The first impact-resistance glass discovered by accident in 1903, by a French chemist named Eduoard Benedictus who dropped a glass beaker onto the floor. It had a coating of plastic cellulose nitrate and though the glass beaker broke the broken pieces stuck together. This new application for glass did not really catch on until World War I, when this application was utilized for the eyepieces of gas masks. World War II created new needs for the use of what we now call bullet-resistant glass. The glass laminates used at this time were much thicker and heavier than the modified versions we use today. There are two types of bullet-resistant glass, one is laminate glass and the other is the version in use today, called polycarbonate thermoplastic glass.

Super Strong!

Drivers of Ehrenberg, Gadsden, Gila Bend and Lukeville: Laminated glass consists of various layers of glass. The outer layer of glass is brittle so it breaks easier, but it flattens and slows bullets. Adding more layers will create a laminate that can withstand greater impact, but at some point becomes impractical due to weight and thickness. Tempered glass breaks into small, equally shaped pieces as opposed to standard glass that breaks or cracks and produces irregular shards, which are more dangerous. 

Super Complex!

Polycarbonate thermoplastic glass is manufactured using a specific variety of ingredients and is recognized by many different brand names such as Lexan, Armormax and Makroclear, among others. The outside layer of glass is harder than the inside layer and is used to slow down and flatten the bullet. Conversely, the inside layer must be softer to give it more flexibility. The polycarbonate thermoplastic layer is sandwiched between two layers of glass to lessen the intensity of the impact by spreading the force out sideways.

Super Safe!

Since the polycarbonate thermoplastic distributes blunt force relatively evenly, it can withstand the impact of a fist or a hammer, whereas the glass layer alone can easily be penetrated. Oddly enough, so could the polycarbonate thermoplastic if used without glass because they work synergistically. As with the older version of laminate glass, the more layers that are bonded together, the greater impact polycarbonate thermoplastic glass can withstand. Polycarbonate thermoplastic glass is between .25 to 3 inches thick, because it weighs less and is thinner; more layers can be put to use and therefore can withstand greater impact than the older version of bullet-resistant laminate glass. If it is anything thicker than that, it is considered armored glass.

Super Expensive!

Bullet-resistant windshields are expensive to make because the thickness required makes the flexibility needed to form and fit a windshield highly difficult. Bulletproof/resistant glass alone costs between $25.00 and $100.00 per square foot. It would be difficult to find any company who would install a bullet-resistant windshield without making the entire vehicle bullet-resistant, because it would be useless if done otherwise. The cost to have this type of windshield would actually raise the overall price. While windshields are what we typically think of when we think of bulletproof glass, a vehicle consists of many windows, which can be utilized, as well as places you may not have thought of. For instance, in police stations, banks, schools, prisons, anywhere security is an issue.

Did You Know?

Residents of Ehrenberg, Gadsden, Gila Bend and Lukeville: Did you know that Bullet-resistant glass has eight levels in which it is rated. The higher the level, the greater the protection. In the US, bullet-resistant glass is tested and rated by the U.S. Department of Defense and the U.S. National Institute of Justice along with the Underwriter’s Laboratory. Europe also has rating and testing organizations to regulate glass.

Never have I been so appreciative of windshield wipers than when I drove into an unexpected storm.

"Trivia"
Roll, Salome, San Luis and Somerton Drivers: What year was the windshield wiper invented? Answer: in 1903 by Mary Anderson

Before this experience, I had not given windshield wipers a thought. Now, as they swung back and forth creating a clear view, I had a great appreciation for their impact on my driving experience. The fact that such an apparently simple apparatus is so amazingly important fascinated me. I discovered that making windshield wipers is as efficient as the results they provide when in proper working condition.

Residents of Roll, Salome, San Luis and Somerton: The process starts with rubber that is broken down to a fine grain using a mixer. Powdered carbon is then mixed with the rubber for several hours. Workers then cut the rubber from the mixer and feed it into a heat-treating machine before being placed into an extrusion machine, which combines it with a synthetic rubber. Next, the rubber is pressed through a steel dye to form a continuous profile band.

The rubber profile bands are now cooled in a salt bath before being cut into lengths and split in half to form wiping blades with sharp edges. The wipers are then treated with graphite, used to reduce windshield friction, prior to being placed on a grate to dry. The rubber wipers are so smooth they are difficult to grasp, so workers are required to feed them into an assembly machine by hand. Long narrow metal strips are then inserted into the rubber lengthwise giving it tension to maintain its form against the windshield and hold its shape.

Next, a series of automated procedures, starting with a steel coil are put into a stamping machine that repeatedly cuts and bends the steel to form brackets. These brackets connect the wiper blade to the wiper arm, giving it a curved shape that will fit against a variety of windshields.  The wiper blades are then dipped into a vat of black paint to form a base coat. This process is repeated twice and subsequently the two coats of black paint serve as protection against corrosion for several years.

Then, an automated machine sets plastic joints on the smallest brackets and then clips them two at a time on the larger middle bracket. Next, the machine sets an adapter onto the top center bracket so the wiper can be attached to a variety of car wiper arms.

All the trays holding the assembled wiper parts come together and the machine continues its final assembly. Four brackets held by joints branch out from the main center bracket. The brackets hold the wiper blade in eight different places that allows a full range of movement to the wiper blade while applying even pressure all along the blade. These now completely assembled wipers come off the assembler two at a time so workers can visually inspect them. The workers will test the performance of the blades using a rotating sheet of wet glass, they will monitor the friction the blades apply to the glass and gauge their durability.

The wipers are then tested on an opaque black windshield in order to discover how well they work, since it is important to achieve a clean wipe with no streaking. These completed and tested wiper blades have an amazing life span of over a million wipes.

Now I will be confident when I drive in rain knowing the wipers will be doing their job for many years to come.

"Trivia"
Roll, Salome, San Luis, and Somerton residents: What tragic event took place that led to the invention of the intermittent windshield wiper? Answer: The inventor, Robert Kearns, lost his sight in one eye, after being hit in the eye with a champagne bottle cork.

Video: How It's Made Windshield Wipers

In 1903, Mary Anderson invented the first windshield wiper. This innovative idea came to her on a trip to New York when she noticed that the trolley car driver had repeatedly wiped the windshield in order to see through rain or snow. As a solution, she invented a swinging arm device that cleared rain or snow from the windshield by using a simple hand-operated crank that inconveniently required help from the driver or passenger to make it work. Unfortunately as innovative as the swinging arm device was, Mary Anderson would never greatly profit from her evolutionary invention.

In 1916, all vehicles manufactured or sold in the United States mandated to be equipped with windshield wipers, but they still required manual help. Then in 1921 with the invention of the automatic windshield wiper called the Folberth, named after its inventor William Folberth, the hand-operated swinging arm device replaced with a single blade wiper run by suction from the engine's intake manifold. This device connected to the inlet pipe of the engine and used pressurized air to operate. The Folberth automatic wipers came with a problem in that wiper speed either increased or decreased with the speed of the vehicle.

By 1926, Bosch developed the electric version of the windshield wiper, which were installed mainly in the most expensive cars as a luxury item. Even then the first electric power wiper blades did not work very well since they would more often malfunction then function properly.

Advisory: Aguila, Ajo, Arlington, Rocksprings; it is very important to either replace or properly maintain your windshield wiper blades, to keep your windshield optically clear.

Concurrently changes were occurring to the type of blades used in the wiper. In 1968 the speed wiper blade was introduced which reduced blade wind resistance and kept the blade from rising off the windshield at high speeds. Then in 1976, an innovation called the slim wiper blade performed even better with wind resistance at even higher speeds. About the same time, West Germany developed a Spoiler type wiper blade that actually utilized wind resistance to improve wiper performance.

While these changes were happening to the blades, a major innovation occurred to the windshield wiper and wiper arms. Formerly wipers were universally silver in color, but eventually were updated to reflect the black with anti glare and corrosion resistant paint that is now used.

It was this period of time that saw the greatest change in the windshield wiper. In 1953 on his wedding night, Mr. Robert Kearns caught a champagne bottle cork in his eye losing his eyesight in that eye. Driving home one evening ten years later, the remaining eye strained due to the rapid back and forth motion of his wipers. As an engineering professor, he had the background and mechanically creative mind to come up with a solution to the problem and in 1963; he invented the intermittent windshield wiper. The intermittent wiper using the concept of intervals and speed settings that adjust to the amount of rainfall, plus the adjustment in color of the wipers, were so successful they are relatively the same ones in use today.

Starting with a plain sheet of glass an automated plotter moves a cutting wheel over it and the wheel scores the glass. Then a robotic arm uses a torch and moves along the score line and the thermal shock completes the cut. Next, a robot suctions up the cut piece of glass and transfers it to the next station, where all the sharp edges of the glass are sanded. This stage of the process is referred to as seaming.

Now a conveyor belt takes the glass through some soapy water to clean it up. Then nozzles spray the glass with a mix of talcum powder and water, this will prevent the glass from sticking to a second sheet of glass. A robot now sets a second piece of glass on top of the freshly sprayed one. The two sheets of glass are layered this way for processing, but will be pulled apart later.

"Trivia Question" Mobile, Stanfield, Red Rock and Picacho Residents: Why do all windshields have a black border around them?  Answer: To hide any imperfections caused by the urethane.

