Vitro Architectural Glass announced today that EcoArmor™ Protective Topcoat is now available on Solarban® 70 glass, expanding access to the company’s innovative film-free glass protection technology. Previously available on Solarban® 90 glass, the expansion brings EcoArmor™ Protective Topcoat to two of Vitro’s most widely specified solar control low-e glass products.
Applied as a continuous protective coating, EcoArmor™ Protective Topcoat safeguards Solarban® 70 and Solarban® 90 glasses from chemical and mechanical damage during transportation, handling and fabrication. During tempering, the coating is removed by furnace heat, eliminating the need for traditional temporary protective films and the waste, labor and disposal requirements associated with them.
EcoArmor™ Protective Topcoat provides protection all the way to the furnace.
Traditional film (as seen above) adds unnecessary waste and time-consuming removal steps.
“Expanding EcoArmor™ Protective Topcoat to Solarban® 70 glass is a significant milestone because it extends the benefits of film-free protection to the most specified triple-silver low-e glass,” said Fernando Diez, Vice President of Marketing, Innovation & New Business Development, Vitro Architectural Glass. “As sustainability and operational efficiency continue to be top priorities across the glass industry, EcoArmor™ Protective Topcoat offers a smarter, more environmentally conscious alternative to traditional protective films, helping reduce waste and simplify fabrication while preserving the proven performance of Solarban® glass.”
For decades, temporary protective films have been used to help protect coated glass throughout the fabrication process. Those films require removal prior to tempering and generate material waste that typically ends up in landfills. EcoArmor™ Protective Topcoat was developed to eliminate those challenges while simplifying fabrication workflows and supporting sustainability goals throughout the glazing supply chain.
In addition to eliminating protective film waste, EcoArmor™ Protective Topcoat has demonstrated measurable fabrication benefits in real-world trials. Fabricators reported tempering cycle time reductions of 10–20%, lower roll wave distortion, improved production flow and up to a 33% reduction in edge kink on glass with pre-temper edge deletion. Trials also showed more uniform glass exiting the furnace, contributing to improved overall quality and consistency.
Because tempering is among the most energy-intensive stages of glass fabrication, shorter cycle times can help reduce furnace operating time and improve manufacturing efficiency. Combined with the elimination of traditional film waste, EcoArmor™ Protective Topcoat delivers measurable environmental benefits both inside and outside the fabrication facility with no measurable harmful byproducts left behind.
EcoArmor™ Protective Topcoat is fully compatible with standard fabrication practices and can be processed using the same equipment already in place for coated glass, with no special handling requirements.
Learn more about EcoArmor™ Protective Topcoat here.
Visit vitroglazings.com or call 1-855-VTRO-GLS (887-6457) for more information about Vitro Architectural Glass’ full portfolio of glass solutions.
