Diamond Purchase Ranks as Top Auto Glass Story of 2008 Among glassBYTEs.com™ Readers

A survey of auto glass industry representatives showed that among the 268 surveyed, 47.8 percent believe the most important auto glass industry news event of the year 2008 was Belron US's purchase of the assets of Diamond Glass in June. The Columbus, Ohio-based company purchased Diamond's assets via an auction sale following the former company's filing for bankruptcy on April 1. (CLICK HERE for related story.)

But, glassBYTEs.com readers weren't united on this—23.9 percent of those surveyed believe that another event was the highest ranking, though provided few details as to what the other might have been.

One reader, Steven Scheeler of Desert Breeze Glass in Mesa, Ariz., suggests that though it may not have been the most important story of the year, one of the most interesting to him was the launch of a concept car with a wiperless windshield-the Fioravanti Hidra, which was launched at the Geneva Auto Show in February. (CLICK HERE for related story.)

"This wasn't the most important but interesting for 2008," Scheeler says. The glass on the vehicle was designed to be self-cleaning (or low-maintenance)—-a concept that has been popular on the flat glass and residential side for several years.

The purchase of PPG Auto Glass ranked third, with 22.0 percent, and the renaming of PPG Auto Glass to Pittsburgh Glass Works came in last—at 6.3 percent.

One notable story not included in the survey, as the story isn't quite complete yet, was the agreement of Cindy Rowe Auto Glass to sell the business's assets to Belron US. While the agreement was reached in early September, the companies expected the sale to close by the end of 2008. At press time, Belron US spokesperson Jenny Cain advised the sale had not yet closed.

CLICK HERE to participate in the survey.

What do you think was the most important auto glass news story of 2008? What about the most interesting? Please e-mail pstacey@glass.com.

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