The glass is now silkscreened with black paint around the border of the glass, which will eventually be the inner part of the windshield. Automated arms carry the glass to a station where samples of the glass are visually inspected. Then rollers transfer the glass to automatic squaring pucks, which position them. Then a robot lifts the sheets of glass and carries them to four metal pins. The pins recede and the glass falls onto a bending iron, the bending iron is shaped like a specific windshield.

The conveyor takes the bending iron with the two glass sheets into an oven called a bending Lehr. The Lehr heats the glass sheets to 750 degrees Celsius causing the glass to sink into the shape of the bending iron. Then the glass goes through a slow cooling cycle to anneal or toughen the new shape. Next, a robot picks up a sheet of vinyl cut in the shape of a windshield. Then it takes the vinyl sheet to one of the newly shaped pieces of glass, just separated from the other piece. Then another robot lowers the other identical piece of glass onto the vinyl.

"Trivia Question" Mobile, Stanfield, Red Rock and Picacho Residents: What is the purpose of the vinyl in your windshield?  Answer:  As the glass breaks into small pieces, the vinyl holds the glass together, preventing injury to the occupants of the vehicle.

At this point, there is no clear view through the windshield until it goes through the machine called a nipper. The nipper presses the windshield through a series of rubber rollers squeezing out any air pockets in it. As the air is removed, the view through the vinyl gets a bit clearer. Now squaring pucks position the windshield so robots can attach the bracket for the rear view mirror.

Finally, the windshield is placed in a big blue chamber called the autoclave for one hour to remove any remaining air pockets in the windshield. Before the glass is finished, it undergoes one last visual inspection to make sure there are no chips, blemishes or defects in the windshield. In the event of an accident, the windshield is designed and manufactured for safety due to the laminate used as a safety feature. (Two pieces of auto glass with a layer of vinyl between).

Video: How It's Made - Windshields

Prior to the invention of windshields people used goggles to protect their eyes from bugs, dirt, wind and rain.

Residents of Bouse, Cibola, Congress, and Dateland: A Sense of Relief

Currently windshields have attributes such as the ability to reduce heat buildup by reflecting the infrared light waves from direct sunlight and the ability to block-out 99% of the suns harmful ultra violet light. More importantly, your windshield can contribute as much as 60% to the support of the roof of your vehicle during a rollover accident. These are just some of the windshields innovative attributes.  Who knows what the future holds? Perhaps a plasma shield and no glass at all!

SunTec Auto Glass understands the importance of using only the best quality auto glass available for your vehicle and more importantly for the safety of you and your family. If you are in Bouse, Cibola, Congress, or Dateland, or within Maricopa and Pinal Counties and require windshield replacement, auto glass repair, window tinting or glass etching, contact SunTec Auto Glass to handle those chips, cracks or breaks in your windshield.

Video: 1954 Buick Special New Windshield Commercial

The tempering process begins by cutting raw glass to an exact size and shape, then smoothing the sharp edges. Side and rear windows undergo a silk screening process. In addition, the electric circuit for heated rear windows is screened on with a silver ceramic paste that bonds to the glass as it bakes. The bending process follows and the glass is then transported through a furnace with temperatures as high as 1500 degrees Fahrenheit. Curved rolls, presses or bending rings are used to shape the hot glass and then pressurized air-cools it quickly. The window looks like ordinary glass but it is much stronger. Nevertheless, if tempered glass does break, it disintegrates into small fragments with rounded edges. 

Residents of Parker, Palo Verde, Morristown, and Circle City: The tempering process makes the auto glass in your vehicle stronger and safer, protecting you and your family in the event of a head on or rollover accident.

The Laminating Process

The windshield laminating process begins when two pieces of glass are cut to an exact pattern. Then the edges are smoothed and the cut glass is washed, dried and matched together. A black paint border is silk screened on the inside surface and the matched pieces of glass are then placed on bending irons and moved through a furnace called a Lehr. Heat softens the glass allowing it to conform to the shape of the bending irons. After the glass cools, it travels into a climate controlled dust free room where it is sandwiched together with a strong vinyl interlayer. At this point, the heat and pressure of an autoclave permanently bond the glass and vinyl into a single transparent windshield. 

Residents of Parker, Palo Verde, Morristown, and Circle City: This process creates what is known as a see-through sandwich! (Your Windshield)

Solar Reflective Windshields

Solar reflective windshields are made with a hi-tech coating process.  Pittsburgh Plate Glass (PPG), an auto glass manufacturer, produces a windshield made with state of the art equipment, creates a remarkable solar reflective coating. This superior coating gives their Sungate automotive windshield the ability to reject 60% of the suns total energy and 99% of the suns damaging ultra violet rays, further reducing the chance of getting sunburn or worse yet skin cancer.

Video: Auto Glass Manufacturing 

Before the glass is cut, a special powder is dropped on the surface of the glass providing a separation medium between each piece of glass. Then the glass is cut by scoring it with carbide cutting wheels and then snapping it over a roller, which acts like a fulcrum. Mainline scoring equipment consists of slit cutters that score the ribbon of glass in the direction of the flow, and crosscutters score it across the flow. After scoring the glass, a continuous ribbon of glass comes to the mainline snap rolls where cross-cutter scores are open.

Next the plates of glass are routed down the mainline one plate at a time or in small groups. The glass is then moved from the mainline conveyors to the automatic packing lines by means of a corner table, a belt conveyor and rolls conveyor. The glass leaves the corner table and enters the snapping conveyors where the slit cutter scores are open. After the snapped section of glass is cleared, it is transferred one section at a time onto a series of narrow conveyors.

The glass is automatically inspected and reject glass is recycled through the plants culet system and is eventually reused in the batching process. Finally, the glass is conveyed onto the automatic vacuum transfer module (VTM) which operates like a vacuum cleaner, sucking the individual lites of glass off the main conveyor onto the finished step. As the stack of glass gets higher an elevator table indexes down to maintain consistent drop of glass. Once the stack is complete, the elevator table is lowered and the finished container is moved aside while an empty container is moved under the packing module.

An off-line part of the manufacturing process is known as the MSVD chamber or magnetic sputter vacuum deposition. This is where proprietary high performance low emissivity coatings are applied to the glass.  During this process cut pieces of glass are rolled into a vacuum chamber were microscopic layers of various metals, primarily silver, are bonded to the glass. Throughout the process, periodic quality inspections are performed and finally the container is sealed and shipped out to customers in Tortilla Flat, Valley Farms, Winkelman, Dudleyville, Fort McDowell, Phoenix and other cities and towns around the globe.

Return to: part one

Video: How Glass is Made part 2

"Important Information"
Residents of Kearny, Hayden, Toltec, Eleven Mile, and Eleven Mile Corner: Gradually cooling the glass, is an important process that actually builds the strength into the glass.

 At its final width and thickness, the glass is cooled down by a series of water coolers, which brings the temperature of the glass down to around 1000 degrees Fahrenheit. Then the glass is safely moved onto the main-lines conveyor, which moves the glass into the Lehr where it is further cooled down at a controlled rate in order to insure the proper stresses are put into the glass to make it cut well. After cooling, the glass comes out of the Lehr at about 350 degrees Fahrenheit where it is further cooled down by large open-air fans bringing the temperature down to about 200 degrees Fahrenheit. While the glass moves through this cooling down area, the glass is carefully inspected prior to the cutting operation.

Continue to: part two

Video: How Glass is Made part 1

The glass in your vehicle is manufactured to block out bugs, rocks, rain, and wind and serves a greater purpose in the infrastructure of your vehicle in case of a rollover accident. As you drive down the road and scan the horizon with perfect clarity, it is the windshield and its many attributes that make it all possible. The glass can refract sunlight and block-out heat or ultra violet (UV) light, which could greatly reduce the risk of serious sunburn or cancer, making the windshield or the glass in your vehicle a major benefit to your well-being.

SunTec Auto Glass understands the importance of using only the best quality auto glass available for your vehicle and more importantly for the safety of you and your family. If you are in San Tan Valley, Superstition Mountain, Queen Valley, Bapchule, Sacaton, or Maricopa and Pinal Counties require windshield replacement, auto glass repair, window tinting or glass etching, contact SunTec Auto Glass to handle those chips and breaks in your windshield.

Did you know Glass comes from many different sources?

Humans have been making glass for about 5,000 years. The word glass originated from the Latin term glesum meaning transparent lustrous substance. The earliest use of glass probably occurred in ancient Egypt where glass items were considered luxuries found only in the tombs of priests and royalty. The yellow-green scarab at the heart of King Tut’s pendant is made of glass that is millions of years old. The glass in King Tut’s pendant was made with the help of a meteorite that crashed into the Egyptian desert melting the sand forming a type of glass called tektite, which comes from the Greek word tektos meaning molten.

Residents of San Tan Valley, Superstition Mountain, Queen Valley, Bapchule, and Sacaton: RADIATION AWARENESS
                      
A nuclear device nicknamed "the gadget" was hoisted to the top of a 100-foot-tall steel tower and detonated in New Mexico at the White Sands Proving Grounds on July 16, 1945. With a searing light and intensity many times that of the midday sun, an explosion of intense heat carved a large crater in the desert sand, which is largely made of silica melted, thus becoming a mildly radioactive light green glass named Trinitite. The glass in your vehicle is also, mostly made up of silica sand giving it that slight greenish tint minus the radiation.

