Case Studies

PGT Industries Reduces Consumption and Labor Time While Improving Finishes by Switching to Master STAGES™ Task2™ GC Glass Cleaner

Windows and doors manufacturer PGT Industries struggled with a glass cleaner that failed to effectively remove silicone and left a hazy, streaky finish. After a successful 30-day trial, Master STAGES™ Task2™ GC delivered a superior solution—removing silicone in one piece, eliminating haze and smudges, reducing cleaner consumption, and significantly improving cycle time.

THE CHALLENGE

PGT Industries, a company manufacturing custom made impact-resistant windows and doors, was looking at ways to improve the finish on the glass of their products. During production, a two-part silicone is applied to adhere the windows to the framework which needs to be removed before completion. However, the detergent they were using struggled to remove this silicone in one piece without using excess detergent as well as hazardous chemicals to successfully remove it. What’s more, the detergent was leaving the glass with a milky haze and streaks of residue, creating a time-consuming challenge for the team, who had to spend significant effort removing these imperfections before delivering the final product to customer.

THE SOLUTION

In search of a new cleaner that could efficiently remove silicone from glass while reducing consumption and leaving a streak-free finish, PGT Industries was recommended Master STAGES Task2 GC, a glass cleaner from Master Fluid Solutions^®. Task2 GC is an industrial-strength, water-based cleaning agent specifically designed to remove manufacturing residues from glass surfaces. Free from butyl, caustics, silicates, phosphates, nitrites, phenols, and borates, it also features low VOC content and conductivity.

A key requirement for PGT’s manufacturing process was a cleaner that would be safe for aluminum and vinyl frameworks while also eliminating the need for hazardous chemicals like IPA alcohol and Solvite SC-59—making Task2 GC the ideal solution. Additionally, Task2 GC is environmentally friendly and certified as "readily biodegradable" under OECD Method 301D.

THE RESULTS

After a 30-day trial, PGT Industries was impressed by the results—using Master STAGES Task2 GC removed all the haze and smudges from the glass with ease, and significantly less cleaner was needed to do the job. The product was able to remove the silicone in one piece without applying excess detergent, and the cleaning rags used in the process could now be cleaned and reused. Using a far more efficient cleaner reduced the time needed to clean the glass, leading to a cycle time efficiency improvement of 30 seconds per unit, a significant saving considering 3,300 units are produced per day. This switch saved an impressive 27.5 labor hours daily. Unsurprisingly, when the 30-day trial of Task2 GC was completed, PGT Industries converted all production cleaner to Master STAGES Task2 GC.

THE NUMBERS

Cycle time efficiency improved by 30 seconds per unit
27.5 labor hours saved per day
A significant reduction in glass cleaner consumption

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