International Automotive Glass Federation Formed

A variety of institutions have taken the initative for a new international co-operation in the automotive glass after-market. National trade associations from the United States, Japan and some European countries decided to form the association International Automotive Glass Federation.

Chairman of the new Federation will be Freddy Grumstrup Sørensen, CEO of Mobilglas ApS in Denmark and Sweden and member of various branch committees for AGRR in the United States.

According to Sørensen, ‘It is high time that our specialised branch disposes of a good platform for international co-operation. Our market uses international products as vehicles, glass and adhesives. Legislation is more and more an international issue as well. And in the middle is the automotive glass professional who should no longer be narrowed by national or even continental borders.’

The new Federation enables countries that are still missing proper functioning national trade association to be represented as well. One or more leading companies could be around the international table, if they are willing to stimulate the formation of an appropriate national trade association.

Manufacturers for and suppliers to the industry will have the position of Special Member in the Federation. Sørensen underlines that the new Federation has no connection with representatives of other glass and glazing activities.

‘The international co-operation that we have seen till now was always more or less linked to old brother architectural glass. I am glad that InterAutoGlass allows my colleagues and myself to stand on our own feet.

‘It is not without reason that we are Specialists’, he says.

International Automotive Glass Federation will focus especially on technical standards and codes, training programmes and health and safety issues. These activities will be visible in national and international competitions for autoglass technicians or fitters.

The office of the new Federation is already set up in De Rijp (The Netherlands).
Managing Director is Pim de Ridder. The website is http://www.interautoglass.org.