2005 IWFE Tint-Off Sees Several Firsts

The 2005 International Window Film Conference, Expo and Tint-Off™ (IWFE), held February 25-28, in Orlando, Fla., saw several firsts: the first perfect score, the first two-time winner and the first architectural tint-off winner.
Danny Sanders of Marietta, Ga., who won the inaugural IWFE Tint-Off in 2002, edged out Andrew Doiron for first place, becoming the first two-time winner of the event. With tied scores, time was the decisive factor between the two finishers. Sanders finished tinting the backlite six minutes before Doiron, putting Doiron in second place, which he has held consistently for three years. Third place went to Dan Shaw, the 2003 Tint-Off winner.

Sanders also claimed the title of the first perfect score ever recorded at an IWFE Tint-Off. Based on a 60-point system, with each judge starting with 20 points and subtracting for flaws in the installation or presentation, Sanders' preliminary heat was apparently flawless. Given 20 minutes to film a front sidelite on a 2005 Toyota Corolla, preliminary times ranged from seven minutes and change to the full 20 minutes, with the average time running close to 17 minutes.

In addition, the tint-off featured for the first time ever an architectural glass filming competition. Ron Jones of Film Solutions Unlimited Inc. in Sarasota, Fla., walked away with the title of first-ever "World's Best Architectural Tinter." Up against Charlie Arakelian of Northeast Tint in Springfield, Mass., in the finals, they topped a field of a half dozen filmers.

"It was pretty competitive," said Jones. "Everyone was good. Any window up there can be left in a home."

Details about the 2006 IWFE will be published in Window Film and in the Focus on Film newsletter as they become available.