SunTec Auto Glass purchases all of our auto glass from original equipment manufacturers such as Pilkington, Guardian, Carlite, and Pittsburgh plate glass. These are among the best auto glass manufacturers that produce and supply auto glass for many vehicle manufacturers in the United States and abroad.

Video: Auto Glass Manufacturing

Usually, the auto insurance company will waive the deductible for windshield repair if no other damage is claimed. This is commonly referred to as a 'glass only' claim. If the chip or crack is larger than a credit card or dollar bill, the auto insurance company would require that the windshield be replaced and the deductible, if any, would apply, unless your comprehensive auto insurance policy carries an auto glass endorsement which would make the deductible not applicable. The Arizona Department of Insurance regulates statutes that have made this possible.

→ ARS20-264 requires insurers to offer full auto glass coverage. This is made possible by adding an auto glass endorsement that is available with comprehensive insurance coverage. This endorsement covers ‘glass only’ claims and it is important to ask for this endorsement to be included on your auto insurance policy when getting your vehicle insured. It costs a little bit more but is well worth having.

Utilizing this information can save you hundreds of dollars in the event your windshield or any other automotive glass becomes damaged. If you are not sure whether your existing auto insurance policy includes the necessary endorsement, it would be a good idea to call the auto insurance company and take the necessary steps to ensure the auto glass endorsement is included in your auto insurance policy, giving you peace of mind. Arizona has another statute that prevents insurers from increasing your auto insurance rates because of any ‘no fault’ auto glass claims you have filed.

→ ARS20-263 makes Arizona a ‘no-fault' claim state, which means your insurance premium, cannot be directly increased because you filed an auto glass claim. It is possible however that your insurance company may choose not to continue insuring you when it comes time to renew your policy leaving you vulnerable to paying higher premiums to another insurer depending on the number of claims you have made.

It would be beneficial to speak with an experienced auto glass company prior to contacting your auto insurance company with yet another auto glass claim. A knowledgeable auto glass company may know of other options that may be available to you such as warranties or specials that would alleviate the need to contact your auto insurance company at all. Another Arizona statute gives you the right to choose which auto glass company you would like to perform the work on your vehicle.

→ ARS20-469 gives you the right to choose which auto glass company you want to use. The insurance company may suggest a specific auto glass repair company, but they cannot penalize you if you choose your own auto glass repair company. What they can do is barrage you with a series of questions and try steer you towards the auto glass company of their choice. By choosing your own auto glass company, you can choose an auto glass company that may offer the following:

1. Warranty that meets and exceeds the warranty of the auto glass company that the auto insurance company may have suggested, such as an auto glass company that may offer lifetime chip repairs without having to make a future windshield repair claim.
   
   
2. Specials that the auto insurance companies' suggested auto glass company cannot or will not offer, but other auto glass companies may offer, such as dinners, gas, and movie passes. These specials and promotions come out of the auto glass company's profits and losses and are not added to what the auto insurance company is going to pay. Since auto insurance companies are in total control of the pricing, the auto glass company either accepts the auto insurance companies' rates or the auto glass company cannot do the job for the insured, through their auto insurance policy.
   
   
3. Choosing your own auto glass company gives you the option of having Original Equipment Manufactured glass installed. This is an automobile manufacturer endorsed auto glass. Since the agenda for most auto insurance companies is to save money, letting the auto insurance company choose an auto glass company for you, may leave you with aftermarket glass. Aftermarket glass can be a wild card, as the specifications may differ from that of your original manufactured windshield. Aftermarket glass may have poor optical quality, uneven thickness, and may cause leaks or wind noise.  

Choosing your own auto glass company can empower you to make the best choice for you and your family. Using due diligence when choosing an auto glass company may ensure that you and your family are safer as a direct result of making your own decision.

→ Arizona law ARS28-957.01. (A) Makes it illegal to operate a vehicle with a windshield that is not adequate; and it is solely up to the ticketing officer and what he deems adequate. The adequate windshield law is very vague and leaves a lot up to interpretation. What you may surmise to be a small crack, chip or scratch may result in an Arizona windshield fix-it-ticket. Putting off the repair or replacement of your damaged windshield may not only result in a fix-it-ticket, but it puts the safety of you and your family at risk of an accident that may be caused as a direct result of a windshield that is not adequate.

As you can see there are many paths that can be taken and starting out on the right foot will save you time and money, as well as potentially keeping you and your family as safe as the auto glass was originally manufactured for.

These are just some of the factors that have gone into the forefront of auto glass technology. Take an imaginary journey from the earliest history of the automobile to the “other side”, where auto glass is no longer just a means to provide protection.

Imagine the Past of Peoria Auto Glass

Slip on those goggles and rain gear, and let us begin the trip in a vehicle with a folding windshield! The earliest windshields, introduced by 1904, allowed the driver to tip the top half down for an unobstructed view. These “wrap-around” windshields were actually considered a luxury and sold as optional equipment for motorists. By as late as 1919, nine out of ten cars had only a one-person top and side curtains. It was not until 1929 that the majority of vehicles were equipped with glass all around to provide protection from wind, rain, mud splashes, road dust, and flying debris.

Two inventors were responsible for the inception of safety glass, which was originally developed in 1905: French scientist Edouard Benedictus accidentally discovered safety glass when he knocked a flask to the floor containing nitrocellulose; it had dried up leaving an adhesive film, which kept the bits of fragmented glass from separating. In addition, British inventor, John C. Wood, had developed his own method, which was produced under the brand name Triplex.

Some additional auto glass breakthroughs include the following:

PPG’s first solar glass, Solex, brought about a change in style and comfort in 1952 by absorbing some of the infrared, heat-producing part of the solar spectrum to avoid interior damage.

Curved side windows began to appear in the early 60’s and fabricating techniques were created to permit drilling of holes in side windows for anchoring and lifting mechanisms. This meant more styling, flexibility, and the opportunity to add more built-in safety features.

Current & Future Auto Glass Trends

Drivers of Peoria, Surprise, Litchfield Park, Mirage, and Buckeye:

A Clearer Perspective of Auto Glass Today and the Future.

According to Auto Glass magazine, published by the National Glass Association, the amount of auto glass used in a car has been growing steadily at two to three percent a year; meaning that vehicles have 25 percent more glass than 20 years ago. The following bullets represent current and future trends for the industry:

• Increasing popularity of electrochromic mirrors represent another growth trend for upcoming vehicle models. This product lessens the glare from car lights, reducing the danger of night driving.
• Laminated auto glass, made by placing clear plastic film between two glass panes, then sealing using heat and pressure, has also become very popular. Laminated auto glass offers improved sound control, and many buyers like the idea of a quieter vehicle. Vehicle owners also want auto glass products to absorb more of the sun's ultraviolet rays and heat.
• PPG’s Sungate® windshield provides heat reflective coating laminated between the two layers of glass effectively blocking 60 percent of the sun’s total energy.  This attribute keeps the car's interior cooler and blocks damaging ultraviolet radiation. The Sungate® antenna windshield provides full range AM/FM radio reception, eliminating the need for an exterior mast antenna.
• The price of energy affects the development of auto glass, glaziers and designers are constantly developing alternate ways to improve auto glass efficiency on vehicles including the use of different coatings, which will continue to grow.

Video: A Day of Glass

Your vehicle’s windshield consists of two sheets of tempered glass with a layer of laminate sandwiched between them and in the event the glass breaks, the layer of laminate holds the broken pieces together. The space shuttle’s windshield also has a layer of laminate sandwiched between two sheets of tempered glass. However, the space shuttle’s windshield consists of three individual windshields, bonded together to create one thick windshield. The outer windshield is .6 inches thick and protects the cockpit and its occupants from the heat experienced during launch and re-entry. The middle windshield is three and a half inches thick, has pressure and thermal protection attributes and is of high optical quality. The inner windshield is .6 inches thick and is part of the cockpit’s pressurization system. 

Did You Know? 

Yuma, Martinez Lake, and Poston Drivers: Auto glass UV Coatings help decrease the risk of cancer, and helps protect the interior of your vehicle from fading and cracking!

Your vehicle’s windshield has UV protective coatings that block up to 99% of UVA and UVB light. The space shuttle’s windshield also has UV protective coatings and since space shuttles are exposed to such a high degree of sun glare, they have shades that are put in place manually when their use is required. Obviously, it would be impossible to utilize such protective shades on automobiles. 

Your vehicle’s windshield and the space shuttle’s windshield are made to withstand varying degrees of expansion and contraction related to temperature changes. Your vehicle’s windshield requires far less protection than the space shuttle’s windshield, which is exposed to temperatures ranging between negative two hundred and fifty degrees below zero and three thousand degrees Fahrenheit. 

From Rocks to Meteorites

Your vehicle requires only one windshield, whereas the space shuttle requires the use of several smaller windshields. The largest of these windshields are the two that are above the crew compartment and are just large enough to be utilized as an emergency exit. Your vehicle’s windshield is designed aerodynamically to deflect rocks and the space shuttle’s windshield is designed aerodynamically to deflect micrometeorites.

Your vehicle is coated in primer and paint in order to protect against rust and the elements. The space shuttle is covered with glass coated tiles and has a mixture of ninety percent air and ten percent slurry that consists of fibers mixed with water. The tiles are coated with reaction cured glass sintered (heated without being melted), which causes them to be rigid. Upon the space shuttles’ re-entry into earth’s atmosphere the heat is so intense it would melt metal in a matter of seconds, yet the glass remains stable. Most interestingly, these tiles can be taken from an oven that is heated to twenty three hundred degrees Fahrenheit and can be immediately immersed in cold water without damaging the glass. The surface heat dissipates so quickly that the tiles can be held by their edges without using gloves, only seconds after removing them from an oven, and while their interior is still glowing red-hot.  

