News for the automotive glass and insurance industries. News Automotive Glass Automotive Repair Auto Insurance Collision Repair http://www.glassbytes.com/ en-us 2007 glassBYTEs http://www.glassbytes.com/images/gb_rss.gif http://www.glassbytes.com/ The way in which consumers contact their insurance companies has seen a major shift in recent years, according to the latest Auto Insurance Claims Satisfaction Study conducted by J.D. Power and associates. The study reports that several agency-based carriers are now encouraging customers to contact a call center rather than their agent to file a claim. http://www.glassbytes.com/newsCallCenters20120202.html http://www.glassbytes.com/newsCallCenters20120202.html Thu, 2 Feb 2012 17:00:00 EDT Eastman Chemical Co. officials consider the recent acquisition of Solutia Inc. of St. Louis, an important step in Eastman's strategy to extend its global presence in emerging markets, in particular in Asia Pacific, says Tracy Broadwater, corporate communications manager of Eastman. "By leveraging infrastructure in the region, Eastman expects to have a compound annual growth rate in Asia Pacific approaching 10 percent for the next several years," she says. http://www.glassbytes.com/newsEastman20120202.html http://www.glassbytes.com/newsEastman20120202.html Thu, 2 Feb 2012 17:00:00 EDT The NSG Group, which announced several executive appointments yesterday and a reorganization of its business units, today announced plans to improve its overall profitability in fiscal-year (FY) 2012. The plans include the "mothballing of one of the group's float lines in the United Kingdom," along with a global reduction of 3,500 employees. http://www.glassbytes.com/newsNSG20120202.html http://www.glassbytes.com/newsNSG20120202.html Thu, 2 Feb 2012 17:00:00 EDT Owners of small and independent auto glass repair shops appear to have a case for modest state intervention to maintain fairness within their industry here in Michigan. http://www.glassbytes.com/fetch.php?url=http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120202/OPINION01/202020338/1008/OPINION01/Editorial-Let-auto-insurers-compete-repair-choice http://www.glassbytes.com/fetch.php?url=http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120202/OPINION01/202020338/1008/OPINION01/Editorial-Let-auto-insurers-compete-repair-choice Thu, 2 Feb 2012 17:00:00 EDT The 2012 Mini Cooper S coupe is a tiny vehicle designed for the tiny group of people for whom the Mini Cooper was not already small, impractical and expensive enough. The windshield and rear window are steeply angled. The B-pillars create challenging rear blind spots. http://www.glassbytes.com/fetch.php?url=http://www.freep.com/article/20120202/COL14/202020379/Mini-Cooper-S-coupe-isn-t-cute-enough-to-justify-its-price-Tiny-bauble http://www.glassbytes.com/fetch.php?url=http://www.freep.com/article/20120202/COL14/202020379/Mini-Cooper-S-coupe-isn-t-cute-enough-to-justify-its-price-Tiny-bauble Thu, 2 Feb 2012 17:00:00 EDT