Custom RV Glass for RVs and 5th Wheels – Laminated Safety Glass and More

Custom Glass Solutions is North America’s premier supplier of forward-facing, laminated safety glass and windshields for Class-A RVs and towables, including 5th Wheels and Travel Trailers. A 5th Wheel is described as a towable unit that is attached to a hitch in the bed of the truck as opposed to a unit that connects at the hitch under the bumper, which is typically referred to as a Travel Trailer.

Proudly made in the U.S.A, Custom Glass Solutions is headquartered near Columbus, Ohio. Our glass is manufactured in the Buckeye State, too, with facilities in Upper Sandusky and Fostoria.

“Our glass is made in Ohio, and we have a team of people—service tech, engineering, aftermarket and marketing—that are close to the area to help with all of our customers’ needs,” says Will Avery, sales manager at CGS. “The competitions’ products are made overseas. They have salespeople here, but that’s it.”

However, that’s just one of the many benefits of choosing products from Custom Glass Solutions:

“Our main benefit is supporting engineering, quality and delivery for this particular industry,” says Program Manager Kevin McMillan. “We can support stock-level inventory as well as manufacture-to-order, we are within close distance and can support quality concerns same or next day, we provide engineering support during initial development and model refresh, and we have our own tooling shop to customize and facilitate the manufacturing of most designs.”

Innovation

At Custom Glass Solutions, we’re developing numerous ways to help revitalize the RV market. That includes working with customers on new designs and concepts, launching projects with brands such as INTech RV and Newmar, which unveiled its new Class-C at the 2019 RVX show in Salt Lake City.

“Branding is becoming another niche for the RV industry, such as Coachmen, Forest River Georgetown, FR3 and Tiffin Motors who all use the silkscreen process to establish their namesake in the windshield itself,” McMillan says. “Many brands use films or materials to diffuse backlight operations illuminating the brand name.”

As we work to revitalize the market and move toward the future, there are big things on the horizon for the RV industry.

“I believe that we will see thermal glass to reduce heat and UV rays in motorhomes. Also, heads-up displays will become more widespread,” Avery says. “In 5th wheels, I believe that smart glass/blackout glass will start to be seen in the industry.”

Whether we’re working on futuristic glass technology or manufacturing our current products, safety is always top of mind at Custom Glass Solutions. That’s why laminated glass is so important to us.

“In motorhomes, the glass is the same construction as you have in your car—laminated glass, not just tempered glass,” Avery says. “By using laminated glass in the front-facing windows of a towable unit, you are protecting the interior. In the event of a rock strike, for example, glass doesn’t break and come into the unit.”

McMillan adds, “Glass for this style of application meets or exceeds Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. Laminated glass provides shatter-resistant safety glass, as well as anti-theft applications. It also blocks 99% of all UV rays.”

While our capabilities grow, so does our company. On May 3, Custom Glass Solutions acquired NASG Holdings, Inc. from Consolidated Glass Holdings, Inc. NASG is a leading specialty glass and window manufacturer based in Trumbauersville, PA, which will add new capabilities to our toolbox.

“(NASG) allows us the opportunity to work more directly with certain industries where we only have limited exposure today, along with equipment and technology that we will continue to understand and leverage for future applications,” McMillan says.