PITTSBURGH, September 22, 2026 – 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. Vitro is pleased to debut EcoArmor^™ Protective Topcoat at GlassBuild America this week in Las Vegas, Nevada.

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.

"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.

Available exclusively through the Vitro Certified^® Network, EcoArmor^™ Protective Topcoat reflects Vitro's ongoing commitment to sustainability, innovation and responsible manufacturing. Vitro continues to explore opportunities to expand EcoArmor^™ Protective Topcoat availability to additional Solarban^® low-e glass products in the future.

For more information, explore Vitro’s Glass Education Center article, An Alternative to Traditional Protective Films.

Solarban^® and Vitro Certified^® are registered trademarks of Vitro.

EcoArmor^™ is a trademark of Vitro.

Cradle to Cradle Certified^® is a registered trademark of the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute.

About Vitro Architectural Glass

Vitro Architectural Glass is the largest glass producer in the Western Hemisphere, manufacturing a range of industry-leading products serving the construction, solar, transportation, defense and security markets worldwide. Committed to continually raising the industry standard for sustainability, Vitro was the first U.S. glass manufacturer to have its complete collection of architectural glass products earn Cradle to Cradle Certified^® status and the first North American manufacturer to publish third-party verified Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) for flat glass and processed glass products. Additionally, as of April 2024, all Vitro architectural glass products meet the Top 20% Low Embodied Carbon (LEC) material Global Warming Potential (GWP) threshold the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) established pursuant to the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 and related guidance from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Vitro operates seven glass production facilities across North America, four residential glass fabrication plants in Canada and one of the world’s largest glass research and development facilities in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. For more information, please visit VitroGlazings.com.

Media Contact:
Robert J. Struble
Vitro Architectural Glass
412-820-8138
rstruble@vitro.com
vitroglazings.com