NGA refutes inaccurate ANSI application claims

The National Glass Association, the leading business organization representing the North American glass industry, today (Feb. 18) refuted claims made in a technical ANSI application. The application, submitted by Belron, states that the NGA has “withdrawn” from the auto glass industry. Belron has since retracted its inaccurate statement and is issuing a press release to that effect.

“The NGA is, and always has been, committed to serving the auto glass industry,” said NGA Vice President David Walker. “Though economic forces have conspired to make some services too costly for us to provide, we continue to invest heavily in our world-class auto glass training and certification programs, and we remain actively engaged in many issues affecting the auto glass segment of our industry.”

Walker points out that five of the association’s 12 board members are auto glass company executives. Steve Mort, president of Don’s Mobile Glass, served as NGA Chairman of the Board until September 2009.

The NGA’s Auto Glass Certification program is more active and robust than ever, with certifications jumping by 32 percent in 2009 over 2008. The association’s training programs, including the MyGlassClass.com online platform, remain the gold standard of auto glass industry training. NGA also publishes the For Technicians Only e-bulletin, delivering step-by-step auto glass removal and replacement instructions directly to technicians’ e-mail boxes twice a month.

“While we are currently not in the business of developing standards, we have never foreclosed the prospect of doing so in the future,” stated Walker.