16 Nov 2020

Classic car is anyone’s source of pride, ego and joy, and above all, it will always stimulate envious and admiring looks wherever one goes. However, when the windscreen, windshield or window is shattered, it spoils the look it used to embrace and makes the car look less attractive. 

No one wants to be seen driving a car with a shattered or cracked window.

Faded, cracked or cloudy windows are not only a safety hazard, but significantly reduce the beauty and value of the machine.

Such scenarios call for strong and clear glasswork to be conducted.

While the metal used for vehicles can be recycled fairly and easily, a solution for recovering the glass used for windows has not been so readily available.

However, a cracked car windscreen has the potential to grow wider or longer as the glass expands and contracts due to temperature fluctuations, pressure applied to the glass, an object striking the glass or dirt introduced to the crack. 

It is significant to note that any of these factors could worsen the crack, which has already weakened the glass and cause it to shatter spontaneously each and every day as the above factors affect the windscreen.

In most cases, people are more conscious and interested in the impact of burnt glasses on the environment more especially where their waste would end up in reference to the ozone layer.

It is advisable that motorists follow the journey of their used and discarded windscreens to ensure that they are disposed and end up recycled, reused in a most ethical, environmentally possible way and friendly manner.

One may wonder what happens to their old windscreens after replacing it and the answer is it can be recycled with all other glasses and produce different glass products that are used at home and in offices.

To minimise the number of windscreens that end up in landfills or scatted in all corners of Francistown and the surrounding villages, Mr Ronnie Topane (38) who hails from Serowe, says he has always had the ambition to repair damaged car windows and windscreens to perfect, spotless and immaculate condition.

Mr Topane told BOPA that he started working with glasses in 2016 at Auto windscreen, where he acquired experience and the passion to work with glasses. 

Having acquired experience and eager to become his own boss, he resigned and started collecting old and cracked windows from scrap yards and started his business. 

He used his last salary to buy equipment and other accessories. 

It was in March this year during the lockdown that he decided to go solo and start business, hence he requested for a space outside 4 X 4 Service Centre, which the management of the service centre granted to him and allowed him to keep his material inside the yard when he knocked off.

He said in a productive day, he can have up to five customers and can make up to more than P3 000, which he uses to pay rent, support his family. 

Mr Topane is currently working alone and his loyal customers are those who could not afford to buy new windows or glasses.

To the youth, Mr Topane said they should not sit on their laurels, but create employment for themselves because government had availed financial institutions that could help them. 

Although there are challenges while working with windscreens, Mr Topane said his customers were happy about his service.

One of the challenges he faced, he said, was shortage of material and chemicals as he was self-funding.  Ends