Glass Recalled by PPG Supplier Also Came from WGA, PPG Reports

The suspect glass parts recalled recently by Process Polymers Development (PPD) were sold to them by Paterson, N.J.-based importer Wholesale Glass Automotive (WGA), according to PPG´s Doug Sharbaugh, manager, supply chain, for the North American automotive aftermarket.

Wholesale is the same company associated with selling the parts Safelite recalled recently to Auto Temp Inc. in Batavia, Ohio, which in turn sold the parts to Safelite.

PPG had recently reported that the part, FB20415 ZPY from DOT 630 and DOT 628, did not comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards with regard to its tempering level.

"The shards were larger than allowable by the standard," Sharbaugh says.

Sharbaugh notes that after Safelite announced its recall, PPG learned it had purchased glass that came from the same manufacturer involved in that recall (Hangzhou Safety Glazing Ltd.).

"After Safelite´s announced recall, we learned that we, too, had glass that was labeled with DOT 430 and started testing the product," he says. "At the same time, we learned that the same part number had been received with DOT 628 markings and we felt compelled to test both products for this characteristic. The testing was done according to the ANSI Z26.1 testing requirements."

Hebei Tongyong Glass Industrial Co. Ltd. holds DOT 628.

While the recall notice has not yet been posted on NHTSA´s website, Sharbaugh says the filing was sent to NHTSA on March 4.

As for those that purchased the glass, PPG is in the process of contacting them.

"PPG will be directly contacting customers that purchased these part numbers with the DOT 430 and DOT 628 markings from PPG and its affiliates with further instructions," he adds.

At press time, officials from neither Hangzhou nor Hebei were available for comment, and efforts to reach Wholesale had been unsuccessful as well.