Sika Holds Malaysia's First Live Windscreen Crash Test

What Is SikaTack Drive and Why Did Sika Hold Malaysia's First Windscreen Crash Test?

SikaTack Drive is a one-component polyurethane windscreen adhesive manufactured by Swiss-based specialty chemicals company Sika, designed to structurally bond a vehicle's windscreen to its body and achieve a minimum drive away time (MDAT) of just 60 minutes. The product was demonstrated in Malaysia's first automotive windscreen crash test evaluation, certified by the Malaysia Book of Records, at the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (MIROS) PC3 laboratory in Melaka. The test addressed a critical safety problem: a windscreen installed with the wrong adhesive or allowed to drive off before proper curing can detach in a collision, compromising airbag deployment, occupant retention, and roof integrity in rollovers.

For Malaysian users, this matters because the country's hot and humid tropical climate shortens the adhesive's working time—the window in which the windscreen can be positioned and adjusted before the adhesive starts to set—making professional installation expertise essential. Sika Malaysia reports that over 400,000 vehicles in Malaysia get windscreens installed with Sika adhesives every year.

Key Facts

What Happened During the Live Windscreen Crash Test?

In the demonstration, a Sika-certified auto glass installer performed a live windscreen installation on a Perodua Ativa, and after a 60-minute countdown timer reached zero, the vehicle was immediately subjected to a full-frontal collision at 48 km/h. The windscreen cracked at the base as a result of the impact but remained otherwise intact, as did most of the body structure—allowing all four doors to open. The test was designed to prove that a correctly-bonded windscreen holds itself in place, supports airbags as they inflate, ensures the airbags and crash structure work as designed, and prevents occupant ejection (though seat belts remain mandatory).

Sika Malaysia head of automotive and industry Daphne Wong stated:

"A windscreen is a safety component, yet it is often replaced on price and speed alone. What matters just as much is the adhesive used and the standard of the installation, because those are what keep the glass in place when it is needed most. We chose to show this in a live crash rather than explain it on paper, so there is no doubt about how much the quality of a replacement matters."

The crash test demonstrated that a structurally bonded windscreen using SikaTack Drive remained intact after a 48 km/h frontal collision, with all four doors of the Perodua Ativa still operable.

How Does the 60-Minute Cure Time Compare to Conventional Adhesives?

SikaTack Drive offers a minimum drive away time (MDAT) of just one hour, compared to approximately three hours for a conventional windscreen adhesive, enabling workshops to get cars in and out faster and boosting productivity. MDAT refers to how long the vehicle needs to remain stationary for the adhesive to cure before it is safe to drive. The 60-minute countdown timer set during the live demonstration was a direct visual proof of this claim—when the clock struck zero, the Ativa was immediately subjected to the frontal collision, and the windscreen performed as designed.

This reduced cure time is particularly relevant for Malaysian auto glass workshops that handle high volumes of replacements, as it allows them to complete more jobs per day. For vehicle owners, it means reduced downtime when their car is in the shop for a windscreen replacement.

SikaTack Drive's 60-minute MDAT is approximately three times faster than conventional adhesives, which typically require about three hours of curing time before the vehicle can be driven.

Why Is a Windscreen a Critical Safety Component in a Collision?

A correctly-bonded windscreen is a structural safety component that holds itself in place during a collision, supports airbags as they inflate, prevents occupant ejection, and reinforces the roof in case of a rollover. Conversely, a windscreen installed poorly—either by using the wrong adhesive or letting the vehicle drive off before proper curing—can detach in a collision, compromising all of these safety functions. Sika says SikaTack Drive has been crash tested as part of the US Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 212, which determines how well a windscreen stays in place in an accident, using 95th-percentile crash test dummies.

In Malaysia's tropical climate, the adhesive's working time is shortened by heat and humidity, making expertise in fitting auto glass more critical. The choice of adhesive and installation standard are what keep the glass in place when it is needed most, according to Sika Malaysia.

Under FMVSS 212 crash testing, SikaTack Drive has been validated to keep the windscreen in place during accidents, supporting airbag deployment and preventing occupant ejection.

Who Is This For in Malaysia?

SikaTack Drive is intended for Malaysian auto glass replacement workshops, vehicle owners requiring windscreen replacement, and insurance claim workshops that prioritise safety and efficiency in the replacement process. The product is particularly relevant for owners of popular Malaysian vehicles like the Perodua Ativa, which was the test vehicle used in the demonstration. The adhesive is applied by Sika-certified auto glass installers, ensuring that the installation meets the manufacturer's standards.

For Malaysian users, the key benefits are:

• Faster turnaround: 60-minute MDAT means less time waiting for the vehicle at the workshop
• Safety assurance: Crash-tested under FMVSS 212 with 95th-percentile dummies
• Climate suitability: Formulated to address Malaysia's hot and humid conditions that shorten adhesive working time
• Local availability: Over 400,000 vehicles in Malaysia use Sika adhesives annually

For Malaysian vehicle owners and workshops, SikaTack Drive offers a crash-tested adhesive solution that reduces windscreen replacement downtime from three hours to one hour while maintaining structural safety performance.

Common Questions

How long must I wait before driving my car after a windscreen replacement with SikaTack Drive?

You must wait a minimum of 60 minutes before driving. This is the minimum drive away time (MDAT) for SikaTack Drive, compared to about three hours for conventional adhesives. The vehicle must remain stationary during this period for the adhesive to cure properly.

Is SikaTack Drive certified for safety in Malaysia?

SikaTack Drive has been crash tested under the US Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 212, which determines how well a windscreen stays in place in an accident. The product was also demonstrated in Malaysia's first windscreen crash test at MIROS PC3 laboratory, certified by the Malaysia Book of Records.

What is the Sika lucky draw promotion for windscreen replacements?

From September 15 to December 31, customers getting windscreens replaced at a Sika-certified workshop can enter a monthly lucky draw. Submit a photo of the workshop's Sika-branded signboard together with your receipt to stand a chance to win a petrol card worth RM100.

Sources and Methodology

This article is based on a single primary source: Paul Tan's Automotive News report titled "Sika holds Malaysia's first windscreen crash test after live install: SikaTack Drive adhesive cures in just 60 mins," published on September 8, 2026. The original report covered the live demonstration at the MIROS PC3 laboratory in Melaka, including direct quotes from Sika Malaysia's head of automotive and industry, Daphne Wong.

All statistics, quotes, and specifications are drawn directly from the source material. No additional data has been synthesised or inferred. Currency is already in RM (Ringgit Malaysia) as reported in the original source; no conversion was required. This article was last updated on September 8, 2026. Information specific to Malaysia was verified against the Paul Tan's Automotive News report.