MELAKA: Sika, a leading Swiss-based speciality chemicals company and global supplier of windscreen bonding solutions, has conducted Malaysia’s first live windscreen crash test to demonstrate the importance of correct installation and adhesive selection in vehicle safety.
The test was conducted at the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (MIROS) PC3 Laboratory in Ayer Molek, Melaka, the country’s full-scale crash test facility, which is also used for Asean New Car Assessment Programme (NCAP) testing.
The event was recognised by the Malaysia Book of Records as the First Automotive Windscreen Crash Test Evaluation 2026 in Malaysia, making it Sika's second record to be recorded – the first being the most number of Sika adhesives sold in the country.
For the crash test, a Perodua Ativa was driven into a full frontal barrier at 48kph to replicate a real-world collision and demonstrate how a correctly bonded windscreen remains attached to the vehicle during a crash and contributes to the overall occupant protection system.
Prior to the test, Sika performed an installation of the Ativa's windscreen to demonstrate and attest to its adhesive's ability to provide a good bond within 60 minutes of installation.
Although commonly regarded simply as glass, the windscreen is structurally bonded to the vehicle body and plays an important role in maintaining cabin integrity.
It also provides support for the airbag when it deploys, helps prevent occupants from being ejected and contributes to roof strength in the event of a rollover.
According to Sika, the windscreen can account for about 40% of a vehicle’s structural rigidity in a frontal collision and up to 60% during a rollover.
During the test, MIROS assessed the vehicle following the impact, including the retention of the windscreen to the vehicle body.
Sika said it uses the United States Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 212 as a benchmark for windscreen retention.
The standard evaluates windscreen retention during a frontal impact and requires more than 50% adhesion to remain after a 48kph crash.
The demonstration was aimed at highlighting an issue that is often overlooked when windscreens are replaced.
A windscreen fitted with the wrong adhesive, or one returned to service before the adhesive has properly cured, can compromise its retention during a collision.
This makes the quality of installation particularly important in Malaysia, where hot and humid conditions can also affect adhesive curing and working times.
For the crash test, Sika used SikaTack DRIVE, its automotive glass replacement adhesive, which has a 60-minute Minimum Drive Away Time (MDAT) and is said to have been tested with 95th percentile crash test dummies against FMVSS 212.
The company also pointed out that a high number of windscreen replacement jobs were not carried out correctly in Malaysia, citing improperly trained installers who use the incorrect bonding adhesive.
Sika boasts having installed the most number of windscreens nationwide since it entered the country in 1987 and is said to have installed almost 10 million windscreens since then.
Meanwhile, it also runs a Certified Auto Glass Installer Programme, which provides training and certification for local workshops on how to use Sika's windscreen adhesives and undergo continuous training to ensure installation procedures meet its requirements.
Only workshops certified by Sika as part of its installer network are able to utilise SikaTack DRIVE adhesive, which has a 60-minute Minimum Drive Away Time (MDAT) and has been tested with 95th percentile crash test dummies against FMVSS 212.
The company’s latest Malaysia Book of Records recognition is its second, following its previous record for selling the most windscreen adhesives in Malaysia.
Sika (Thailand) Ltd head of automotive and industry for South-East Asia Yves Meier said the windscreen should be regarded as an integral part of the vehicle’s safety structure and how well it is installed would contribute to its overall safety.
Sika Malaysia Head of Automotive & Industry Daphne Wong said the safety implications of windscreen replacement were often overlooked.
"A windscreen is a safety component, yet it is often replaced on price and speed alone," she said.
"What matters just as much is the adhesive used and the standard of the installation, because those are what keep the glass in place when it is needed most," added Wong.
As part of its road safety campaign, Sika will also run the Sika Certified Auto Glass Installer Campaign from Sept 15 to Dec 31.
Customers who replace their windscreens at a certified workshop during the campaign can enter a monthly lucky draw by submitting a photograph of the workshop’s Sika Certified Auto Glass Installer signboard together with their receipt to Sika Malaysia.
Three winners will be selected each month, with each receiving a RM100 petrol card.
The campaign aims to encourage motorists to consider the quality and certification of the workshop when replacing a windscreen, rather than choosing solely on price or convenience.
For details, visit mys.sika.com/en/safe-auto-glass-replacement
