Sooner or later, every motorist is faced with the problem of choice. windshield. Which windshield makes sense to install on your car, and which one will perform best during operation to ensure comfort and safety while driving?
Choice optimal option is an important matter, because by doing it, you take responsibility not only for the condition of the car, but also for your life and for the health of passengers.
If cracks appear on the windshield of your car, we advise you not to put off repairing or replacing the glass for too long, as using damaged glass can lead to serious consequences.
Types of windshields and technologies for their production.
To understand windshields and determine which one is better, you need to learn about manufacturing technologies and design features. In the modern automotive industry, you can most often find windshields produced using several technologies:
- Stalinite;
- Triplex;
- Multilayer glass.
Stalinite is tempered glass, produced by heating and then gradually cooling. It is five times more durable than normal. When broken, it forms a large number of non-sharp parts, which makes the likelihood of cuts low.
Triplex is triple glass made from two layers connected by an adhesive layer. In the production of this type of auto glass, plexiglass is used. Triplex technology is not cheap, but it makes it possible to produce glass that perfectly absorbs sound, they are easy to repair, they are very durable and easy to use.
Laminated glass is the best option in terms of strength and reliability, but the most expensive. They are made from several sheets of material, such auto glass has the appropriate number of layers of glue, is very durable and expensive. They are usually installed in luxury cars and on armored cars of collectors.
Having considered the manufacturing technology of windshields, in terms of price/quality ratio the best option For most drivers there will be triplex glass.
Rating of the best windshield manufacturers.
Currently, the world market is dominated by several major car glass manufacturing companies; let’s identify the most rated of them:
- Pilkington is a British company with almost two centuries of history.
The history of the leader in the production of the best windshields began in 1826. Using significant experience in its field, it is one of the main suppliers of glass on the world market. Glass from this company is included in basic configurations, brands such as VW, Nissan, Ford, Renault, General Motors, Toyota, Honda, Daimler, Chrysler, Fiat, Peugeot, BMW. The recognition of engineers and specialists from such companies speaks for itself.
This company gained a leading position in the world market thanks to a serious approach to quality control. Back in the middle of the last century, the Pilkington company adopted float technology. This technology is used in the production of windshields with a special coating, as well as transparent types. In addition to this technology, the manufacturing company continues to improve the technical process. Each new development is not even better than the previous ones - it’s a breakthrough! Pilkington tops the ranking due to the following advantages:
- Excellent energy-saving technology for glass equipped with a hard coating;
- The fire resistance of Pilkington glass is much better than that of competitors;
- The original bending system took production to another level;
- Solar control glasses are of much better quality than those from other manufacturers; they do not heat up on the back side;
- Self-cleaning glass has been developed.
Due to the widespread use of innovations and state-of-the-art developments, Pilkington is the undisputed leader in the global automotive industry. This company organically combines long-standing traditions and the latest scientific achievements. Therefore, the first place in the ranking is undeniable. Install Pilkington glass - make the best choice!
- Asahi Glass Company (AGC) is a Japanese leader in the production of auto glass.
AGC was the first company in Japan to produce sheet glass back in 1900. It currently controls a third of the global market. The first plant outside the country was organized in 1925 in China. Currently, the corporation has more than 350 subsidiaries around the world, including in Belgium, Russia, the USA and the Czech Republic.
AGC products include basic options from the most famous manufacturers: BMW, Nissan, Honda and Toyota.
AGC manufactures:
- All types of auto glass;
- Glass roofs;
- Glass with special heat treatment;
- Electrically heated glass.
The AGC Corporation opened a line at the Bor Glass Factory, and produces models of auto glass for domestic car brands, such as UAZ, GAZ, VAZ, PAZ, IzhMash. They also produce glass for foreign cars produced in Russia: Ford, GM, Renault.
AGC windshields meet all domestic and international standards; the Japanese concern offers all motorists excellent glass at attractive prices.
- Sekurit Saint-Gobain is one of the first glass manufacturing corporations in Europe.