Glass for all Environments

Yuma, Martinez Lake, and Poston Drivers: It is difficult to believe that glass may be used under such intense environments, since the glass we deal with on a daily basis appears to be fragile, when in fact it can be extremely durable. Your vehicle’s windshield is made to withstand some of the harshest treatments and is strong enough to be part of a vehicle’s structural integrity. Your vehicle’s windshield has the ability to keep you and your family safe within its environment. However, it could never withstand the intense environment to which the space shuttle is exposed. In the end, what we perceive to be fragile can in fact be made to withstand a variety of extreme conditions and environments.

Humans have been making glass for about 5,000 years. The word glass originated from the Latin term glesum meaning transparent lustrous substance. The earliest use of glass probably occurred in ancient Egypt where glass items were considered luxuries found only in the tombs of priests and royalty. The yellow-green scarab at the heart of King Tut’s pendant is made of glass that is millions of years old. The glass in King Tut’s pendant is made with the help of a meteorite that crashed into the Egyptian desert melting the sand forming a type of glass called tektite, which comes from the Greek word tektos meaning molten.
                       
A nuclear device nicknamed "the gadget" was hoisted to the top of a 100-foot-tall steel tower and detonated in New Mexico at the White Sands Proving Grounds on July 16, 1945. With a searing light and intensity many times that of the midday sun, an explosion of intense heat carved a large crater in the desert sand, which is largely made of silica melted, thus becoming a mildly radioactive light green glass named Trinitite. The glass in your vehicle is also mostly made up of silica sand giving it that slight greenish tint minus the radiation.

SunTec Auto Glass purchases all of our auto glass from original equipment manufacturers such as Pilkington, Guardian, Carlite and Pittsburgh plate glass. These are among the best auto glass manufacturers that produce and supply auto glass for many vehicle manufacturers in the United States and abroad.

What is Glass used for?

Did you know Glass has numerous applications?

            
The glass in your vehicle is used to block out bugs, rocks, rain, and wind and serves a greater purpose in the infrastructure of your vehicle in case of a roll-over. As you drive down the road and scan the horizon with perfect clarity it is the windshield and its many attributes that make it all possible. The glass can refract sunlight and block-out heat or ultra violet (UV) light which could greatly reduce the risk of serious sunburn or cancer, making the windshield or the glass in your vehicle a major benefit to your well being.

The credit for discovering a way to repair windshields goes to Dr. Frank Werner, a renowned scientist from Wyoming. He had 77 patents for various applications and products such as the ski-boot bindings. He had replaced three windshields in rapid succession due to the rough Wyoming terrain and decided there had to be some way to repair windshields rather than requiring a complete windshield replacement each time a windshield was dinged or cracked. He worked with a chemical engineer by the name of Bill Wiele who developed a clear adhesive resin that matched the windshield glass optically and together they developed a windshield repair system.

 "Trivia Question"

Tacna, Tonopah and Waddell residents: At what size does a chip have to be before the entire windshield must be replaced? Answer: The chip must be larger than a quarter.

The credit for distributing the windshield repair process to the public goes to Gerald Keinath who in 1972 bought the patent rights for the windshield repair system from Dr. Werner. Gerald Keinath incorporated a company called Novus and designed a business plan in order to bring windshield repair to the public for the first time. Initially, the original equipment was too heavy for one person to carry. During the years since, others have perfected the windshield repair equipment and the resin used for the windshield repair process. Now the windshield repair equipment could almost fit in your pocket.

Before the early 1970’s, an oil based resin was used for cosmetic purposes only. The resin was poured onto the damaged area allowing the chip on the windshield to absorb the oil-based resin thus hiding the damage. In 1971, the 3M Company became the first to produce equipment to repair windshields and named it ‘ScotchWeld’. The windshield repair process used ultra sound vibrations and a syringe to inject resin or other adhesives into the damaged area. The windshield repair equipment was expensive to manufacture and was so large the bed of a pick-up truck had to be used to transport the windshield repair equipment. This made it difficult for them to lease or to sell the product because it was so cumbersome. Though 3M introduced windshield repair to the insurance companies, they eventually decided to focus on other products.

Mort Gallub, the owner of a company called Glass Medic, which was the largest auto reconditioning operation along the east coast, had been following the burgeoning windshield repair process as it was being developed and improved, because replacing damaged windshields cut into his profit margins. After experimenting with existing windshield repair systems, he hired a research engineer and together they developed a ‘vacuum pump’ process which he began marketing and using in his business.

The number of windshield repair companies continued to grow during the next few years. Companies such as Harmon Glass, Auto Glass Specialists, and Delta Kits had their start during this period. By the mid 1980s, the number of windshield repair companies had greatly expanded with the formation of  Glass Technology, Liquid Resins International, Tri-Glass, Glass Mechanics, and Ultra Bond to name a few. The focus varied among these companies with some focusing on improving the equipment, some companies focused on creating quality resins and others set their sites on marketing the windshield repair system.

"Trivia Question"
Tacna, Tonopah and Waddell Drivers: How long does a crack have to be before the entire windshield has to be replaced? Answer: 6 inches or larger than a dollar bill.

Over the next decade, the windshield repair process continued to grow. In 1998, Safelite Auto Glass, the largest glass replacement retailer in the United States, began focusing on windshield repair and created a new unit that specialized just in auto glass repair. Today, they are one of the largest auto glass repair companies.

It is expected by industry insiders that the windshield repair process will continue to grow and improvements will continue to be discovered, not only in the United States and in Europe, but in many other parts of the world as well. We can be confident that windshield repair will continue its odyssey of discovery and to the benefit of everyone that owns a vehicle. Still, it is always possible that if not for Wyoming’s rough terrain and Dr. Werner, we would still be required to replace damaged windshields rather than repair them.

Windshield Repair in Sun City: Going Green

Jay Sampson, Chairman of NGA’s National Windshield Repair Committee states, “Windshield repair professionals save consumers and their insurance companies millions of dollars annually."

1. Repairing and extending the useful life of millions of costly windshields.
2. Repairs also save the precious fossil fuels that would otherwise be wasted to produce replacement windshields.
3. Windshield repair saves money for customers and delivers “green” benefits. Every windshield saved is one less non-biodegradable windshield passed on to our already overcrowded landfills.

According to Leo Cyr, vice president of NGA's Auto Glass Division, "The NGA condemns any and all forms of fraud, insurance or otherwise. There can be no excuse for filing an insurance claim if the windshield is undamaged. By the same token, windshields are vital automotive safety components. To operate a vehicle with a damaged windshield could adversely affect proper deployment of some passenger side airbags, or, compromise the structural integrity and crush resistance of virtually all vehicles."

How do you know if the individual is a certified auto glass professional?

The next time someone approaches you at a car wash or parking lot, be sure to ask if their installers are trained, NGA certified auto glass technicians.

SunTec Auto Glass of Phoenix is proud to say that we meet all four of the critical criteria for a highly trained windshield repair or replacement professional. This includes: 

1. NGA Logo (National Glass Association) trained and certified technicians so that you can be assured we are up-to-date on the latest auto glass technology and best practices.
2. Endorse AGRSS (Auto Glass Replacement Safety Standard) for the use of proper adhesive, corrosion treatment and prevention.
3. Utilize the recommended number of auto glass technicians for auto glass replacement and windshield repair.
4. Adhere to the safe drive-away time to ensure that the adhesive used will have adequate time to bond.

Stay Tuned for More on Phoenix Windshield Scams

Check out the next article (part 2), where we will show you some of the typical ways scammers approach drivers in an attempt to make money off your auto insurance policy, and subsequently, from the increase in your premiums!

Wickenburg, Wenden or Wellton residents: At some point, we have all been overcharged for something, or mislead as to the quality of a product. In addition, the same goes for auto insurance companies. There are many fraudulent auto glass insurance scams within the auto insurance industry. While we believe most auto glass companies are honest, some auto glass companies use fraudulent tactics and scams as their usual course of business. Whether in the form of improper billing practices or the misuse of an individual’s auto insurance policy information.

Some auto glass company tactics may be devious and even at times aggressive, for the pursuit of business. This can cause insurance policy holders a lot of grief. This is not to say that all auto glass companies use disreputable means of conducting business. This is just to say that it can happen and there are things you can do to protect yourself against becoming a victim of fraud. 

"Trivia Question"
Wickenburg, Wenden or Wellton residents: Will my rates increase if I have my windshield replaced or my windshield repaired?
Answer: No, ARS20-263 makes Arizona a ‘no-fault' claim state, which means your insurance premium, cannot be directly increased because you filed an auto glass claim. 

One auto insurance company was charged $199.95 to replace the front door window on a 1991 Subaru. The auto glass used was misrepresented to the customer and was billed to the auto insurance company as original equipment alternative glass. Upon investigation, it was discovered that the front window had come from a salvage yard and the true cost was $65.00. Then there was $1,082.06 billed to an auto insurance company for a windshield replacement on a 2003 Lexus and the true cost was only $144.83 and then a woman from Florida told police, after she was caught breaking windshields that she received $45.00 for each windshield she referred to an auto glass company. Who pays for these fraudulent claims in the end? The answer is anyone who insures a vehicle.

