A new windshield protection film designed to shield glass from stone chips is currently being tested by vehicle fleets in the UK, with plans for a soft launch later this year.
Clarus Protect – a manufacturer from Hampshire, England, which is importing the Chinese-made coating described as “paint protection for glass” – tested several options before selecting one it believes offers the best combination of protection and flexibility for the mass market.
According to CEO Ian Fisher, other solutions were either difficult to apply or lacked durability.
A chip in a windshield caused by a rock.“It took over a year to find this polyurethane water-based system, which is a tough topcoat,” Fisher explained. “We needed the right balance between optical clarity, durability and flexibility.”
The product, called Armourtec, underwent extensive testing earlier this year with Thatcham, a leading automotive safety organization. It was also tested on a Tesla windshield for 14 months and 24,000 miles to ensure it did not interfere with advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), such as emergency braking or lane-keeping assist. Clarus Protect has exclusive distribution rights for the product in the UK.
The film, which is 0.175 mm thick, is designed to protect against “day-to-day debris”—anything that might chip but not crack a windshield, Fisher said.
Additionally, the film can self-heal mild scratches when exposed to sunlight and blocks harmful UV rays. However, it needs to be reapplied every 12 to 18 months. Initially, the product will come with a one-year warranty, though this may increase as Clarus gathers more performance data.
The coating is provided in a roll of film and can be applied to any vehicle. However, installation becomes more complex as the windshield size increases. The film can be pre-cut using templates, making it more cost-effective than some competing products.
Fisher is in discussions with insurance companies, hoping to persuade them to subsidize the installation. He argues that it would save insurers money in the long run. “We are seeing some insurers start to exclude windshield replacements from standard policies,” he added.
Installation typically takes about 30 minutes for two people, including preparation.
Fisher aims to build a network of 100 installers, including franchised dealers, independent repair shops, and vehicle converters. He also noted that fleets with their own workshops could easily train their teams to self-install the film.
“If a shop has experience with paint protection, window tinting, or vinyl decals, they’ll find this easy to apply,” Fisher said.
In the US, however, a film like this might not catch on. “Windshields have some heavy, heavy safety requirements,” says Darrell Smith, executive director of the International Window Film Association (IWFA) in Martinsville, Virginia. “We don’t have any test data to say any clear film applied on a windshield won’t interfere with the standards.” He adds that using a film like this is at the risk of the manufacturer, dealer and installer.
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