The next generation of safety mirror

MIRALITE??EASYSAFE has been rewarded with a G24 Award nomination for ‘New Product of the Year’. We spoke to Glassolutions Commercial Director, Alan Davies , to get his reaction to the product and its successful launch.

A shatterproof mirror that retains 98% of glass splinters if broken, MIRALITE??EASYSAFE represents a new innovation in safety mirrors.

An anti-shatter resin backing added during the manufacturing process results in enhanced safety performance when compared to traditional safety back-filmed mirrors without the need to apply safety film during processing, making EASYSAFE easier to work with

“We not only work with a great deal of processors, but we also process a lot of mirror ourselves, in-house”, explains Glassolutions Commercial Director, Alan Davies. “So, we know first-hand what makes a high-quality mirror that is easy and efficient to process.

“Alongside speaking to our customers to find out what they would like to see, we were also able to use our own experience and in-house skillset to add valuable insight to the discussion with the R&D team at Saint-Gobain Glass UK and Ireland when this product was being innovated.”

The culmination of a three-year development period, conducted in close collaboration with Saint-Gobain Glass and Glassolutions customers, MIRALITE??EASYSAFE is a product that has been specifically designed with both the processor and the end-user in mind.

Processing efficiencies

“We process hundreds of metres of mirror at our in-house processing facilities at our Northern Hub and Thurrock branches, and we know that one of the key challenges can be the safety backing on the mirror”, says Alan.

“You can have beautiful edgework on the glass itself after it has been through the polisher, but frayed edges on the safety backing and bubbling of the film on the back of the glass, which then requires manual work and time to tidy up.

“We’ve found that EASYSAFE gives both our, and our customer’s, operations, significant manufacturing efficiencies because it eliminates the need for safety backing and the consequent work that comes with it.”

The anti-shatter resin backing makes the glass easier to cut, grind, drill and process – which reduces time, waste and labour costs compared to traditional safety back-filmed mirrors. In addition, it guarantees no risk of frayed edges when processed in adherence with the guidelines.

And as part of their collaboration with customers in developing MIRALITE??EASYSAFE, Glassolutions conducted a processing trial with Specialist Glass Products Ltd , based in Huddersfield.

“Specialist Glass Products produce exceptional structural glass projects, that really push the boundaries of design and innovation”, says Alan. “So, to give EASYSAFE a true test, we wanted to see how it would cope with their typical processes and whether it would meet their highly specialised needs.

“Needless to say, it passed with flying colours – the glass was cut and broken out effortlessly, even in complex shapes, and the edgework was so neat and tidy. It went down a storm.”

An additional benefit uncovered during the trial: the resin backing did not leave any residue on the polishing wheels, unlike traditional safety backed mirror, which could in time extend the longevity of tooling, providing additional cost saving benefits.

Safety and aesthetics

When installing into end-applications, the safety aspects of mirrors should not be forgotten, particularly in high traffic areas such as changing rooms, hotel receptions, and retail outlets, as well as in the home.

“Many of our customers are in the high-end residential or commercial fit-out sectors, and therefore whilst quality and aesthetics are key considerations for them, they also need to ensure that the products that they are supplying are meeting the safety requirements of the end-user too”, explains Alan.

“A key thing that sets EASYSAFE apart from traditional safety backed mirror is that if it is broken, it retains 98% of glass splinters, massively decreasing the chances of injury – and this applies to the teams processing and installing the glass, as well as the end-user.”

And according to Alan, providing this peace of mind to the end-user allows processors to tap into a wider range of installations.

“We are seeing a huge trend within glazing towards ‘the bigger the better’, and the same extends to mirrors within the home as well. But understandably, many parents with young children, for example, are worried about having sliding mirrored wardrobes, or mirrored wall features, in case of an accident.

“With EASYSAFE, we are helping to eliminate this worry – it is certified to the EN 12600 Safety test, EN 14072 for Glass in furniture and its durability by far exceeds the EN 1036-1 European standard for mirrors. We’re not just saying it’s safe, we’re offering a commitment to that.”

Sustainability

In addition to its manufacturing efficiencies and safety properties, EASYSAFE also has the additional benefit of being manufactured in a highly sustainable manner – a benefit which can be passed onto the end-user.

With water-based and lead-free raw materials used in the manufacturing process, MIRALITE? EASYSAFE meets A+ classifications according to the EN ISO 16000 emissions test, contributing to improved indoor air quality.

It also has reduced VOC emissions and is fully recyclable thanks the elimination of plastic safety backing film.

“We know that sustainability is becoming a bigger selling point for customers”, says Alan. “End-users want to know that what is going into their home or commercial premises is going to help their carbon footprint and not hinder it.

“As well as the improved air quality and reduced emissions that EASYSAFE brings, an additional sustainability benefit is that during manufacture, much of the usual waste that is produced with traditional safety back-filmed mirrors is avoided, saving money and resources.”

Making a difference

Through its collaborative R&D stage, MIRALITE? EASYSAFE was innovated with customer’s needs at the forefront of its design, but as with any new product, the true test came when it was released to the wider market.

“I think sometimes you get a feel for things when you release a new product – you have a gut sense of how people are going to react”, says Alan. “With EASYSAFE it just felt right.

“I started talking to processors, and they were immediately really interested. As soon as they saw what the product is and what it could do, their eyes lit up.

“People realise what that product is - it's not just about the pound note price of the product, it's what it's going to do for them. It’s a differentiator for them with their customers.”

And with the G-Award nomination for ‘New Product of the Year’ under its belt, Glassolutions will be hoping to celebrate more success for EASYSAFE at the Awards final on 29th November.

For more information on our products, please call 0333 321 6555, or email [email protected]