Auburn Hills, MI - August 02, 2006
The new BETASEAL™ Uni-wipe glass bonding system from Dow Automotive has been commercialized at the Chrysler Group’s Toledo North Assembly Plant in the production of the Jeep™ Liberty. Manufacturers of automobiles and commercial vehicles can improve efficiencies and better manage quality for the glass bonding process while also realizing performance advantages gained from the new system.
Applied robotically or manually, the BETASEAL Uni-wipe system goes on the glass as a single clear wipe followed by the application of a newly formulated adhesive for the installation of windshields, backlites, sunroofs and quarter glass. The application of the clear wipe is visually detectable during the glass installation process, as a unique fluorescing agent has been added to the wipe. Illumination with a specific light source indicates continuous application of the wipe around the glass so manufacturers can improve quality assurance earlier in the production process, rather than having to remove the glass for examination later in the cycle.
The new adhesive is designed to bond to a wide range of commercial clearcoat technologies without the use of body flange primer and is UV-resistant, eliminating the need for glass blackout primer on typical ceramic enamel coatings. The short flash time of the clear wipe and the reduction in priming steps provides more than 30 percent reduction in glass preparation cycle time. This also reduces in-plant volatile organic chemicals (VOCs) by up to 53 percent, eases the film build requirement of current blackout primer application and helps eliminate waste from the assembly process.
The BETASEAL Uni-wipe system is one of a number of innovative solutions from Dow Automotive designed to simplify automotive glass installation. The Uni-wipe system sets a new standard by combining the benefits of an easier glass priming process with the primerless-to-paint performance, previously pioneered by Dow Automotive, which has become the benchmark of the automotive and transportation industry. BETASEAL glass bonding systems also make the windshield and backlite an integral part of the vehicle’s structure and meet globally mandated safety requirements for barrier, and roof crush regulations.
Dow Automotive is a leading supplier of plastics, adhesives, sealants and other plastics-enhanced products for interior, exterior, under-the-hood, vehicle body structure and acoustical management applications. The organization serves global tier, OEM and aftermarket customers. With offices and application development centers around the world, Dow Automotive provides materials science expertise and comprehensive technical capabilities to its customers worldwide. For additional information about Dow Automotive products and services, visit www.dowautomotive.com.
Dow is a diversified chemical company that harnesses the power of science and technology to improve living daily. The Company offers a broad range of innovative products and services to customers in more than 175 countries, helping them to provide everything from fresh water, food and pharmaceuticals to paints, packaging and personal care products. Built on a commitment to its principles of sustainability, Dow has annual sales of $46 billion and employs 42,000 people worldwide. References to "Dow" or the "Company" mean The Dow Chemical Company and its consolidated subsidiaries unless otherwise expressly noted.
For Editorial Information:
Chris Swart
Dow Automotive
(248) 391-6413
Dalin Clark
Howe Marketing Communications
(616) 975-6160
