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Why are some OEMs using Laminated Sidelights, who's providing them and what is the trend?- REDO
Major car manufacturers like Citroen, Peugeot, Mercedes-Benz, and Jaguar are using laminated glass for the following reasons: improved air conditioning efficiency, high frequency noise reduction, reduced component and air temperature, reduction of theft from vehicles, ballistic protection, reduced danger of flying or falling glass in collisions, greater resistance to explosion as compared to annealed glass, increased safety, and they provide more than 95% UV reduction. From 2010 through 2020, more new car models introduced to the market will use laminated glass for sidelights. As their popularity grows, there is an emerging trend of South American and Asian markets adopting the use of laminated sidelights.
Methodology
After an exhaustive search of all publicly available industry data, media, business information, and reports for the use of laminated sidelights in vehicles, the benefits associated with using them, as well as the associated trends, there was no recent useful information available. Broadening the time frame yielded the results explained below. There were no real specific trends predicted after in-depth research, so the only trends found in the available data are listed.
Findings
The standard glazing construction for automotive vehicles over the past 25 years has been laminated glass for the windshield and toughened glass for the side and rear glazings. New car models introduced from 2010 to 2020 will replace toughened glass with laminated glass for sidelights. The trend started in Europe, but it has emerged as a global trend. This trend represents a turning point “for advanced vehicle design opportunities and is more significant than the volume change from toughened to laminated windshields in 1970.”
Audi was the first car company to offer laminated glass all around in 1994 on its A8 model. Other luxury cars began offering it since then. Lexus, for example, has supplied laminated sidelights as a standard option on the LS 430 model since November 2000. Additional vehicle manufacturers using 100 % laminated sidelights are Peugeot (407 and 607 models), Citroen (C6 model), Jaguar (XJ model), and Mercedes-Benz (S-Class models).
Benefits
There are many benefits to using laminated sidelights. Consumers are prepared to pay premium prices for laminated sidelights because they see the following benefits: personal security and the reduction of theft from vehicles, extraneous noise reduction, improved solar control, and a 95% reduction of UV rays entering into the vehicle. Laminated sidelights also reduce the danger of flying or falling glass in collisions. Laminated glass provides ballistic protection and has a greater resistance to explosion than other types of glass. It also provides improved air conditioning efficiency.
Manufacturers/Producers of Laminated Sidelights
Pilkington plc is one of the largest glass and glazing products OEMs for the building and automotive markets in the world. It employees approximately 23,900 people in manufacturing operations in 24 countries with sales in over 130 countries. Pilkington has the widest geographical reach of any glassmaker and can efficiently respond to customer operations’ needs growing increasingly global. A third of their sales are in North America, half are in Europe, and the rest are mostly in Australia and South America.
MHP Asia Pacific is an OEM that among other products, makes laminated sidelights on high spec vehicles. They create these sidelights for comfort, safety, noise reduction, and UV protection. Their customers include Toyota, Mitsubishi Motors, and Ford. They are part of the MH Group of Companies. The company was founded in 1970 by Chairman Steve Haritos. The business origins began with importing prestige vehicles and motorcycle and automobile accessories. They continued on to produce “exterior decorative products for the automotive aftermarket.” 35 years after it was founded, MHG was well-known as the foremost Tier One OEM supplier to the automobile industry.
Guardian Industries Corporation in Auburn Hills, Michigan is a float glass supplier. They make bent, flat, laminated, and tempered glass systems. It holds a leading position in fabricated and float glass products for residential, commercial, and transportation applications. It began in 1932 as the Guardian Glass Company and manufactured windshields for the automotive industry. Guardian claims to be the at the forefront of innovation. The company and its affiliates employ approximately 17,000 people and operate throughout Europe, North America, Africa, South America, Asia, and the Middle East.
Vitro Glass Company is well-known for their tempered, laminated, and encapsulated automotive OEM glass. The company says their products have the best performance in the most demanding resistance, quality, and safety tests. Vitro has high-quality standards and has been recognized by the main vehicle manufacturers around the world as a strategic partner and reliable supplier. Vidriera Monterrey started the first Glass Container plant in 1909 in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon. In 2008, it was labeled a socially responsible company.
Trends
As stated earlier, from 2010 through 2020, new car models that are introduced will have laminated glass for sidelights. There will be an increase in the use of laminated sidelights emerging in markets like Asia and South America because of the safety, comfort, and noise reduction benefits. The North American, Japanese, and many European markets already utilize more of the laminated glass to replace toughened glass in sidelights. The significant difference between the U.S. and European car makers is that in Europe the laminated glass is offered as optional equipment, not standard. Approximately 5 million pieces of laminated glass have been produced globally so far.
Conclusion
Citroen, Jaguar, Mercedes-Benz, and Peugeot are some car manufacturers using laminated glass for improved air conditioning efficiency, reduced component and air temperature, high frequency noise reduction, reduction of theft from vehicles, ballistic protection, greater resistance to explosion as compared to annealed glass, more than 95% UV reduction, and increased safety. As sidelights become more popular, the emerging South American and Asian markets will adopt their use. From 2010 through 2020, many new vehicles will have laminated glass for sidelights.