Wednesday, September 14, 2016

Glass Parts Are More Important In The Auto Industry Than Ever

Glass has always been a very important material in the automotive industry. From windows to headlight lenses to gauge covers, cars have been built with various glass parts for decades now. With so many advances in plastic technology, you might assume that vehicles would be built using less and less glass, but the opposite is true. Although glass is no longer used for headlights or gauges, it’s still used for windows. In fact, many people don’t realize that their glass windshield represents a significant piece of structural support for the frame that will absorb much of the impact in the event of a crash. Glass parts on a vehicle can actually be a safety feature.

As automotive design continues to evolve and new trends emerge, one popular feature that we are beginning to see across many makes and models is a panoramic sunroof or glass roof that covers almost the entire roof of the car. This tinted roofing lets in the light and allows passengers to see the stars at night. These glass roofs usually have a function panel as well so that they can be opened up on warm days. Just a couple weeks ago, the supercar company McLaren released specifications and images of it’s latest model, the 570GT. The roof of the 570GT is made entirely of glass, but it isn’t just any glass. Engineers at McLaren have developed what they call and Electro-Chromic roof. This panoramic glass roof has special electronic integration that allows the driver to adjust the level of the tint based on the intensity of the sun. While the car stands out for many reasons, this is perhaps the most unique feature.

Obviously the average person isn’t going to go out and buy a McLaren, (the retail price is upwards of $200,000) but this innovative use of glass could signal a shift towards more glass in the construction of cars. As is often the case with supercars and concept cars, there may be a trickle down effect that winds up in the design of more common vehicles. It seems that glass is in higher demand among the automotive industry, and it’s likely that this trend will only continue.

Because glass parts are so essential to the automotive industry and many other industries, S&S Optical manufactures high quality custom glass parts for a wide variety of applications. We have over 60 years of experience, so contact us today for more information!

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