has fun,” says organizer, Todd Courage. “Last year, for the first time in the history of the competition, we had one tinter win at both locations and become Canada’s Best Window Film Installer. We also welcomed more attendees than ever before.  We had a lot of support from all of the dealers who came out to the seminars and made them a huge success!”

The Courage Film Fest is supported by many representatives from leading manufacturers such as 3M, VentureShield, Hanita Tek, and Remlor. Each manufacturer holds educational seminars, provides hands on demonstrations and takes the time to answer questions.

Established in 1992 by brothers, Todd and Trent Courage, Courage Distributing is a Canadian distributor and manufacturer of window films and automotive aftermarket products. The brothers are also the founders of the Polar Bear Dip for World Vision, which takes place every New Year’s Day in Oakville, Ont., which has so far raised $320,000 for the charity.
www.courage.ca

 
A second bronze needed for auto glass competition

From left: Gergely Igazvolgyi, Jeff Olive, Toshiyuki Isohata and Daniel Andersen, share the winner’s podium at the International Master Fitter Competition.
The competitors of the International Master Fitter Competition held during Glasstec are judged based on aa set of criteria evaluating the quality and safety of their work.

The final outcome of The International Master Fitter Competition 2008 held during Glasstec came to a surprising end with organizers searching for an extra medal.

Both Japan and Denmark finished third with auto glass replacement technicians Daniel Andersen from Denmark and Toshiyuki Isohata from Japan, sharing a bronze medal. The gold medal and the title of International Master Fitter 2008, went to Jeff Olive from the U.S., who also won The National Glass Association’s (NGA’s) American Master Fitter Installer Championship. The silver medal went to Gergely Igazvolgyi from Hungary.

Other countries taking part in the competition included Germany, France, Italy, The Netherlands, Norway, Romania and Sweden. The participants of the competition took part in a performance evaluated contest of replacing a side window, replacing a back window, repairing a windshield and replacing a windshield. Each of them had a new Mercedes Benz C-class vehicle to work with.

The rules of the competition were based on criteria for quality and health and safety only. It is judged by 12 people.

InterAutoGlass’ managing director Pim de Ridder says all of the competitors exhibited a high degree of technical skill with a focus on quality which is what this event is trying to promote.

The International Automotive Glass Federation was formed in 2007. Its mandate is to support technical standards and codes, training programs and health and safety issues for auto glass technicians or fitters.
www.interautoglass.org

 
Sika’s next generation surface preparation
Sika has introduced its newest generation in auto glass surface preparation with two products. Sika cleaner S is an organic solvent-based cleaning agent for heavily soiled surfaces that cannot be sufficiently cleaned with standard cleaners.

Sika Aktivator PRO is a unique pretreatment system that has been especially designed to provide adhesion on AGR substrates. It has a wide temperature range and short flash-off time for a single wipe-on process in all seasons without special requirements for winter conditions.

The company says that it is working to support its customers in the auto glass adhesive replacement industry with low cost installation systems and by providing technical field service.
www.sika.ca

Silicone gel allows re-use of light sensors
Gold Glass Group’s (GGG) newly developed two component silicone gel allows most round type rain and light sensors to be re-used avoiding expensive replacement costs. These include the DW01659 as well as many other current models.  Applied easily and quickly through a special mixing syringe, the old sensor can be reattached to the windshield using GGG’s SensorTack refill gel after only a few minutes.

The company says it has developed a system that is inexpensive and easy to use. GGG’s SensorTack refill gel has a short curing time so it can be used in auto glass shops or for mobile applications.  A heater box is available to reduce curing times for applications in colder temperatures.  The heating box also has a built-in level indicator and fully adjustable feet. 

Gold Glass Group is a supplier to the automotive glass market specializing in brand part specific moldings or universal moldings for the ARG market as well as a full range of products supplied to windshield manufacturers. GGG also supplies tapes, foam cores butyl, rain/light sensors, clips, and tools for auto glass professionals.
www.gggcorp.com

Windshield repair resin unaffected by moisture
Crackmaster Distributors has introduced a new waterproof windshield repair resin from Ultra Bond. Auto glass shops will never get rained out of doing windshield repairs again with the new Rain Resin.  This new chemical formulation is not contaminated by water or moisture and it will not lose clarity or adhesion when there is water or moisture in the stone-break.

This new windshield repair resin for stone-breaks retains its bond as water and moisture are displaced with a windshield repair tool. The water is displaced the same way air is displaced, by vacuum and pressure, however, unlike present windshield repair resins it is not contaminated by water and the refractive index remains the same. 

As the water passes through the resin it has no affect on the resins bond or refractive index.  Even if the windshield repair tool has little to no vacuum and leaves water in the break it will not affect the bond or refractive index.  Exposure tests both visually and structurally were unaffected with a mixture of water and resin.
www.crackmasterscanada.com

Apple Auto Glass rewards customers

The Apple Auto Glass 2008 Fix It N’ Win 25th Anniversary Sweepstakes came to a conclusion on Dec. 17 with 125 Apple Auto Stores participating across Canada.

The annual contest is designed to reward the company’s customers. From September to November, customers received scratch and win cards with a chance to win instant in-store prizes consisting of gas cards from $5 to $50. In addition, customers were eligible to enter the grand prize draws.

Since Apple Auto Glass is celebrating its 25th anniversary, the total number of grand prizes was increased to nine nationally. Each region had three grand prizes: a trip for two to the Mayan Riviera, Mexico, a home theatre system consisting of a 52-inch Samsung Flat-Panel LCD HDTV with a Blu–ray disc player and $2,500 in gas money.

The company received more than 11,500 entries over an eight week period and the winners were notified just prior to Christmas.

Trip for two Mayan Riviera, Mexico, winners:

• Tina Fuller, Coldbrook, N.S.
• Jacques Lamoureux, Chelmsford Ont.
• Sherry Kidd, Surrey, B.C.

$2,500 Petro Canada Gas Card winners:

• Claude Anctil, Moncton, N.B.
• Robert Saunders, Sudbury, Ont.
• Chris Penner, Langley, B.C.

Home theatre system winners:

• Agnes Pastuck, Sydney, N.S.
• Randy Rowcliffe, Simcoe, Ont.
• Carla Lagore, Langley, B.C.