Sika Recalls Small Batch of SikaTitan P2G
May 3, 2013

by Jenna Reed, jreed@glass.com

Sika Corp. has issued a limited recall for its SikaTitan P2G auto glass bonding adhesives, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

"This recall involves a limited quantity of SikaTitan P2G product code 408804 packaged on October 6, 2012 and sold to eight customers for use in the installation of aftermarket auto glass," writes Steve Rosenburg, senior vice president of Sika research and development, in a letter to NHTSA.

"This recall involves 1,152 'unipacs,' i.e., one pallet of 864 unipacs and a partial pallet of 288 unipacs out of a total of nine full pallets and one partial pallet of unipacs packaged on October 6, 2012, as lot number 3000409314 and identified on the label by lot number 3000409314, expiration date: 6, July 2013, product code 408804, and a time stamp of between 2:45 a.m. and 2:46 a.m. recording the time of manufacture," he continues.

Company officials believe the defect impacts at most approximately 60 unipacs.

"Out of an abundance of caution, Sika is recalling one entire pallet of 864 unipacs and a partial pallet of 288 unipacs (for a total of 1,152 unipacs) believed to include these contaminated unipacs," Rosenburg writes.

"As a result of a production anomaly, a limited quantity of product was contaminated during the packaging process," according to the letter. "As a consequence, the product may not sufficiently cure or harden, thereby creating a risk that the glass may not be fully secured to the vehicle. If this condition is undetected, the glass may be displaced or fall out unexpectedly, causing injury to vehicle occupants, property damage or a vehicle crash."

The letter says that on or about December 19, 2012, an auto glass shop reported that the product "appeared thin and did not display good decking qualities."

"The auto glass shop was told not to use any more product from this case," Rosenburg explains in the NHSTA letter. "No windshield was installed with the material. Based upon this customer report, Sika checked production retain sample product, but did not identify any problems with the material."

A sample was received from the auto glass shop and was tested as well, with no issues found, according to the Sika official.

"On or about January 29, 2013, Sika was notified by a second customer whose auto glass shop customer reported that an application of SikaTitan P2G appeared to be of poor quality," Rosenburg says in the letter to NHTSA. "The glass shop had performed two other installations using the product from the same case as the apparent poor quality product. Sika advised the auto glass shop not to use any additional material from the suspect case, and as a precaution, advised the glass shop to reinstall the windshields on the two vehicles."

The two windshields were reinstalled, Rosenburg reports.

"Sika collected samples of the SikaTitan P2G from the customer, which were sent to its Madison Heights, Mich., facility for evaluation. The samples were then sent to Sika's Lyndhurt, N.J., facility for further testing between March 14 and March 25, 2013," the senior vice president writes.

"On March 26, 2013, Sika completed its evaluation of the samples and determined that they were contaminated and that, as a result of the contamination, the material may not cure properly when applied during installation," the letter says.
Rosenburg says the company has "implemented new quality control and production procedures to prevent similar contamination from occurring in the future."

Auto glass companies are asked to isolate the affected inventory, if in stock, and contact Sika at 248/577-1042 or 248/577-1036. The company will provide a replacement product free of charge.

"We ask that you support this recall by performing inspections of affected customer vehicles and, where necessary, [reinstall the glass]," writes John King, vice president of aftermarket at Sika, in a letter to company customers.

"Sika will train your employees in the inspection process," he continues. "We will reimburse you $25 for each documented vehicle inspection related to the recall and we will reimburse you at your ordinary shop rates for labor and materials for documented reinstallations determined to be necessary through the inspection process."

In response to the recall, Sika officials also issued a statement: "In an abundance of caution, we are recalling 1.5 pallets of product (including material produced before and after the impacted product). As such, it is possible that up to 1,500 vehicles could have been impacted.

"We have instituted new policies to expand our existing quality control process and assure that this issue cannot occur again in the future," the statement continues.

This story is an original story by AGRR™ magazine/glassBYTEs.com™. Subscribe to AGRR™ Magazine.
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