New York in September … I had secured a contract to a very popular TV show that tapes all across the country. It’s a crazy whirlwind job as they require LLumar 5 percent auto film on the windows to reduce the light coming in (I know, I know … we aren’t supposed to put limo tint on flat glass cause it can very easily cause thermo fractures … they sign a complete waiver and are responsible for any breakage). In cameraman terms it reduces the light by 5 F stops so they can have the proper lighting for filming. Then they may want you remove it after the days shoot so they can do some night shots and need all the light. You then reinstall before the next morning for the next day’s shooting. We generally hire a local dealer to do the install as we like to spread the work around and that logistically works better for the client. Finally when they are done filming you do a final removal. So in essence the film is only up for 3-4 days.

3 a.m. … One row done, one to go. Add one gallon of Dunkin Donuts coffee and one dozen donuts and we’re good to go.

I had everything lined up until the 11th hour when the dealer called and backed out 36 hours before the install. Have tools will travel … yes yours truly packed up his tools and grabbed one of my best installers, Alex Asuquo and headed to the airport. One “red eye” flight later we are onsite at 10 a.m. with no sleep from the previous night … so we’ve been up for over 24 hours to this point. After tracking down the film and taking care of all the logistics they told us we couldn’t start until later that night as they were going to do some shooting. Fine with us …so we headed to the hotel to get some much needed shuteye. By the time we got to the hotel my head hit the pillow at 3 p.m. At 4:30 p.m. the phone rings … you guessed it they were ready for us.

So after a full 90 minutes of sleep we head back to install 1,800 square feet.  Keep in mind that these windows were 83 inches wide by 102 inches tall and two rows worth. So every window had to be seamed and it was frameless glass to boot. We finally got started around 6:30 p.m. and the final squeegee stroke happened as the clock chimed 9 a.m.

We’ve all been there on demanding jobs like this but 90 minutes of sleep in a 48-hour time frame … I’m gettin’ too old for this; actually I think it’s what keeps me young.

One last look before taking it all down.

I think I’ve taken enough of your time this month so I will save the Nigeria visit for next month. However, let’s briefly touch on SEMA. Huge as usual but attendance seemed lighter. No doubt due to Sandy. My first observation while walking the rows and rows of exhibitors is the increasing amount of “film manufacturers.” Most of the big companies had their normal large booths with their full entourage but the amount of small booths with rolls of film being displayed was astounding. Mostly oriental in origins and it was very difficult to communicate. They surely can’t all be manufacturing their own film. I lost count at around 28 different window film companies displaying and that’s not counting all the PPF booths and the wrap booths. Our industry is going through some monumental changes and the choices available to dealers are growing. In some ways it’s good for us dealers to have choices especially when we get yet another price increase from our mainline manufacturers. But in other ways it’s reducing the quality of film and could hurt the whole industry in the long term. We shall see.One new film that I thought was interesting was from NDFOS. It’s a marriage of two films Anti-Fog and Ceramic. This combo automotive film claims to stay fog free when damp out and block 95 percent heat and 65 percent VLT or 35 percent heat blockage and 85 percent VLT. Competition breeds innovation.

The survey in my last post asked if you knew about Scotchkote before my article. Seems like I enlightened the majority of you as 91.7 percent were not aware of this product while only 8.3 percent were. I’ll keep looking for new products throughout my travels.

This month I want to know how many of you have ever gone to SEMA. Of course it might be skewed as not every film dealer does automotive … but then neither do I. I go to see what’s new on the film front and make connections with the dealers I work with all across the world.

Quote of the Month

“Hard work spotlights the character of people: some turn up their sleeves, some turn up their noses, and some don’t turn up at all.” — Sam Ewing

“I have had the pleasure and displeasure of working with all three.” — Ross Kehl

Click HERE to watch the video on Youtube.

Click HERE to watch the video on Youtube.

Click HERE to watch the video on Youtube.

Attendees walked the SEMA Show floor searching for the latest products on display.

Despite the poor weather that recently affected the East Coast, SEMA Show exhibitors in Las Vegas have seen consistent, some said higher, numbers of attendees.

Greg Duchinsky of Sharpline states that, “attendance is up from last year by about 15 to 20 percent.”

Suk Won Choi, president of Nexfil, saw a difference in attendance this year compared to last year.

“The weather has definitely lowered the attendance for the show,” he says.

“It’s pretty much similar to last year, but it’s a little slower,” adds Michelly Pak, sales assistant manager for Nexfil.

Though there have been contrasting reports on attendance, the quality of products on display this year has remained stellar.

Luxo Window Films, which currently caters to international markets but is looking to expand in North America, is displaying its Crystallite, TiNite and Metallic window films. The Crystalline films, which the company claims are virtually invisible and reject heat without altering the look of the car, offer of visible light transmission (VLT) between 42 and 73 percent. Infra-red (IR) rejections is available in 91 to 98 percent. The nano-ceramic TiNite series comes in a VLT range of 32-71 percent and an IR range of 10 to 48 percent. The Metallic series ranges a VLT of 9 to 48 percent and an IR of 60 to 80 percent.