This enterprise was created in the middle of the 17th century as a royal manufactory for the production of mirrors. The company's first orders were mirrors for the Palace of Versailles. In the 19th century, production began to grow and representative offices appeared in Spain and Germany. In 1929, Sekurit Saint-Gobain specialists began producing auto glass for cars. It is believed that they invented one of the methods of tempering glass.
Currently, Sekurit Saint-Gobain has an international status and is one of the top three ratings in the field of production car glass. The concern has five research centers for product development and research and 38 manufacturing enterprises located in different countries peace. The company's main office is located in Paris and coordinates the work of all departments.
Sheet glass is produced in Germany, and then the blanks, marked by the manufacturer, go to assembly plants. In addition to its personal brand, Sekurit Saint-Gobain produces glasses labeled Sekurit, Hanglass, Kunice, Bespo, which fully comply with the standards of the concern.
Sekurit Saint-Gobain Corporation is one of the best manufacturers windshields in the world, if you buy its products, you will not regret it, since such auto glass will not let you down in difficult times. To install Sekurit Saint-Gobain means to join French quality and tradition.
Sekurit Saint-Gobain glass is positioned in the premium class on the market; all well-known German automakers, such as Audi, Marcades-Benz, BMV, Volkswagen, are equipped with these products.
One hundred percent quality auto glass
All the manufacturers discussed in this rating are undoubted leaders, but it is customary to divide auto glass manufacturers into 3 main groups:
- Premium class (Pilkington, Saint-Gobain, AGC);
- First Class (Jaan, Guardian)
- Economy Class (XYG, CSG, FYG, Starglass)
For those drivers who value safety and comfort above all else, it makes sense to take premium glass, especially since there are those with excellent characteristics and the highest quality.
There is no need to endure inconvenience and risk while driving with cracked emergency or poor-quality windshields. Your comfort, convenience and confidence in your car are not that expensive!
The best prices and conditions for the purchase of new cars
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Many car enthusiasts in their lives have faced the need to replace the windshield in their car. But how to make the right choice among the variety of products? Many beginners think that they can buy any glass, regardless of the price and manufacturer. In fact, not only the driver’s health can depend on the quality of the device in case of an accident, but also his life. In this article we present nine useful tips optionally .
It is better to replace your car windshield in specialized centers
Tip 1. Carefully inspect the product
Before buying a windshield, be sure to inspect it for scratches, chips, and damage. If there are foreign inclusions, then it is better to immediately refuse to purchase such a product.
Tip 2. Pay attention to the windshield markings
High-quality factory glass must be marked. The inscriptions are made in black. In this case, the name of the plant, the type of glass and the date of its production are indicated. The product type may be indicated by the letter T ( strained glass) and WL (triplex). The date of manufacture is marked in a special way. In particular, the month is “filled” with dots, the year is indicated by one or two last digits. For example, in the case of glass production in January 2014, “. 14".
Tip 3: Check the quality
When producing high-quality triplex, multi-colored film of the best quality should be used. If the windshield is used, then a green film is used; for transparent glass, a colorless film is used. If there is a darkening in the upper part, then glass with a blue-green stripe is used.
Tip 4. Glass must be tempered
When it comes to choice rear window, then special attention should be paid to the quality of soldering of the plugs to the glass “tires”. The conductive bar itself should have a matte tint on the inside and red-brown on the outside. In some cases, decorative edging is applied to car windows (there is no such edging on side windows).
Tip 5. Pay attention to the edge
Why do you need a edging at all? In fact, this is protection of the adhesive layer. Application is carried out using the silk screen method. If the glass is factory-made, then the dots are marked at an equidistant distance from each other. On a fake product, the black edging is most often displaced and slightly smeared. Moreover, the dots on the fake are placed in two rows.
Tip 6: Inspect the Edge
Factory glass will definitely have smooth edges due to high-quality processing. The excess part of the film is carefully removed. In addition, a plastic bag is placed on the edge of the windshield, which reliably protects the product during storage.