Insurance companies have begun to enact regulations related to auto glass repair or auto glass replacement claims. They are now requesting that their clients call them, so they can send out an auto glass claims representative or equivalent to inspect and record all damages before any repairs are carried out. Just as auto insurance companies are employing protective strategies in order to reduce fraud, so should you.

Here are some of the most utilized scam techniques employed by fraudulent auto glass companies, and some tips to protect you against becoming a victim of auto insurance fraud.

1. Inflating real damages: A fraudulent auto glass shop may convince a customer that their windshield needs to be replaced, when in fact your windshield may only require a chip repair. If a chipped windshield was repaired, then you should only be billed for just a chip repair, and not a complete windshield replacement. Educate yourself regarding federal windshield safety standards on the U. S. Department of Transportation website.

2. The use of poor quality replacement glass: A fraudulent auto glass company may represent to you, and to the auto insurance company that they used original equipment manufactured glass or an original equipment manufactured glass equivalent. When in fact, they used an inferior piece of glass or worse yet, a used piece of glass. Then, they billed the auto insurance company for the higher quality or premium glass. Inspect your bill to be sure all charges are correct and make sure you were not billed for a more expensive piece of glass than was actually installed. 

3. Charging for phantom damages: A fraudulent auto glass company may bill your auto insurance company for several windshield chip repairs, when in reality only one chip or ding was repaired. Alternatively, a fraudulent auto glass shop might use a customer’s auto insurance policy information to file several claims. Once the auto glass company has that information, a customer may be at their mercy. Filing multiple auto glass insurance claims within a short period, may result in non-renewal of your auto insurance policy. It is a good idea to check with your auto insurance company from time to time, to ensure that there are no additional auto glass claims made against your auto insurance policy. 

4. Fly-By-Night Operators: Auto glass companies that may have poorly trained technicians can disappear after completing shoddy work and may provide no warranty or contact information. Auto glass companies that are certified with the National Glass Association and are members of the BBB may give some form of comfort, but in no way can guaranty that you may not become a victim of fraud. Ask if their technicians are certified and if their certification is up to date with the National Glass Association. Be sure the auto glass company guarantees all repairs with a written warranty and read all documentation and warranty information before any work begins.

5. Crooked Body Shops: Most body shops may be honest, but there are some crooked operators that may attempt to deceive you when you bring your car in for repairs by involving you in an auto glass repair or replacement scam. Do not buy something you were not planning to buy based on aggressive sales pitches. You could serve time in jail for insurance fraud by inadvertently becoming involved in a scam. You may find yourself in need of an auto glass repair in the near future and allowing a company to replace your windshield unnecessarily could come back to haunt you, just say no. 

6. Potential Installation Safety Issues: After having an auto glass company repair or replace your damaged glass, you receive a phone call and you are informed by an auto glass company representative that the glass you recently had installed or repaired was done incorrectly. The auto glass company representative then persuades you to replace or repair the glass for a second time. It is easy to learn the proper procedure for auto glass replacement or windshield repair. This type of knowledge would be helpful in protecting you in this situation. Referring back to the documentation and warranty information you received from the previous auto glass installation or repair would be appropriate at this time.

"Trivia Question"
Wickenburg, Wenden or Wellton residents: Is it illegal to drive with a broken windshield in Arizona? Answer: Yes, Arizona law ARS28-957.01. (A) Makes it illegal to operate a vehicle with a windshield that is not adequate and it is solely up to the ticketing officer and what he deems adequate. 

Arizona is a prime target due to the predominantly rocky desert landscaping. Arizona also has ‘windshield bullies’, people who turn up around such places as car washes, parking lots, gas stations, or even your own drive way. In 2011 alone, fraudulent auto glass claims increased by as much as twenty-three percent, which is a significant amount passed on to the policyholders in the form of higher premiums. Auto glass replacement or auto glass repair can be a simple, satisfactory process as long as you do not allow yourself to become a victim by fraudulent means. Arming yourself with the information provided can give you confidence that you will receive exactly what you require and at a fair cost. Remember, auto insurance premiums increase due to fraud, and the cost is passed on to you, the policyholder. 

Residents of Gilbert, Higley and Queen Creek: “There’s no excuse for filing an insurance claim on undamaged windshields.”

National Glass Association Auto Glass Division vice president, Leo Cyr states, "there is simply no excuse for anyone filing an insurance claim on undamaged windshields". At the same time, auto insurance companies do recognize that a broken windshield is a real hazard and can pose a threat to occupants of a vehicle.

Simply stated, as with any windshield repair, there are appropriate times and inappropriate times to replace a part. In either event, Mr. Cyr states, "only NGA certified technicians using quality parts and materials should install a new windshield". Because of the large number of fraud schemes aimed at needlessly filing claims for windshield replacements, consumers need to be aware of when a windshield can be honestly replaced. Consumers also need to be able to ask the right questions and safeguard their own information.

Law enforcement across the nation agrees with Mr. Cyr and is cracking down on broken windshield replacement scams in Gilbert, Higley, Queen Creek, and surrounding cities and towns. The good news is that unscrupulous harvesters and repair shops owners are being prosecuted, fined, and sent to prison. The bad news for drivers who become victims is that they also can be prosecuted, fined, and sent to prison for their participation in stealing from auto insurance companies and their policyholders.

People Who Rent Cars are not safe from Windshield Replacement Scams Either

Drivers of Gilbert, Higley, and Queen Creek: Not driving your own car does not necessarily make you immune to being approached. A slightly different scheme on the replacement scam involves rental cars being returned. A renter returns his car only to be informed that a scratch, crack or rock chip found on the windshield is going to require a new windshield replacement, which will be paid by the insurance purchased in the rental agreement or by the driver's personal auto insurance. Either way, insurance account numbers are exchanged and the policyholder or the auto insurance company are charged hundreds for a new windshield, or both.

One recent, well-known case in Billings, Montana involved an owner of a nationally recognized car rental franchise just last year. Evidence shows that most of the vehicles involved showed no signs of windshield replacement, but a few showed chip repairs totaling about $25.00. One vehicle was involved in three windshield replacement claims and the windshield was reported to have shown no signs of any windshield repair or windshield replacement. Following the widely publicized trial, the prosecuting assistant U.S. Attorney said, in his sentencing memorandum, "that the case involved 250 victims, the theft of $436,692 and deserves harsh punishment". The owner/manager was caught because he bragged to friends that he had found a way to commit a perfect, repeatable crime. Beware when you get your windshield replacement in Gilbert because the same thing could happen here.

Not Just an Auto Insurance Problem, a Lot of Your Money Will End up in a Criminal’s Pocket

A Spokane, Washington auto glass company, owned by a husband and wife was convicted of generating more than 1,200 fraudulent claims costing auto insurance holders over $695,000. Another in Los Angeles holds the record at over $14 million in fraudulently received payments after which the company filed bankruptcy. Although in both cases the court ordered restitution to be paid (from the bankrupted companies) guess who really gets left holding that bag on the loss?

How serious is the issue and does it really affect consumers directly?

The problem is huge and the amount of money taken out of the public’s collective pockets is staggering. According to the automotive glass industry, the estimated expense of illegal windshield insurance claims costs consumers more than $425 per year on the annual premium for every car in America, each year, for the life of the car! The amount of extra money paid on each auto insurance premium is almost enough to replace every windshield in America, every year, twice! That money comes right out of everyone’s wallets.

"Fraud Alert" Gilbert, Higley and Queen Creek: Do not be a Victim

 How can a consumer know how to tell the difference in legal and illegal services and make sure that the windshield replacement is both appropriate and correctly done? The answer is fairly simple, here are seven basic rules, or questions:

Rule #1 Think

• What are you being asked to do and by whom?

Rule #2 Be reasonable

• Is the integrity of the glass compromised?
• Is the damage in the driver’s line of sight?
• Is the damage cosmetic or functional?
• If it is not worth $250 to $300 dollars to you, it probably will not be to your auto insurance company either.
• Would you claim repairs for a similar paint chip or door ding?

Rule #3 Take charge of the situation

• Did someone approach you, or did you approach the auto glass repair company in accord with your auto insurance agent?

Rule #4 Guard your money and your accounts

• Would you give a stranger contacting you access to your bank, cash, or credit accounts by providing them with the number(s)?
• Why would you give them access to the cash behind your auto insurance policy number?

Rule #5 Is the person doing the work, at a legitimate place of business, skilled and NGA certified to do such auto glass repairs?

Rule #6 Were you offered an incentive?

• An incentive is by no means an indication of fraudulent activity. Most every business offers items on sale, coupons, discounts or other incentives to attract your business. The question is, is the value of the incentive unreasonable? Is the total value more than what your deductible would be? Is it more than what the windshield would be? (See Rule #1 and Rule #2)

Rule #7 Are you paying a reasonable price for actual services rendered at a known location?

• Beware of invoices carrying an address other than where the repairs were made, especially rural addresses. Rural auto glass companies charge the auto insurance companies more for parts and labor than companies located in densely populated, competitive areas do.

So, what is wrong with it?
False windshield replacement claims is a form of insurance fraud, and is a felony crime. All parties involved can be charged, tried, and convicted. Be informed and alert as ignorance of the facts is not an excuse to assist in costing all of us millions of dollars every year.

