Suppliers agree on global car-glazing standard 

Industry and government delegates from the US, Japan, Canada, Belgium, France and Germany met at an automotive suppliers conference on 24-27 January in Brussels, and finalised a proposal for "safety and environmental performances for automotive glazings".

A European umbrella association representing the interests and the entrepreneurial skills of the global automotive supply industry, CLEPA comprises global suppliers for car parts and systems as well as national trade associations and European sectorial associations representing more than 3,000 automotive companies, employing more than three million people with a turnover of around €3 billion.

The agreed proposal is significant, says Pierre Laurent, senior manager in the CLEPA technical team, "because it harmonises the positions of the main stakeholders concering test procedures for safety details of vehicles".

Laurent added: "The draft proposal will be presented for approval in the next session of the UNECE, the body in charge of worldwide automotive technical harmonisation at the UN. If approved, this will illustrate the growing role of associations in global standard-setting."

"Specifically, the proposal improves on the occupant-protection and optical qualities of car-window glass, as well as its recycling to improve the vehicle industry's environmental contribution, ie the window frames can be more easily removed from a car. Also, the aim is to make the splinters from broken glass so small that the risk of injury is greatly reduced."  

The proposal will be presented before the UN on 16-20 April 2007.