Vitro Architectural Glass Expands EcoArmor™ Protective Topcoat Availability to Solarban® 70 Glass

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.

Learn more about EcoArmor^™ Protective Topcoat here. Additionally, explore Vitro’s Glass Education Center article, An Alternative to Traditional Protective Films.

Visit vitroglazings.com or call 1-855-VTRO-GLS (887-6457) for more information about Vitro Architectural Glass’ full portfolio of glass solutions.