Chandler, Chandler Heights, and Sun Lakes Drivers: Whether you have a large crack that requires auto glass windshield replacement, or a smaller hole that can be easily repaired, the following article will answer any questions you might have about our auto glass insurance process.

Collision versus Comprehensive auto glass coverage

Most windshields break from stones or debris that is kicked up or thrown by vehicles on the roads and highways. Because these breaks are unrelated to your driving skills, they fall under comprehensive insurance. Some auto insurance companies refer to comprehensive insurance as an "act of nature" or an "act of God" incident, because they are not the driver's fault. Other examples of comprehensive claims are a tree falling on a car or vandalism.

A windshield replacement should not take more than about an hour, though you should not drive the vehicle for at least 2-3 hours after the auto glass installation is finished. This is so the urethane will have plenty of time to cure. However, your vehicle may not require a windshield replacement. Generally, if the chip is smaller than a quarter or if the chip is not in the driver's line of vision, then you can pursue auto glass repair instead of windshield replacement.

Will my rates increase for an auto glass claim? The vast majority of auto insurance companies will tell you over the phone that your rates will not go up for submitting a comprehensive auto glass claim.

Residents of Chandler, Chandler Heights, and Sun Lakes: There are a couple of different ways to pursue your auto glass repair or auto glass replacement:

• Contact your auto insurance carrier and let them know about the problem, they may provide you with a list of qualified auto glass repair companies in Chandler, Chandler Heights, and Sun Lakes.
• Contact your dealership or preferred Chandler auto glass repair facility to see if they will handle your claim. If so, they will contact your auto insurance company regarding the claim, complete the paperwork and handle the billing. There are approximately 15,000 auto glass retailers in the United States and about 60 percent of those are independently owned.

How does the auto glass shop get reimbursed?

Unlike insurance procedures with collisions, auto glass claims do not require an adjuster to look at the damage before the auto glass repair is performed (most cases). Once the job is finished, the auto insurance company pays the auto glass repair facility a set rate. Auto insurance companies will work with various auto glass repair shops to set fair and reasonable rates. The auto insurance company will also individually negotiate the rates with the auto glass shop.

Important Information for Chandler, Chandler Heights, and Sun Lakes Residents. Auto insurance companies commonly use a method of setting prices paid to auto glass repair shops that involve paying a stated discount off NAGS (National Auto Glass Specifications) list price for glass, and a set price for labor and materials. For example, most auto insurance companies pay between 30 and 50 percent off NAGS list price for auto glass, $40 flat price for labor, and $20 for the molding and the urethane used to hold the auto glass in the vehicle. (These prices may vary depending on the State, City, and current market supply and demand)

However, just how many of these auto glass replacements in Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Fountain Hills, Cave Creek and Rio Verde were actually performed by a reputable Auto Glass Shop?

Persistent auto glass technicians representing auto glass shops have approached us all at gas stations or car washes, saying things like:

"I can repair those chips in your windshield within minutes"

 "We just need your insurance policy information and you will be on your way with a new windshield"

However, repairing minor chips or cracks is one thing; a total auto glass replacement when it is not necessary costs everyone, including you, additional money and possibly even jail time!
In some states, insurance companies are mandated by law to waive the deductible for damaged or broken windshields in an effort to encourage vehicle owners to make the repairs. However, some Scottsdale auto glass shops are using that loophole to convince consumers they can have new windshields free since they are fully covered.

Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Fountain Hills, Cave Creek, or Rio Verde Residents: The dishonest auto glass shops, also referred to as "glass claims harvesters," will rent parking lot space from Arizona auto repair facilities, car washes or gas stations in an effort to seek business through unnecessary auto glass replacements. Once the car owner agrees to the deal, the harvester will subcontract the windshield replacement with another, less expensive Scottsdale auto glass shop and turn a profit from your auto insurance claim. Some harvesters will impersonate the insured and make multiple auto glass replacement claims.

The following are several Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Fountain Hills, Cave Creek, and Rio Verde auto glass replacement scams you should be aware of:

• Replacing expensive windshields, which only have a small chip or crack that should otherwise have been repaired.
• They might also bill the auto insurance company for several chips when in fact only one was repaired. Some con artists may even charge your insurance company for several windshield replacements without you knowing it!
• The crooks might convince motorists to participate by offering freebies such as steaks, movie tickets or car washes. In addition, they might offer cash rebates or inflate the repair bill that they will be presenting to the auto insurance company.

Oftentimes, these "fly-by-night" auto glass operators may be inadequately trained and work out of pickup trucks in parking lots, quickly disappearing after the shoddy auto glass repairs. You might see them approach people at car washes, gas stations or convenience stores. In addition to the safety risk from cheap substandard auto glass or shoddy workmanship, you could face increased premiums or possible loss of coverage due to multiple hits on your policy. 

Moreover, the worst possible scenario is you could be fined and even face jail time for insurance fraud! Everyone else's premiums also increase in the end due to fraud losses passed onto honest policyholders.

According to Doug Ashbridge, Director of Special Investigations for Farmers Insurance Group, property casualty insurance fraud costs consumers 20 billion dollars each year and is probably present in as many as 10 percent of claims filed.

"FRAUD ALERT" Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Fountain Hills, Cave Creek, or Rio Verde: If approached by an auto glass representative insisting on an unnecessary windshield replacement, just say no! Report the incident to your state insurance department. If you need auto glass repairs, contact your auto insurance agent for reputable auto glass shops in Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Fountain Hills, Cave Creek, or Rio Verde.

Video: Auto Glass Replacement Scams (and Insurance Fraud)

Many of us are familiar with the 20/20 report about the dangers of improperly installed windshields, which featured the story of Jeanne Fransway, a twenty five year old woman from Wisconsin, who lost her life when she was involved in a rollover accident and ejected from her vehicle. Her body was found seventy feet away, lying on top of her windshield that did not serve its intended purpose, which was to keep the occupants inside the vehicle, but instead it popped out. There are many other tragic stories of serious injuries and death as a direct result of being ejected from a vehicle, because of improperly installed windshields. 

Tracey Rhyne, of California, became a quadriplegic when she was involved in a rollover accident that buckled the roof on the passenger side of her car. Her windshield was replaced seven months earlier, but the auto glass company’s installers did not use an important primer in the windshield installation process that allowed the urethane to adhere to the windshield. Considering that windshields contribute to as much as seventy percent of the structural integrity of vehicles that are involved in rollover accidents, even a seemingly un-important step in the windshield replacement process may prevent proper adhesion. Ms. Rhyne ended up settling with the auto glass company that was responsible for the improperly installed windshield for two million dollars, and is now just one of a large group of victims.

Forty five percent of front-end collisions affect the structural integrity of the vehicle’s cabin, while rollover accidents affect the structural integrity of the cabin sixty percent of the time. Three out of one hundred accidents are rollovers, and are the cause of thirty-five out of every one hundred deaths. Years ago, most vehicles had steel A-pillars to support the roof. Today it is the windshield and the back window that provide most of the support, which prevents a roof from collapsing during a rollover accident. June of 1984, Ivars Arums of General Motors said, “One of the easiest ways to improve roof strength is by keeping the front windshield and the rear back-lit glass from breaking out or popping out.” With seventy percent of windshields improperly installed and approximately eleven million windshields replaced annually, the danger adds up.

 According to the U. S. Department of Transportation, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, there were 6,159,000 accidents reported in 2005, which resulted in 2.7 million personal injuries and 43,443 fatalities. More than 10,000 of these fatalities were caused by the occupants being thrown from their vehicles. Approximately forty five percent of traffic accidents are caused by impaired drivers, while between twenty-five and thirty three percent are caused by driver error due to issues such as inexperience, eating, daydreaming, aggressive driving, sleeping, and talking on a cell phone. Three out of four accidents are caused by human factors. Mechanical failures account for twelve to thirteen percent of all accidents and they are attributed to normal wear and tear or the lack of proper vehicular maintenance. 

Another safety hazard of faulty windshield installation is that a windshield pops out during a head-on collision or rollover accident, the ability of the airbag to protect the occupants may become compromised as the airbag is positioned in such a way so it presses against the windshield and into the cabin upon release. In cases where the windshield pops out, the airbag follows the windshield rather than providing the intended cushioning within the confines of the passenger compartment. Windshields add additional cushioning, due to their composition. Windshields consist of a layer of polyvinyl sandwiched between two layers of glass. Upon impact the windshield may break, but because the polyvinyl is flexible and gives way, thereby acting as additional cushioning. 

Quartzsite, Wikieup, Wittmann, Yarnell residents; Some of the signs that point to improper windshield installation would be water leaking into the vehicle’s cabin, excessive wind noise, and windshield cracks that have no apparent cause. Due to the serious nature of this issue, it is wise to take the time necessary to shop around for a reputable windshield replacement company. Going with the windshield replacement company your auto insurance company may suggest, does not necessarily ensure quality. In an effort to save money, they may suggest an auto glass company that does not use original equipment glass or original equipment material equivalents. 

Asking the right questions can assist you when looking for a qualified auto glass company that employs certified and experienced installers. Some questions you may want to ask are:

•  Are you a National Glass Association certified auto glass company and is the installer that will be doing the work currently certified?
•  Do you use original equipment or original equipment equivalent glass, parts, and moldings?
•  Do all the materials you use meet or exceed ANSI Z 26.1 and all other pertinent Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards?
•  Does my vehicles manufacturer recommend the urethane adhesive your installer will be using on my vehicle?
•  What type of written warranty can I expect?
•  How soon after my glass is replaced, will I be able to drive my vehicle?

