Tag: OEE

Sometimes, windshield repair is no longer enough and you just have to go for total replacement. If you ever need to have windshield replacement or any other auto glass installation, you will have to choose from three types of car glass. There is dealer glass, original equipment manufactured (OEM) distributor glass and aftermarket glass.

Dealer glass is the most expensive type of car glass. This is what you get from the authorized car dealership of your automobile brand. It is expensive because it is made by the exact same manufacturer that produced your vehicles original car glass and it usually bears the stamp of your car brand. Those who just need to have everything branded will not go for anything less than dealer glass.

Original equipment manufactured distributor car glass means original equipment manufactured car glass. It is identical to dealer glass and has exactly the same specifications, including thickness, color, durability, size and shape. The only difference is that it is made by a different manufacturer.

Manufacturers of original equipment manufactured car glass are contracted by the different car brands and are authorized to produce car glass to those exact specifications. Most are well-respected in the industry and their product is recognized as being of equal quality as dealer glass. Among the top OEM manufacturers are Pilkington, Pittsburg Plate Glass (PPG), Carlite, Ford, Safeguard/Mopar, Asahi, AP Tech, Triplex, Sekurit, Sicursiv, Scanex, Crinamex and Guardian. Keep the list as a handy reference for when you need to check your car glass choices against them.

There may be some unscrupulous OEM manufacturers, though. Be careful of claims that the glass is “from an OEM manufacturer”. Unless the glass itself is described as OEM glass, it may be substandard glass which just happened to be produced by an OEM manufacturer.

Aftermarket car glass, also called original equipment equivalent (OEE) car glass, is manufactured by companies who are not legally authorized to make car glass to the exact specifications copyrighted and licensed to car brands. Aftermarket car glass, therefore, has specifications different from your cars original glass. This may include variations in thickness and quality. Of course, it does not have the same guarantees as dealer glass or original equipment manufactured glass, and may have imperfect fit, leakage, optical distortion, low solar performance and wind noise.

In comparison, therefore, original equipment manufactured car glass is your best choice. It has all the qualities of dealer glass but at a much lower cost. In fact, original equipment manufactured car glass is made according to standards higher than those of the Department of Transportation. Whereas the DOT requires only 80 percent windshield retention in frontal barrier crash tests, original equipment manufactured car glass has 100 percent.

It is imperative that certified auto glass technicians work on your auto glass installation. They should be knowledgeable on the auto glass manufacturers specifications and instructions.

Aside from making sure that OEM car glass is used for your vehicle, you should also make sure that OEM auto glass parts and adhesives are used. This is for your utmost safety. With mobile windshield replacement, for example, you are sometimes made to believe that your car is ready to be driven in a while. The problem is that inferior adhesives may not dry in time, leaving you unprotected in case of an accident. Even with the use of an OEM adhesive, you should check the safe drive away time indicated in the product. Furthermore, demand lifetime warranty on auto glass parts and workmanship.

Whether for car glass, glass parts or adhesive, or for auto glass installation services, always put safety first.

If windshield repair is not feasible any longer, you will have no choice but to agree to windshield replacement. To make the most of your windshield replacement, though, you should know about the various types of car glass used in auto glass installation. These are dealer car glass, original equipment manufactured (OEM) distributor car glass and aftermarket car glass, with each one having its own pros and cons.

The most expensive kind of car glass is dealer glass which is made available from authorized car dealerships. This means your dealer glass will depend on the brand of your vehicle. Dealer glass is made by the manufacturer of your vehicles own car glass and bears the stamp of the brand. It is actually your vehicles original car glass. Those who never want to veer away from anything original and branded will choose nothing else but dealer glass.

Similar in quality to dealer glass but much less expensive is original equipment manufactured (OEM) distributor car glass. It may not be made by the original manufacturer of your vehicles car glass but its manufacturers are authorized to produce car glass according to the exact specifications of dealer glass. That means they have the same durability, size, thickness, color and shape as dealer glass. Manufacturers of OEM distributor car glass are highly respected in the automotive industry and their products are highly regarded as being of the highest quality, which is why they are trusted by vehicle manufacturers. The most well known manufacturers of OEM distributor car glass include Pilkington, Carlite, Pittsburg Plate Glass (PPG), Safeguard/Mopar, Ford, AP Tech, Asahi, Sekurit, Triplex, Scanex, Sicursiv, Guardian and Crinamex. If you decide on using original equipment manufactured (OEM) distributor car glass, make sure you stick with the reputable brands.

The previous statement is a warning of sorts. After all, there also are sources who claim to be OEM distributor car glass manufacturers but also produce substandard car glass alongside their OEM glass. Do not trust labels that say “from an OEM manufacturer” unless the car glass is specifically labelled as original equipment manufactured (OEM) distributor car glass.

The least expensive car glass is aftermarket car glass which is also referred to as original equipment equivalent (OEE) car glass. Its manufacturers are not legally authorized to make car glass according to the specifications copyrighted and licensed to vehicle brands. Aftermarket car glass, therefore, differs from dealer glass and OEM glass. It is also not covered by the same guarantees as dealer glass and OEM glass, and has been known to have a variety of problems including having a bad fit, leaks, visual distortions, poor solar performance and lack of protection against wind noise.

In comparing the three types of car glass, it is evident that original equipment manufactured car glass is the best option for consumers. You get all the benefits of dealer glass for much less dollars. In terms of quality, OEM glass exceeds even the standards of the US Department of Transportation. While the DOT calls for 80 percent windshield retention during frontal barrier crash tests, OEM glass provides a hundred percent.

When choosing OEM glass, also use OEM distributor car glass parts and adhesives for safety. In the case of mobile windshield replacement, for instance, low quality parts and adhesives are sometimes used. The prescribed drying time for the adhesive is also usually not observed, leaving the vehicle driver and passengers at risk with a windshield that is not properly fixed in place. Only professionally certified auto glass technicians will be knowledgeable enough on all standards that should be met in terms of products and techniques.

Whatever car glass you choose for auto glass installation in your windshield replacement, make sure all components and service providers pass the highest safety standards.