Tip 7. Manufacturer's warranty
Any quality product must be sold with a warranty from the manufacturer. In particular, the buyer must be presented with quality certificates confirming the products’ compliance with existing standards.
Tip 8. Holographic label
Original windshields are usually sold with a holographic label, which is located in the lower corner of the product (usually on the left side). Reuse of the sticker is prohibited. The quality standard and serial number are usually written on the sticker itself.
Tip 9: Cost says a lot here.
Windshields on our roads are considered consumables. A pebble from under the wheel of another car - and here it is. Which means we’re going to get new glass.
Selection of glasses for common and inexpensive cars great We decided to test glass for the popular - they are also installed on Renault Logan first generation. We selected glass from different price groups. The price of the cheapest ones starts from 2000 rubles. Usually these are glasses without a darkened strip in the upper part and a platform for attaching a rear-view mirror. The upper limit is limited to 4,500 rubles - this is how much glass from world-famous manufacturers such as Sekurit and Pilkington cost. We have not forgotten about the original components: glass from the Bor Glass Factory is installed on the Togliatti assembly line at Largus.
Test program
We checked the geometric dimensions of each part, one by one applying them to the opening of the editorial car. The horror stories of the nineties are history: all the glass turned out to correspond to the specified parameters in width and height: 1436 × 814 mm. Deviations from the prescribed dimensions did not exceed 5 mm.
No deviations were detected in convexity. But the thickness can vary by almost 20%. The thicker the glass, the better it protects against noise. And the strength is higher, which was later confirmed by our experiment. But thick glass takes longer to warm up - this is of particular importance for cars with windows without electrical heating.
We evaluate the quality of edge processing on a five-point scale. We recognize edges that are neatly rounded along the radius and with a non-protruding adhesive layer as excellent. In addition, the “sandwich” must be glued together without noticeable displacement of the constituent layers relative to each other.
All samples were checked for optical distortion. To do this, you need to direct the light from the projector onto an inclined (at the same angle as on the car) glass and look at the screen located behind it: there should be no dark stripes. We did not see them in any of the tests: according to this parameter, all tested samples were found to be suitable. You can also identify serious optical deviations when purchasing: you need to look through the glass inclined at the working angle at objects located several tens of meters away. If distortion is noticeable, do not buy.
We decided to test the glass for abrasion resistance. We sprayed calibrated sand onto the surface of each glass from a distance of 500 mm from a sandblasting gun for 15 seconds, and then assessed the degree of cloudiness of the glass and the diameter of the cloudy spot. Ratings were given on a five-point scale: one for a completely matte spot on the glass, five for rare traces of individual, particularly zealous particles. The higher the abrasion resistance of the glass, the later it will wear out and the less microdamage it will receive from flying grains of sand - such pockmarks make it difficult to see, especially at night.
A very important parameter of a windshield is its ability to withstand impact. This is not about the safety of the glass, but about the health of the driver and passengers. A strong blow (for example, a cobblestone “flew” directly into the glass) should not lead to a “penetrating wound”. For testing we used a calibrated hammer (everyone has seen a similar one in public transport- it is needed to provide an emergency exit). A hammer mounted on a massive metal lever hits the center of the glass from the same height. The results were also assessed on a “school” scale. Five points corresponds to the appearance of a “bull’s eye” with minor cracks around, and one - through penetration of the striker and numerous long cracks throughout the glass.
Results
All glasses showed similar results. There are no outright failures, no sky-high indicators. This is how it should have turned out: gone are the days when cooperatives made windshields for Lada cars that did not fit in the opening. We also didn’t come across glass, through which the whole world appears to the driver as if in a distorting mirror.
And yet we managed to rank the subjects based on the test results technical parameters. We also indicate the price so that each buyer can match the glass they like with the thickness of their wallet.