There are also a few common issues to be aware of, such as noticing whether the auto glass installer is wearing gloves when he is handling the new windshield. Oil from the installer’s hands can compromise the adhesiveness, which in turn can cause a windshield to become vulnerable to popping out during a head-on collision or roll over accident. It would be advisable to watch for common money and timesaving shortcuts that many auto glass companies or their installers employ. Check to see whether the installer is using urethane adhesive rather than butyl, before they install the windshield. Butyl has the consistency of gooey bubble gum and is generally not strong enough to hold the windshield in place during a head-on collision or roll over accident. However, even though butyl is not strong enough, some auto glass companies may still use it to lower their costs. You may also want to keep in mind that some auto insurance companies may try to steer you to an auto glass company that cuts corners in order to cut costs.

Other commonly employed shortcuts used in order to quote cheap prices are:

• Pinchweld Primer: Auto glass companies that do not apply primer to the pinchweld in order to save them time and money put the very safety of you and your family at risk.
• Windshield Primer:  It is important to apply primer to ensure proper bonding. Auto glass companies that do not apply primer to the windshield do so to save ten minutes of dry time and a little money.
• Corrosion: When a windshield installer does not treat all existing corrosion before installing a windshield, the urethane adhesive may not properly bond where corroded areas exist. A primer and adhesive should be applied to the metal pinchweld since rust acts as a barrier and its presence may prevent proper adhesion. This creates weak spots in the structural integrity of the windshield and passing this step in the process saves the auto glass company time and money.
• Glass Pretreatment: When an auto glass installer does not clean the new windshield thoroughly, there is a chance that the adhesive will not adhere properly to the new windshield. Any oil or dirt can prevent bonding, affecting the structural integrity of the windshield. Auto Glass Replacement companies that disregard this important step do so to save time.
• Work Environment: Installing a windshield outside on cold, rainy days can affect the bonding process. In such an environment, the work should be done inside, in a well-ventilated dry area that has plenty of proper lighting.
• Windshield Removal: Removing the old windshield using the ‘plunge-cut’ can leave scratches in the paint that in turn may cause corrosion. Corrosion acts as a barrier between the metal pinchweld and the adhesive, thereby affecting the bonding between the windshield and the pinchweld. It may save time, but it is at the expense of receiving a proper windshield installation.
• Molding:  Reusing your vehicle’s existing molding or gasket for the new windshield installation can result in wind noise and leakage into the passenger cabin. Worn out moldings and gaskets can fail to bond. Auto glass companies that reuse moldings to save money could end up with an inferior and possibly even a dangerous windshield installation.

However, there will never be a total lack of risk in life; there are actions that may help reduce the risks related to vehicular accidents. Gaining a basic knowledge of what questions to ask when searching for a windshield repair or windshield replacement company can position you to make the best decision for you, and your family’s safety, just as gaining a basic knowledge of the windshield installation process can give you confidence that your vehicle will protect you from injury, and possibly even death. 

In the next article, the third in the series, we will discuss both honest and dishonest incentives, the impact that the fraudulent windshield repair and auto glass replacement companies activities have on us all, and how you can spot and safeguard yourself when presented with scams.

There are more ways to perform windshield repair and auto glass replacement scams than probably any one of us could think of. Windshield repair and auto glass replacement scams aim at defrauding auto insurance and car rental companies, and have involved both large and small auto glass replacement and windshield repair companies.

It may seem difficult to tell the difference, sometimes, between honest companies offering incentives as a sales promotion or discount, and dishonest ones offering incentives as a form of enticement or bribes to get the unsuspecting motorist personally involved in these auto insurance fraud schemes. Windshield repair and auto glass replacement scams can be rather simple to spot but require a little thought and judgment on the part of the consumer.

The key to avoid becoming a victim of this type of fraud is to be aware of the types of scams being done, the ramifications of being involved in a scam, and knowing how to clearly see the difference between honest offers and dishonest ones.

Some Common Windshield Scams We Can See in Glendale, Avondale, Maryvale, or Goodyear

Here is a typical scenario: A consumer drives into an automated car wash, and someone there, while the driver is waiting his or her turn, approaches and offers to fix a rock chip in the windshield. The person, often referred to as a windshield harvester, explains that he can repair the chip at no cost to you, the driver. State regulation mandates that your auto insurance company is required to waive the comprehensive deductible for all chip repairs, and is required to offer a $0 deductible for auto glass replacement. The scammer/harvester then asks the driver for his auto insurance policy and information for billing.

As an incentive for the driver to innocently participate, the unsuspecting participant may be offered free dinners for a year at a well-known local restaurant. They may also offer a freezer full of steaks, a cash rebate, season tickets to the ball game, or some other offer that may total far more than the cost of a new windshield! The driver gets a “receipt” for the windshield repair (maybe $25 for multiple chip repairs) and the insurance company gets a bill for hundreds of dollars for a new windshield replacement. In fact, the auto insurance company may receive claims repeatedly on the same auto insurance policy without anyone ever knowing it, unless the policyholder happens to check.

The Accidental Windshield Repair

A variant of this windshield repair scheme is that the simple repair is started but an “accident” occurs which ruins the windshield. A small hole is drilled to facilitate the repair by stopping the spread of a crack and, “woops,” the drill penetrated the internal laminate layer that gives safety glass its shatterproof characteristics. In doing so, the integrity of the windshield will be compromised and the windshield safety glass will be ruined. At this point, there is no option but to replace the entire windshield. That kind of replacement likely turned over to a "fly-by-night" company that does the work in a cheap, shoddy, sloppy manner with cheap materials by someone who does not possess the necessary skills. This combination causes the driver ongoing problems with a windshield that was not needed, improperly installed, and possibly not even wanted.

-FRAUD ALERT-
Avondale, Glendale, Maryvale,
and Goodyear Residents

Is the address on your bill or claim the same as where the windshield repair or auto glass replacement took place?

Another illustrated method came through one convicted Louisiana scammer who was billing auto insurance companies from a street address in a rural Mississippi town. The address belonged to a homeowner who knew nothing about the fact that a fraudulent windshield repair and auto glass replacement company was using his address as a place of business. The reason for this is that legitimate auto glass shops in rural areas can bill the auto insurance company more for windshield replacement than would be allowed in more densely populated and more competitive urban areas. This illegally increases the revenue taken from the auto insurance company by hundreds of dollars per window.

Some might think or say, “What is the difference since the work was free?” The difference is that the harvester stole money not only from the auto insurance company, but also from every one of the insurance company’s policyholders, who really foot the bill through their insurance premiums. If an offer sounds too good to be true, it probably is. "Nothing is for free".

More to come in the next issue

In the next article, the third in the series, our discussion will focus on another unusual approach that scammers can use to affect those who rent cars, the widespread impact of these scams and how the prosecution of this crime can affect the driver. We will also provide you with things to watch for and several tips on how to keep yourself safe from those who would take your money in needless repairs.

Winter Road Trip Preparation: Emergency Essentials for Your Family's Survival! 

You and your family have a great trip planned traveling up north skiing; suddenly your pleasant journey is interrupted. Your vehicles trapped in a few feet of snow on a rather remote road and you have no shovel to get yourself free. It gets worse; it is below freezing with blizzard conditions expected. Without the proper tools and essentials, your weekend getaway can become your worst nightmare!

Residents of Casa Grande, Eloy, Arizona City, Florence, Maricopa, and Coolidge; Do not be a victim, the following steps will help ensure you arrive at your destination safely:

• Vehicle Check-Up: Just as you would check your car prior to any long trip, it is even more critical to inspect your car prior to winter travels.
• Tire Pressure: According to the Goodyear Tire Company, winter is the time when the air in your vehicle's tires drop. This is because the air inside the tire goes down as the temperature around also drops. If the temperature drops to around ten degrees, the tire pressure also goes down by about one to two pounds.
• Antifreeze: Antifreeze has a lifespan of only two years because it decomposes. It loses its protective properties and begins to form acids, which could actually cause problems with your vehicle. Make sure you have enough coolant, and if the level is low make sure there are no leaks.
• Oil: Check the oil level and color, if it is excessively black, it is definitely time to change it. If slightly brown, it is O.K. If dark-brown, but still transparent, it is acceptable, but will need to be changed soon. If white (coffee with milk color) it means that the engine coolant has mixed with the engine oil due to some internal engine problem, it could possibly mean a blown head gasket. I would recommend having your car serviced!
• Wiper Blades: Ensure that your wiper blades are clean, and in good working condition. If they are producing streaks on your windshield, this can greatly affect your visibility in already poor conditions.
• Plan Your Route: Prepare the safest route to your destination taking only major highways and roads, whenever possible. Never take shortcuts, especially in bad winter weather. Be sure to let someone know when you leave, what your route should be, and what time you should arrive.

"WEATHER ALERT" Drivers in Casa Grande, Eloy, Arizona City, Florence, Maricopa, and Coolidge!

