Discover who we are

DK Prototyping for Automotive Glass is an innovative company that is active in various areas. All processes required to create a car window from flat glass are executed in-house. These windows are always fitted with the extra features demanded in the car industry of today and tomorrow, such as heating, antennas, the option for Head-up Display and more.

We work for different kinds of clients. We make prototype windows (for tests and presentations), windows for concept cars (for car shows) and windows for vintage and classic cars that are no longer available from the car parts market. We also support suppliers by processing flat glass for small production runs and we work with the R&D divisions of various companies to test car glass applications.

Team Cad/Cam

This team is responsible for converting 3D CAD drawings to designs for templates and programming machines to cut, grind and print flat glass. Designing measurement setups is also part of their job. Ook het ontwerpen van meetopstellingen valt binnen het takenpakket.

Team Toolmaking

This team produces all of the moulds necessary for bending windows. They achieve this through ‘old school’ welding or 3D milling. Milling measurement setups and the maintenance of our machines is also part of their job.

Team Flat Glass Processing

This team cuts, grinds and drills holes into flat glass. It manages a stock of approximately 200 tons of glass and has 2 CNC cutting lathes, 3 CNC grinders and a water jet for more complex shapes. All processes are two-dimensional. Furthermore, the department has its own water treatment plant.

Team Screen Printing

This team takes care of all the steps necessary to apply a ceramic layer to glass: from applying the photosensitive emulsion and exposing the screen printing frame to printing and cleaning.

Printing glass is very important for the design of a car, but a functionality can also be added. These can include the lines of a rear window heater or a car alarm element that is printed on glass with special conductive paint, for example.

Team Bending and Laminating

This team has 17 glass bending ovens to get glass in the desired shape. The windows are put together with synthetic material, creating safety glass.

Laminating is done in a climatised and dust-free room, after which the window goes through an autoclave process. Various techniques can be added to the laminate, such as radio antenna, heating, infrared absorption or reflection.

Team Heat Treatment

Tension is added to the flat and bent glass in a balanced way in the heat treatment center. Not only does this make the glass six times stronger, but in case of breakage, the window will fragment. Fragmentation in case of window breakage prevents injury and therefore falls into the category of safety glass, just like laminated glass. The heat treatment center currently has four hardening ovens.

Team Measurement and Quality

All of the produced windows are checked by this team. They can also perform tests regarding geometry (fit), light transmission, weather simulation, internal tension, electrical resistance of coating, Lab colour values and light reflection.

Mission and Vision

Mission
SHAPING THE FUTURE

At DK Prototyping for Automotive Glass we support the automotive industry in realizing, testing and presenting cars of the future. We do this by developing exclusive car windows that our clients use for their prototypes and concept cars. The techniques we use are leading and developed by ourselves. This way our clients can fulfill their pioneering role.

Vision
BEND GLASS YOUR WAY

At DK Prototyping for Automotive Glass, we strive to become the global benchmark for innovation in automotive glass prototyping. Through targeted and clear communication with our clients, we produce the car windows they need and, if possible, we even exceed their expectations. Through continuous development and improvement of our production processes and techniques, we support our clients in their innovative ambitions and sustainability goals.

History

DK Prototyping for Automotive Glass started as a window reparation company in 1990. After two years Bart Driehuis took over the company from his stepfather T. Kreek and continued the family business. He started manufacturing flat glass in addition to repairing windows because of the growing competition. This proved to be a successful step. The demand for bent windows rose soon afterwards. The first bending oven was bought in 1996.

When an employee of a sun roof producer had the front window of his old-timer reproduced, we were asked whether we could make roof panels. This was a completely different process, because not only did these panels have to be bent, but they also had to be hardened. Bart thought about how to deal with this for a while. A new oven needed to be designed and built to this end. Bart agreed with the sun roof producer that DK would execute four projects in order to finance the investments that were necessary to start this.

DK started hardening 3D bent windows in 1998. The first project was such a big success that the same roof panel client asked us to produce the remaining side and back windows of the car as well in 2001. This marked the introduction of DK as a supplier in the automotive industry.

In the years that followed, the automotive industry’s demands continued to increase. DK had to keep investing in the design of new machines and working methods. For example, in 2009 it became possible to make the full 3D shape of a window within the applicable tolerances of series production. Since 2010, we have been able to incorporate wires in PVB that have an antenna and a heating function. A revolutions-bend system method was developed in 2012. This method ensures that the quality of layered glass is so high that a combination with head-up display is possible. We altered some of our ovens in 2013, allowing us to bend IR reflecting glass as well. We are currently perfecting the production process of coated glass with soft coating, so that we can process it and remove the coating from the spots chosen by the customer. Our production capacity will also be expanded further.

We also see this development reflected in our workforce. We have grown from 4 people in 2008 to a medium-sized organization at this time.