RAC AUTO WINDSCREENS |
Canopy keeps RAC Auto Windscreens customers on the road in all weathers
 |
| “The new canopy means that we are even nearer to our aim of providing a service that is ‘right first time, every time’” |
RAC Auto Windscreens is keeping hundreds of fleet customers out on the road whatever the weather – thanks to a specially-designed canopy. The undercover canopy, being rolled out to RAC Auto Windscreen's 143 sites across the country, keeps the bonding material used in glass replacement dry. Its unique design was developed by RAC technicians to reduce the number of working days being lost by fleet vehicles that needed to get back out on the road as quickly as possible.
The canopy was revealed as an essential and valuable piece of equipment in trials – a survey of the workload of RAC technicians at five different sites showed it was used in 212 out of a total of 280 working days. “Modern glass replacement techniques are highly sophisticated. But up until now we and our 250 fleet customers have been at the mercy of the British weather,” says Chris Bonsall, technical manager at RAC Auto Windscreens. “You need absolutely dry conditions for the bonding material to work properly. Before we had the canopies, we had to wait for the rain to hold off or bring vehicles back to our site before replacing windows and windscreens – causing frustration and wasted time off the road for the customer and for us.”
 The RAC's canopy became an essential and valuable piece of equipment in trials |
“This makes for even happier customers,” says John Tutt, Director of Operations. “In the past, we had to re-arrange glass replacement appointments again and again at customer sites because of the weather. The new canopy means that we are even nearer to our aim of providing a service that is ‘right first time, every time'.” The all-weather canopy, which takes just minutes to assemble and take down, was developed by RAC Auto Windscreens in partnership with Broadview Blinds, of Poole, Dorset.
RAC wins top award for “green” patrols
RAC scooped a top award for its environmentally-friendly roadside patrols at a glittering ceremony in London. The organisation beat off competition from a number of other entrants, including the AA, to be named Breakdown/Recovery Company of the Year in the Greenfleet Awards 2006.
 Simon Cage (centre) receives the Breakdown/Recovery Company of the Year Award |
The aim is to reward public and private organisations for their efforts in environmental fleet management. RAC impressed the judges with its green patrols, as well as other environmental commitments, including: environmental programmes and procedures, including satellite navigation and intelligent deployment systems that reduce fuel consumption and patrol fleet congestion, and speed up rescue. rescue vehicles maintained to the highest standards to ensure best fuel economy, and minimise toxic emissions. recycling of obsolete parts, for example batteries. use of certified sites to dispose of contaminated fuel and other oils.
|
| “This award is testimony to the initiatives we’ve put in place over the past year – and will make us strive to do more in the future” |
The judges were also won over by RAC Auto Windscreens' company-wide policy, which encourages customers to seek windscreen repairs before replacement, saving massively on glass waste disposal. RAC works proactively with its fleet customers to help achieve this. For fleet drivers, if a windscreen requires more than one repair on the same visit, they are only charged for one. Simon Cage, Head of Fleet at RAC, was presented with the prize by racing driver and Fifth Gear presenter Tiff Needell at the ceremony at Arsenal FC's new Emirates Stadium.
RAC managing director, Debbie Hewitt, says: “Our environmental responsibilities are important to us and to our customers. This award is testimony to the initiatives we've put in place over the past year – and will make us strive to do more in the future. “In some cases, we are waiting for the availability of technology to catch up with our vision, but there are practical steps every company should take to reduce their environmental footprint.”
ABOUT RAC AUTO WINDSCREENS
- It has been operating for over 30 years.
- It was founded in Chesterfield, Derbyshire in 1971 and was purchased by RAC in March 2001.
- RAC Auto Windscreens has 143 fitting centres throughout the UK – approximately 20% more than its competitors. Alongside the fitting centre network, the company has nearly 1,000 fully equipped mobile units.
- RAC Auto Windscreens is unique in producing its own windscreens.
- A windscreen repair takes 30 minutes and the vehicle is safe to drive immediately after repair. A replacement takes an hour and the vehicle cannot be driven for between two and seven hours dependent on the type of urethane used to bond the windscreen.
- Workmanship on re-glazing jobs is guaranteed for three years and comes with a lifetime guarantee on repairs to pass a vehicle’s MOT, subject to terms and conditions
- In 2005, the RAC Auto Windscreens call centre dealt with 925,000 customer calls.
- Last year RAC Auto Windscreens saved 83,039 windscreens by repairing small damages.
- 10,000 different pieces of glass are held at its Birmingham-based warehouse and distribution centre.
- In 2005, RAC Auto Windscreens replaced:
– 439,091 front windscreens, equivalent to 1,579 per working day.
– 113,877 side windows, equivalent to 410 per working day.
– 37,938 rear windscreens. - RAC Auto Windscreens also repaired:
–83,039 windscreens, equivalent to 299 windscreen repairs per working day.
HINTS AND TIPS ON WINDSCREEN MAINTENANCE
- Don’t ignore chips on windscreens – they can generally easily be repaired.
- If they are neglected, chipped windscreens will eventually crack. This will cause a car to fail its MOT.
- Dependent on the position of the damage on the windscreen, chips up to 40mm in diameter can be repaired by a resin injection to restore windscreens to their full strength.
- Repaired windscreens increase optical clarity by 80% and improve the appearance of damaged areas by 95-98%.
- The waste from 40 windscreen replacements is enough to fill a skip, but the waste from 40 repairs fits into the palm of a hand.
- Make sure that you top up your windscreen washer bottle regularly.
- An empty washer bottle could result in a £1,000 fine and three points on your driving licence.
- Never add washing-up liquid to your windscreen wash. It could damage your windscreen wipers and leave a potentially dangerous film on your windscreen.
- Every vehicle on the road must meet a certain standard of road worthiness as set out by The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 and The Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989.
- It is an offence if your windscreen, windscreen wipers and washer bottles are not in good working order.