• Watch the Weather: Getting stuck in the middle of nowhere, getting into a car accident, or running off the road. These are all possibilities that are greatly increased with poor weather conditions including icy roads and highways, blizzards, and hazardous road conditions. It may be 70 degrees and perfect when you depart; however, you may possibly be headed towards whiteout conditions!
• Emergency Supplies: Make sure you have extra food, water, and warm clothing (including gloves and scarves). Also, include basic gear such as a compass/GPS, first aid kit and Swiss army knife. Along with basic tools such as screwdrivers, a wrench, pliers, flashlights, flares, and spare tires. In addition, extra fluids such as oil, antifreeze, and wiper fluid.

Video: Preparing for your Holiday Road Trip

Tempe, Ahwatukee, and Guadalupe Residents: SunTec Auto Glass, Your local Auto Glass Shop, is proud to support 'Car Care Month'. Windshield Replacement and Auto Glass Repair is as important as any other maintenance on your car.

It can be intimidating enough driving on the roads and freeways without having to worry about breaking down in the middle of traffic or in an unsafe environment! Even though you think you have the most reliable car on the road, it does not take much neglect to go from safe to sorry!

Regular car maintenance is essential – not only to your car, but to your loved ones as well. More than five percent of vehicle accidents result from unperformed vehicle maintenance; resulting in 2,600 deaths, 100,000 disabling injuries and a cost of more than $2 billion every year according to the Car Care Council.

Tempe, Guadalupe, and Ahwatukee residents, A recent survey by the Car Care Council found:

• 38% of cars had low or dirty engine oil
• 28% had inadequate cooling protection
• 54% had low tire pressure
• 19% needed new belts
• 16% had dirty air filters
• In addition - Proper windshield replacement and auto glass repair saves lives!

Leased cars are probably the easiest to maintain as they actually include indicator lights on the dashboard that tells you when it is time for maintenance. Any new car purchased from a dealership includes the warranty and maintenance schedule; however, the dealership, and your local mechanic, will also send out reminders. For those used cars that might not come with maintenance schedules, there are websites such as www.Edmunds.com which provide the appropriate information for just about every make and model vehicle.

Critical components should be checked at every service interval include automatic transmission fluid, battery and cables, belts, engine air and oil filter, exhaust, fuel filter, hoses, power steering fluid and tire inflation and condition. These should be checked according to the following schedule:

• Every three months or 3,000 miles
• Every six months or 6,000 miles
• Every 9 months or 9,000 miles
• Every 12 months or 12,000 miles

In addition to the above, your car should be checked monthly for lights, tire inflation, check engine light on and windshield washer fluid.

The Car Care Council designates October as Fall Car Care Month! This means that volunteer car technicians all across the country will help consumers prepare for the upcoming winter season and educate about proper car care safety. Subaru has announced their support of Fall Car Care Month. Owners of Subaru’s can bring their cars into local dealerships for free inspections with particular focus on areas that minimize fuel consumption. 

As your local Auto Glass Company, we ask you please do not neglect your auto glass repair and windshield replacement this October.  Make sure you are ready for a safe and smart winter.

“How does this impact me,” you may ask? Well, without proper installation of Original Equipment auto glass windshields and adhesives by certified technicians, it could be a rather serious or even fatal impact. OEM, or Original Equipment Manufacturer parts, means your vehicle's windshield or other auto glass is produced from original equipment-style tooling and meets the manufacturer specifications for safety and quality to protect you in the event of an accident.

Residents of Mesa, Apache Junction, Superior, and Gold Canyon:  Your windshield can contribute as much as 60 percent to the support of the roof during roof crush and rollover accidents! In front-end collisions, the windshield is the backboard for the passenger side airbag. The windshield actually absorbs the force of the airbag upon deployment of speeds up to 200 miles per hour. Thus, the use of OEM auto glass parts is essential.

Why Use OEM Auto Glass Parts Exclusively?

Stringent standards: OEM auto glass standards and specifications are more stringent than Department of Transportation (DOT) standards. OEM Auto glass standards require 100 percent windshield retention in frontal barrier crash tests, while DOT only requires 80 percent! Mesa, Apache Junction, Superior, and Gold Canyon Drivers; Would you want to chance your life, and your family’s life, to that other 20 percent? Furthermore, the higher standards of auto glass parts ensure that a vehicle can be renewed to a pre-accident condition. Some aftermarket parts do not match the tolerance, thickness, and shape of OEM auto glass parts; therefore, they can have a higher rate of leakage, wind noise, imperfect fit, lack of solar performance, and optical distortion. In other words, your safety could be at risk. 

Protect your warranty: Installation of OEM auto glass parts will ensure your vehicle manufacturers' warranties will not be in jeopardy.

Mesa, Apache Junction, Superior, and Gold Canyon drivers; The following are just some of the auto glass manufacturers that certain quality auto glass shops work with:

• Pittsburgh Plate Glass (PPG)
• Carlite
• Ford
• Safeguard/Mopar
• Pilkington
• Asahi
• AP Tech
• Triplex
• Sekurit
• Sicursiv
• Scanex
• Crinamex
• Guardian

Be sure to ask the following questions of any Mesa auto glass shop that you are considering for auto glass repair and replacement:

• Do you use OEM auto glass parts, adhesives and glass?
• Do you use certified auto glass technicians?
• Do you have a written adhesive usage policy? 
• Do you inform the customer of the safe drive away time? 

All Vehicle Owners in Mesa, Apache Junction, Superior, and Gold Canyon:  (There is only ONE urethane manufacturer whose adhesive is endorsed and approved for use by all major manufacturers, "Essex Urethane Auto Glass Adhesives")

• What is the Auto Glass Company's response time?
• Do you give your installers ample time for a proper and safe installation?
• Are the manufacturer's auto glass specifications followed?
• Do you offer a transferable lifetime warranty on auto glass parts and workmanship?

Residents of Mesa, Apache Junction, Superior, and Gold Canyon: Check with your insurance carrier to see if they include auto glass shops that provide only OEM auto glass parts and adhesives. Many of the major insurance companies will have a list of Mesa auto glass shops for you to choose from; however, it is possible that only some of them will have the quality OEM auto glass parts you desire. You could be improperly steered to a facility of their choice for “cost saving reasons.”

Residents of Anthem, New River and Carefree: Your windshield is a significant structural element!
Auto glass is designed and manufactured for safety in the event of an accident; the windshield remains intact during collision due to its laminated safety feature (a layer of vinyl between two pieces of auto glass). However, if weakened due to damage, it will not provide optimal protection when an accident occurs! Learn the difference between needing auto glass repair and a windshield replacement!

Routine Auto Glass Repairs

According to a parking lot survey involving 13 major cities, including Phoenix, AZ, the highest percentage of windshield replacements and auto glass repairs consists of stone breaks, followed by edge cracks, then floater cracks.

1. Stone Breaks: See “Star” or “Bulls-eye” picture below.
2. Edge Crack: Impact point located within two inches of the edge of the windshield. An edge crack is rarely the result of a stone break because it cracks almost immediately.
3. Floater Crack: A stone break can be a star, bulls-eye or combination break that has cracked due to exposure to severe temperature changes.

Anthem, New River and Carefree residents: a recent Arizona survey revealed windshield replacements and auto glass repairs consisted of 236 stone breaks, 15 floater cracks, 88 edge cracks and 12 vehicles with miscellaneous damage.

Cracks and Chips - Auto Glass Repair in Phoenix, AZ

Cracks worthy of repairing are usually ones that are relatively clean. If the crack is less than one month old, has not been driven in polluted or dirty areas, it can be repaired. Otherwise, auto glass repair technicians can balance other factors to determine if the auto glass repair will be worth the time and expense. Multiple single cracks may not be worth repairing, depending on your situation.

Rules of Phoenix Windshield Replacement

• Stress Cracks: These occur naturally due to inherent uneven distribution of forces in the windshield. Typically, they have no point of impact and start from the edges. Repairing and restoring the original strength of the windshield would result in the re-formation of the crack.
• Larger Than a Dollar: If the auto glass chip or crack is larger than a dollar bill.
• Auto Glass Layers: If you have damage to both auto glass layers, or the inner auto glass layer is damaged.
• Primary Field of Vision: Chips that are greater than a quarter in size with a center impact hole of greater than 3/16” and within 4” of another auto glass chip repair.
• Long Cracks: If your windshield has three or more long cracks: the structural integrity has been compromised.
• Breaks with Visible Impurities: the debris may impede resin flow and complete filling of the cracks. It prevents quality auto glass repair and is visually distracting.

The optimal auto glass repair environment is under shade with an overhead luminescent light bulb and with a windshield temperature around 72-74 degrees F, typically in a garage setting. Results are best when the chip or crack is new and clean; do not let those chips and cracks go untreated too long.

Sound unaffordable or time consuming? The truth is, you may not have to pay a dime provided you have comprehensive auto glass insurance coverage. In addition, it only takes a few minutes for an auto glass repair or an hour for a windshield replacement with our Phoenix auto glass service!

All you need to do is call us or fill out our online form and we literally take care of the rest (including filing the auto glass claim with your insurance company). We hope you enjoy our 'no-hassle' auto glass repair appointment process. 

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Suntec Auto Glass Commercial

When you need a windshield replacement or auto glass repair, SunTec Auto Glass puts your family's safety first. All of our installers are Certified in Adhesive and Corrosion Treatment and Prevention along with maintaining their NGA certification to ensure meeting the highest safety standards possible. Our technicians come to you- to your home or office- even on Saturdays! We also handle in-house all the claim paperwork with your insurance company to save you time and trouble.

Suntec Auto Glass

suntecautoglass@gmail.com

480-882-3843