Decades ago, it was common to find thick panes of auto glass used in a car windshield that were twice as heavy and thick as those used today. Those older windshields were significantly less durable and safe than the auto glass of today. To find out more about how far auto glass has come, continue reading.
Auto Glass Production of Generations Prior Two-piece flat glass sheets were the most common type of auto glass used for an automobile before 1950. Curved glass, produced by taking flat glass sheets and heating them before allowing them to sag and form the shape of a curved mold, was introduced in the 1950s. It is still the primary method of glass production used by carmakers and auto glass manufacturers today.
Advances in Auto Glass Safety Over the past several decades, safety-glass windshields have been the mainstay of the auto glass industry. Safety-glass windshields are designed by taking a tough plastic sheet and bonding it between two layers of glass. This plastic makes it much more difficult for the glass to break apart during an automobile collision, which does wonders to protect the driver and passengers inside the automobile.
Luxury Auto Glass On some luxury cars, you can opt for a heated windshield. These windshields contain a plastic sheet that is lined with a thin film of gold or with fine heating lines that are designed to quickly melt ice and snow when an electric current is passed through the sheet. To prevent electricity from transferring to the outside of the glass, the electric current of the heated windshield will turn off if the system detects any chips or cracks.
Heads-Up Displays Another cutting-edge feature that can be found on some modern auto glass is a heads-up display. These systems are able to project various statistics, such as vehicle speed, warning signals, and signal lights, onto a certain area of the windshield. These special types of auto glass allow the driver to monitor important driving information while still maintaining focus on the road.
If you’re looking for high-quality auto glass or windshield repair for your car, come to Glass on the Move of Oakland. Visit our website for more information about our products and services, and give us a call at (510) 338-4791 for more information.