New windscreen protection film claims to minimise stone chips

A new windscreen protection product promising to safeguard glass from stone chips is currently undergoing pilots with fleets ahead of a soft launch later this year.

Clarus Protect, which is importing the Chinese-made coating described as “paint protection for glass”, trialled several options before settling on the one it believes offers the best mix of protection and mass market flexibility.

According to CEO Ian Fisher, issues with other solutions included difficulty to apply or lack of longevity.

“It took a year and a bit to find this polyurethane waterbased system which is a robust topcoat,” he said. “We needed the right balance between optical clarity, durability and flexibility.”

Called Armourtec, the product underwent extensive assessment with Thatcham at the start of the year and has also been tested on a Tesla windscreen for 14 months and 24,000 miles to ensure it had no impact on ADAS safety systems, such as emergency braking and lane keeping assist. Clarus has exclusive distributor rights in the UK.

The 175 microns (0.175mm) thick film will withstand any type of “day-to-day debris – anything that would chip, but not crack, a windscreen”, Fisher said.

It can also self-heal mild scratches under the heat of sunlight and blocks harmful UV rays, but must be reapplied every 12-18 months.

Initially, the product will come with a one-year warranty, although this could rise as Clarus analyses performance data.

The coating comes as a roll of film and can be applied to any type of vehicle, although the complexity rises as the windscreen size increases. It can be pre-cut in volume via templates making it more commercially viable than competitor offerings.

Fisher is in talks with insurers to encourage them to subsidize installation which he argues would save them money in the long run. “We are seeing some of them starting to exclude windscreen replacement from standard policies,” he added.

Installation typically takes 30 minutes, including preparation, for two people.

Fisher is looking to build a network of 100 installers, including franchised dealers, independent repairs and converters, although fleets with workshops could be easily trained to self-fit.

“If they have done paint protection, window tinting or vinyl decals, they will find this easy,” he said.

Retail fitted prices will be £275 + VAT with a mobile fitment offer of £325 + VAT. Fleet discounts will be available based on volume; Fisher estimates £150-200 per installation.

“The return on investment is based on the cost of glass repair or fitment and the frequency of repairs versus the film cost,” he said, as well as the obvious reduction in off-road time.

“An average windscreen costs £340 just for the glass; then you have the fitment cost and the ADAS recalibration.”

Fisher added: “We are happy to do proof of concept pilots with large fleets.”