As usual, the test results relate only to a specific purchase and cannot be the basis for evaluating all products of a particular company as a whole.
| Thickness 4.42 mm | Thickness 4.37 mm | Thickness 4.53 mm | Thickness 4.30 mm |
Throughout the entire operating period, all parts of your car, including the windshield, experience different loads. Most often when driving fast Small stones or insects falling into the glass lead to the formation of chips and cracks. In addition, the cause of damage can be not only a mechanical factor, but also a natural one (hail, strong temperature fluctuations). If you do not know how to choose a windshield for your car, then most likely you risk purchasing a fake or low-quality product. To prevent such moments, we have prepared this article for you.
For the manufacture of counterfeits, second-class raw materials are used, the production of which took place without complying with the necessary standards and requirements. During such unscrupulous work, the visual shape of the windshield may be disrupted (distorted geometry, mismatch of dimensions, etc.), which leads to moisture and dirt getting into the car interior. The lifespan of a fake, unlike the original, is very short, until the first serious load on the glass. The fact is that glass manufactured at the proper level can withstand various mechanical loads without much effort, while fakes can be damaged even by the slightest impact. In such cases, a poorly made windshield breaks into many fragments, which can harm the health of passengers and the driver.
This is what a fake looks like
The strength of counterfeit glass is much less than that of original products made at branded factories, so it won’t be long before your freshly purchased counterfeit becomes unsuitable for further use.
Original or fake – how to tell the difference?
In almost all cases, you can identify a poor-quality windshield by making a visual assessment of the part. Among the main signs of counterfeiting are the following:
- small cracks and scratches are visible on the surface of the glass;
- The side parts of the glass are covered with various chips and burrs, which is associated with poor processing of the part. These flaws can be identified very simply;
- the tinting strip located on top, with all its dimensions, must meet the requirements of GOST;
- complete absence of black factory markings on the windshield. Or there is an inscription, but with grammatical errors.
Follow the recommended tint percentage to avoid getting into the hands of gays If you detect at least any of the indicated signs, you can safely send the seller who wanted to “smuggle” this rubbish to you to hell. It's a fake copy.
Original windshield - main features
The surface and edges of factory-made automobile glass have a perfectly machined surface. Thanks to development modern technologies, the automotive glass manufacturing process has reached a phenomenal level where multi-level manufacturing and increased quality control increases the service life of manufactured parts to the maximum possible. High-quality glass will not become cloudy, and after many years of use it will remain as good as new, without distorting the image, as happens with cheaper analogues. To create a sun protection strip, a special paint is used that does not deform and does not change its color when exposed to sunlight. The width of the darkened strip meets all GOST requirements (no more than 140 mm).
This is what quality should look like! When manufacturing glass, they are marked with special markings, which are mandatory. Application is carried out in two ways:
- chemical etching;
- engraving.
The data that the special engraving stores contains the following information:
- about the company that produced this part;
- about the type of glass;
- exact production date;
- relevant standards.
By the way, the term “tempered glass” is hidden under the “T” symbol, and “WL” is triplex.
Initially, you may think that the process of buying a windshield is not so serious that you need to pay much attention to it. On the one hand, this is true, because the process itself is quite simple: you order a product in an online store or go to a regular store, choose the option you like, pay for the purchase and checkout. Despite the seemingly simplicity of the purchase, there are many nuances, if taken lightly, you may mistakenly purchase low-quality glass. After making a purchase, you can expect a variety of consequences, because it is not yet known how your new glass will react to the hit of a small pebble. To prevent such consequences, you need to make the right choice.
Conduct a visual inspection of the glass for chips, damage, scratches and other defects formed during the manufacturing process. If any of these types of damage or minor deformations are detected, you must refuse to make a purchase and continue your search. It’s better to spend an extra couple of hours of free time looking for it than to overpay later.
Find out the windshield markings
High-quality glass manufactured in a factory must have an engraving that indicates information about the company that manufactured the product, the type of glass and the date of manufacture.
The marking contains all the information you need Assess the quality of triplex
A windshield made at a high level must have the same high-quality triplex. Usually this is a high-quality multi-colored film. If desired, you can purchase tinted glass: in this case, green film should be used, and colorless film should be used on transparent glass.
