Toronto, Ontario — Ford offered repairers a glimpse at its OEM glass and the many components that transform it from a window to an advanced piece of technology, in its most recent On Target newsletter.
The first edition of On Target for 2023 features a breakdown of the cameras and composition of the windshields on Ford’s latest vehicles, manufactured by OE glassmaker Carlex, in addition to in-depth explanations of driver features that go unseen to the naked eye.
Ford windshields house a camera system that aids in the function of lane departure warning systems, autonomous braking, park assist, backup camera systems, heads-up displays, adaptive cruise control, rain sensors, among many other components.
Additionally, Ford’s camera bracket is specifically oriented in the optimal position for the function of these systems, whereas an aftermarket windshield’s bracket may be misaligned.
The company says it keeps strict guidelines on the shape, colour and thickness of its glass in order to ensure the proper function of these camera-based systems. Carlex, for its part, uses an advanced laser inspection technology to verify the integrity of its glass to a level of accuracy that a human eye cannot compete with.
The OEM’s glass also features what is called a “heated wiper park”; a section near the bottom-centre of the windshield that warms up places the wiper arms cannot reach. The newsletter points out that aftermarket glass does not possess this technology, and therefore offers drivers reduced coverage as compared to Ford’s official glass.
Ford’s glass also bears specific solar and acoustic characteristics, as aftermarket glass is not rated with the same level of UV protection as the OE equivalent, nor does it offer comparable noise-canceling capabilities when it comes to muting traffic noise.
The newsletter goes on to expound the quality of the general thickness and strength of Ford glass, which the company says is held to a strict standard and with federal testing criteria in mind.
Ford’s first On Target newsletter of 2023 can be found here.
