A More Sustainable Approach to Glass Protection
For decades, temporary protective films have been applied to coated glass to help prevent scratches and surface damage during shipping, handling and fabrication. While effective, these films must be removed before tempering, creating additional labor, disposal requirements and a significant waste stream that ultimately ends up in landfills.
EcoArmor™ Protective Topcoat offers a modern approach to temporary protective films, and reflects Vitro's ongoing commitment to innovation, sustainability and responsible manufacturing.
EcoArmor™ Protective Topcoat provides protection all the way to the furnace
Applied as a continuous protective coating, EcoArmor™ Protective Topcoat safeguards select Solarban® solar control, low-e glasses from chemical and mechanical damage from the coating line through fabrication. During tempering, the heat from the furnace removes EcoArmor™ Protective Topcoat, eliminating film removal, disposal and the waste associated with traditional protective films, all while preserving the proven thermal performance and aesthetics of the Solarban® family of glasses.
Currently available exclusively through the Vitro Certified® Network of fabricators and on Solarban® 70 and Solarban® 90 glasses, two of Vitro’s most widely specified low-e products, EcoArmor™ Protective Topcoat brings cleaner, contemporary protection benefits. Vitro is working to expand capacity to include EcoArmor™ Protective Topcoat on additional Solarban® low-e coatings in the future.
This shift may seem small, but across millions of square feet of glass, eliminating temporary protective film can help significantly reduce material waste while supporting a more efficient and sustainable glass fabrication process that delivers to a significant portion of the architectural glass market.
Reducing Waste Across the Supply Chain
Traditional film (as seen above) adds unnecessary waste and time-consuming removal steps
EcoArmor™ Protective Topcoat was developed to help simplify the fabrication process while supporting sustainability goals throughout the glazing supply chain.
By eliminating temporary protective films, EcoArmor™ Protective Topcoat helps reduce:
- Plastic film waste sent to landfills
- Film removal labor and handling
- Packaging and disposal requirements
The result is a more sustainable and efficient approach to glass protection that aligns with the industry's increasing focus on waste reduction and responsible manufacturing.
Built for a More Efficient Future
In addition to eliminating traditional film waste, EcoArmor™ Protective Topcoat has demonstrated fabrication benefits in real-world trials:
- 10–20% reduction in tempering cycle times
- Up to 33% less edge kink on glass with pre-temper edge deletion
- Lower roll wave distortion
- No residue; more uniform glass that exists the furnace
- Improved production flow
By reducing tempering cycle times by 10-20%, EcoArmor™ Protective Topcoat helps fabricators process glass more efficiently, allowing furnaces to operate for shorter periods while maintaining high-quality results. Because tempering is one of the most energy-intensive steps in glass fabrication, reducing furnace time can lower energy consumption and improve overall manufacturing efficiency. The result is a double environmental benefit: less waste from discarded protective films and less energy required to fabricate the glass itself.
Additionally, EcoArmor™ Protective Topcoat fits seamlessly into existing equipment, procedures and production environments, delivering measurable environmental and efficiency benefits, with no harmful byproducts left behind.
By replacing traditional temporary protective films with a film-free alternative, EcoArmor™ Protective Topcoat helps reduce unnecessary waste while supporting a more streamlined path to produce high-performing Solarban® glass at no additional cost, with no measurable harmful byproducts left behind.
EcoArmor™ Protective Topcoat eliminates film removal and disposal costs.
Help Reduce Fabrication Waste
Learn how film-free glass protection can support a more sustainable built environment.
Contact your Vitro representative to learn more about EcoArmor™ Protective Topcoat and how Vitro is helping reduce waste throughout the glass supply chain.
