CWC

Best Practices in Glass Recyling

Processing / Windshields

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Processing Automotive Windshield Glass

Material: Recycled Glass

Issue: Windshields are manufactured with two layers of glass with a strong plastic (usually PVC)

membrane sandwiched between the panes. This structure limits recyclability dramatically. Plate glass

itself is challenging to recycle because of its different chemical composition from container glass. Plate

glass and automotive glass can be successfully recycled into construction aggregate or other secondary

markets if the glass can be separated from the film. Separating film plastic from windshield glass

requires that the glass be broken adequately to free the film, while keeping the film in large enough

pieces that it can be removed without fouling equipment.

Best Practice: Systems are now available to crush windshields and screen film plastic residuals in a

turnkey system. In one system, compression feed rollers are used to guide windshields through a processing

system at a predetermined rate and physical orientation. The system is 70 inches long, 50 inches wide and

56 inches high. The input opening is up to 43 inches and drive components include a 10 horsepower motor,

solid steel shaft, 40 hammers constructed of flailing arms made from hardened steel, 2 inch heavy duty

isolated bearings, and two – ten inch compression feed rollers. Controlled feed is necessary because flexible

impactors are used to flail the glass off the plastic membrane, while keeping plastic pieces as large as

possible for removal during screening.

A successful removal operation relies on the equipment configuration and material properties of glass and

plastic to enable pulverization of the constituents so that the PVC pieces are larger than the glass for

separation in a trommel screen (see Screening Technologies for Glass Processing Best Practice). One pass

through one of these systems separates the PVC from the glass windshield and pulverizes the glass into a

clean, homogenous product of less than 1/4″ in size. The plastic PVC laminate remains in pieces one-inch

and larger. This system is capable of processing four to five tons per hour (one windshield every five to ten

seconds).

Implementation:In considering systems to process automobile windshields, the efficiency of

segregation is critical to whether any marketable product will be generated. Ease of operation and

throughput rates are important as well.

Benefits: With effective processing, there is no need for windshield glass to be a solid waste.

Windshield glass represents a substantial supply of relatively clean, clear plate glass which has potentially

widespread applications, including aggregate and industrial minerals applications.

Application Sites: Material Recovery Facilities

Processing / Windshields

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Contact: For more information about this Best Practice, contact CWC, (206) 443-7746, e-mail

info@cwc.org.

References:

Andela product literature. Andela Tool & Machine, Inc., Richfield Springs, N.Y.

Issue Date / Update: November 1996ins

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:

Bill Gohl

Factory-Trained Technician/Owner

NOVUS Glass of Colorado Springs

(719) 266-1883

fixme@novusglasscs.com

NOVUS® Says Repair … Don’t Replace

Local NOVUS Glass explains how repairing your damaged windshield is better than replacing it

Colorado Springs, Colorado — Generally, we associate automobile safety with seat belts, air bags, brakes and other things of the sort. Rarely do we think of the windshield as one of the top five car safety parts. But according to CarCare.org – a Web site dedicated to the education of automobile safety – the windshield, by far, is one of the most important parts on your vehicle. And, local windshield repair specialists say they agree.

“The windshield keeps you inside your vehicle while driving and it supports the roof while preserving the structural integrity so the roof won’t collapse and crush the driver and passengers. It also supports the passenger side airbag during deployment,” said Bill Gohl, Co-Owner, of the local NOVUS Glass. “Because of the safety blanket the windshield provides, it is vital that you make sure any damaged windshield is first repaired and in cases when the windshield can not be repaired that it is replaced properly and safely.”

NOVUS Glass is reputably known as the “Repair First, Replace When Necessary®” company and is best known around the world as the inventor of windshield repair. According to Gohl, there are many reasons why repairing the windshield vs. replacing it is beneficial to consumers.

“It is best to save the original factory bond between the windshield and vehicle because once the windshield is removed from the car and the bond is broken, it is less likely to be as safe as the original one,” Gohl said.

According to Dean LaChance, Co-Owner, repairing the windshield saves both the expensive new windshield and the safety bond. The price to repair a windshield is only a fraction of the cost to have it replaced and repairing can take half the time of replacing the windshield.

“NOVUS franchises have repaired over 25 million windshields since 1972,” LaChance said, adding that their repairs restore the strength and clarity to the glass and prevents the further spread of damage. “We are able to repair about 70 percent of the windshields we inspect. We say that if the damaged area on the windshield can be covered by a credit card, the chances are excellent that it can be repaired.”

A windshield is repaired with an injection of a specially formulated resin into the damaged area. The resin is then cured and polished to restore structural strength and clarity to the glass. If a windshield is replaced improperly, the windshield could become detached from the vehicle in an accident. If that occurs, the passenger side airbag may not deploy properly and if the windshield becomes separated from the vehicle, the occupants if not wearing their seat belts could likely be ejected through the windshield opening.

Having your windshield repaired instead of replaced is also environmentally friendly, LaChance added. “Windshields are, generally, not recycled so having your windshield repaired keeps the glass out of the landfills.”

There are nearly 400 NOVUS franchises in North America and numerous locations worldwide. NOVUS franchises have performed high quality windshield repairs with a customer satisfaction index exceeding 99 percent.

For more information, please contact NOVUS Glass of Colorado Springs at (719) 266-1883.

About NOVUS Glass

NOVUS Glass, the inventor of windshield repair, has a vision to defend and build on its position as the dominant glass and automotive service franchisor worldwide with a strong brand and business system enabling franchisees to be well-managed, profitable, motivated and customer service oriented. NOVUS franchises focus on fully satisfying consumers who require windshield repair, automotive glass replacement and other complementary products and services. Headquartered in Minnesota, NOVUS has locations worldwide. NOVUS was ranked in Entrepreneur magazine as No. 1 in windshield repair.