Types of triplex Explain in detail what it is tempered glass there's probably no point. It’s better to understand what edging is and why it is needed.
The edging is a kind of protection for the glue layer, applied using a silk screen. You can distinguish a fake tempered glass in this way: the black edging of a fake is blurry and indistinct, with a shift in one direction or another.
Windshield edge
High-quality products should have smooth edges that are safe for bare hands; in addition, manufacturers often pack glass in additional package made of polyethylene for reliability. Such precautions help protect the product from damage.
This is what a quality edge should look like Guarantee
Almost all officially produced products have a quality guarantee. The windshield is no exception. Consequently, the manufacturer will be able to give you a guarantee that its product will not break into hundreds of fragments the first time it hits a small stone. But he can do this only if the product he produces is truly high-quality and reliable.
Do not be lazy to check with the seller for the presence of a certificate of quality and durability warranty period. Typically original windshields have holographic signs that confirm the quality of the product. The place for sticking a hologram can be very different, from the center of the glass to the most inconspicuous part in the corner, but most often the hologram can be seen from below, in the left corner of the “lobovukha”. The sticker must contain information about the manufacturing company, batch number, and so on.
Price
Windshield prices can vary widely, depending on many factors. For example, from the tinting, the company produced, the shape of the glass, etc. Most motorists will want to get excellent quality for little money, but, unfortunately, this is impossible, because for good quality you have to pay. Try to beware of windshields at very low prices - this, first of all, indicates that the product is not original.
Don't go wrong with your choice! Saving on the purchase of a windshield - is it worth the trouble?
A fake has only one advantage - low cost. But such a plus is easily offset by a huge number of disadvantages that any sane person would not even think about purchasing a fake. Don’t forget, your own safety is at stake, and you should never skimp on it. Good luck on your journey. Neither a nail nor a rod, dear motorists!
Video - How to choose a car windshield
Choosing the one that's right for you car glass for replacement depends on many factors: the class of your car, the presence and need to install additional sensors, the price of the windshield, the country of manufacture and, of course, quality.
In this section, we invite you to get acquainted with the description of the auto glass manufacturers with whom we work.
FUYAO GROUP (FYG)- Today FYG - largest producer automobile glass in China, which has earned recognition throughout the world.
- Russian manufacturer automobile glass, which opened production in 1996. The plant is located in the Nizhny Novgorod region, in the city of Bor - the center of the Russian glass industry.
Glass is produced using European technologies.
- For the European market, GUARDIAN brand auto glass is produced at factories in Luxembourg and Spain.
- English company for the production of auto glass. Currently part of the NSG Group (Nippon Sheet Glass Co., Ltd.), the world's largest manufacturer of glass products for the automotive, construction and special-purpose industries.
- Chinese company producing high-quality auto glass.
Benson auto glass is not inferior in quality and differs in price from other well-known manufacturers for the better.
SAINT-GOBAIN GLASS (SEKURIT)- Every second european car leaves the assembly line with SAINT-GOBAIN SEKURIT auto glass. SEKURIT auto glass is supplied to the conveyors of automotive giants: Audi, Volkswagen, BMW, Mercedes Benz, Volvo, Ford and others.
JAAN (NORDGLASS)- Glass bearing the NORDGLASS brand meets all European requirements and standards (ISO 9002).
NORDGLASS auto glass is one of the most popular in Russia; more than 30% of the sales market belongs to this brand.
- STEKLOLUX company is the largest manufacturer of auto glass in the Moscow region. Separately, it is worth noting that all STEKLOLUX products are produced at the company’s own production facilities.
- Russian company thanks to the application latest technologies BOR auto glass confidently competes with its foreign counterparts
ASAHI GLASS COMPANY (AGC)- AGC is the world's largest manufacturer of auto glass brands such as Asahi, AGC Automotive, Lamisafe, AP Tech, Temperlite, Asahimas, Splintex. More than one third of the world market for the production and sale of car glass belongs to this concern.