ClearPlex is displaying its ClearPlex Invisible Windshield Protection. According to the company the protection film is a “patented film applied to the exterior surface of a windshield, preventing damage from ordinary highway rock strikes and road debris.” Additionally, the company is offering its polymer treatment ClearX HD. This treatment is a system to protect the ClearPlex windshield film to maintain scratch resistance and water repellency.

Another notable display came from the Scorpion Window Film booth where NASCAR driver David Ragan was available to sign autographs for show attendees.

Though some attendees may not yet have arrived as a result of the effects of the hurricane, day two of SEMA was certainly a success. Stay tuned to www.windowfilmmag.com for more show updates and videos.

Attendees gathered in the North Hall to view the latest restyling products on display at SEMA.

The North Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center was packed today as SEMA Show attendees walked the aisles to visit with film representatives and learn about the latest products on display. The North Hall, which houses automotive restyling products, contained many new film products for attendees to view.

One of the more unique products on the floor was Tint Slime, created by Guardian Graphics, which exhibited with Global Window Films. The “slime” replaces the baby shampoo typically used in film placement but does not use the ingredient lanolin to prevent clogging in the spray when applying the soap and water mixture.

Another of today’s notable products was a self-healing film displayed by Xpel. The film comes in two varieties: Ultimate, a shiny-finish film, and Stealth, a matte-, or satin-, finish film.

Alan Hughey of Jiffy Steamer noted that SEMA is an excellent venue to market his company’s long-lasting steamer.

“What we want to do is grow our dealer base,” said Hughey.

“We’ve tried to discontinue some (steamer) models but that’s hard to do when you’re still getting orders for that item,” he added. “We want people to say our steamer works for 30 or 40 years.”

Stay tuned to www.windowfilmmag.com for more SEMA Show updates and videos. If you are attending SEMA, visit Window Film magazine in booth 12623 and the other film companies in the North Hall.

Attending the IWFC provided me the chance to meet some of you as well as learn about the trade. Watching you all in action was such a unique experience.

As I gear up for my first SEMA Show, I’m excited to see not only who, but what will be there. One of my favorite experiences from IWFC was installing a clear PPF bra on a BMW hood at one of the vendor booths. I hope there are more experiences like this at SEMA.

When considering the differences between IWFC to SEMA, I wondered if all of you have a type of show that you prefer more: automotive or architectural? One question I keep coming back to is: what do you guys want to see at these shows? When I report on the event, what kind of coverage are you hoping to see? Be sure to answer today’s poll about what you most look forward to seeing at trade shows.

While I continue to learn about the window film industry, I invite you to share your answers with me. If you ever have any questions or comments about something that has been covered in either the newsletter or the magazine please feel free to email me at cneeley@glass.com. I enjoy reading your comments and learning about your perspectives.

Check out today’s poll and let Window Film magazine know what you most look forward to seeing at trade shows.

4. Save your energy.
The whole country is in the midst of an energy-savings craze. While this is good news for our great-grandchildren it’s also exciting news for the window film industry. Almost every booth said that the industry is continuing to head in the direction of energy efficiency. People want to save money, protect their belongings and promote a healthy planet, and making their homes and vehicles as energy efficient as possible has become a top priority. Everyone seems to expect concerns over energy efficiency to continue to grow and become more important to manufacturers, dealers and consumers.

3. Is this real life?
In my blog before the SEMA Show I talked about not knowing what to expect. Little did I know that I was about to enter an alternate universe where the cars are insanely expensive, the girls unarguably beautiful, and the line for the men’s bathroom much longer than the line for the ladies’ room. There were times throughout the week that I had to remind myself that SEMA, while glittering with its shiny cars and flashy accessories, was not everyday real life, especially for your average window film installer. Making the most out of the week seemed to be everyone’s goal because they knew this was a one-time opportunity. When I stepped off the plane in Virginia I was shot back to reality at the sight of a good old beater car, instead of a shiny, new, lime green Ford Mustang, and a long line at the ladies’ room. I suppose it’s time to get back to reality.

2. Just tell me the truth.
I spent quite a bit of time chatting with window film installers and asking them about their SEMA experience. One of these installers gave me food for thought. He told me that while he was visiting window film booths he asked the same question over and over, “what makes your film/product better than the others?” He shared that often he was unable to get a straight answer. The lesson here is that these window film shops and their installers don’t want a sales pitch. They just want the facts and a solid, reliable product.

1. Its all about “PPF.”
Paint protection film was the hit of the SEMA Show for the window film industry. Nearly every single window film booth was displaying a variety of paint protection film and as soon as a demo started the crowds would form. Paint protection film, or “PPF” as the industry affectionately calls it, has proved to be a great add-on for tinting shops. Technicians’ familiarity with film and experience installing gives them a leg up in training and the crowds around the demos proved that the interest is there. Watching the paint protection demos didn’t feel that different from observing an actual window film or tint installation. Granted, there are differences like bumpers and rounded edges, but it seems like a trade that a tinter could pick up easily. After seeing the amount of PPF at the show I am expecting to see more installers and tinters adding PPF to their repertoire.

What did you learn at SEMA? E-mail khodge@glass.com to share your experience.

On a side note, you can expect a new episode of FILM’d in the next few weeks and be sure to check out our SEMA Show video reports from the show last week.