IGD estimates that its new container system has the potential to save the auto glass industry $14.4 million annually compared to current packaging systems. The outcome of the IGD/Sandia CRADA could lead to the creation of more than 100 new jobs in the Albuquerque area. The CRADA was signed by Sandia vice president Paul Robinson and IGD president Dagoberto Ruiz. IGD is a small, minority-owned Albuquerque business.

 IGD vice president Diego Ruiz said he thinks the CRADA with Sandia could make the difference between bringing the container to market and leaving it undeveloped. "Without Sandia's technical expertise and the credibility it has given us in dealing with manufacturers, I'm not sure we could have proceeded with this process," Ruiz said.

 IGD was brought together with Sandia by Technology Ventures Corporation, the non-profit organization established by Lockheed Martin to move technology from the national laboratories to the commercial marketplace.

 "When Interstate Glass Distributors came to us, we recognized the potential for their concept right away," said TVC President Sherman McCorkle. "They had a great idea and Sandia had the technical resources to help make that idea a reality. Tom Hendricks on our staff knew Sandia's expertise in transportation systems would be a good fit for IGD's needs. Tom hooked up the Sandia people and the IGD people to work out the terms of the cooperative agreement.

" Working through the Small Business Initiative (SBI) under Sandia's Technology Transfer and Commercialization Center, IGD originally tapped the labs for short term technical assistance. The project's potential, however, led the partners to pursue a cooperative research and development agreement, which until recently has been more typical of big-business projects. SBI, by tailoring the agreement to small businesses' needs, is working to make lab resources more accessible to this vital sector of the U.S. economy.

"The partnership between Sandia and Interstate Glass Distributors is an ideal model of Sandia's regional economic development efforts," said Warren Siemens, director of Sandia's Technology Transfer and Commercialization Center. "The work directly contributes to our goals of local job creation and diversity."

Under the terms of the CRADA, Sandia will provide IGD with technical help in perfecting IGD's container design. A key IGD goal is to fabricate the container entirely from "co-mingled" plastic, a material composed of 100 percent recycled all-species plastics that require no special sorting. IGD says its containers will provide a better, more efficient and environmentally friendly way to transport windshields than do current shipping methods.

The agreement between Sandia and IGD taps on expertise Sandia has developed in designing transport systems for radioactive materials. Specifically, Sandia has developed considerable technical know-how in designing and analyzing containers resistant to impact and crash environments. This knowledge is directly relevant to IGD's needs in refining its innovative glass transport system.

Using its sophisticated software analytical tools, Sandia will work with the company to determine the structural design requirements necessary to withstand normal and rough handling conditions. Design recommendations will be based upon strength requirements, but will also take into account ergonomics, automated manipulation and other handling considerations. The product is designed to increase efficiency of windshield transportation and warehousing operations. It addresses industry concerns by reducing operating costs for suppliers, distributors, transporters and warehousers

 Based on industry data, IGD estimates that use of its containers could save glassmakers $5 million annually in breakage losses alone, and several million dollars more in costs associated with transportation, storage and waste disposal.

Several major windshield manufacturers have indicated serious interest in using IGD's container system. Based on industry interest expressed to date, IGD anticipates manufacturing 250,000 units in the first five years of production to fulfill the immediate industry needs of U.S. manufacturers.

IGD President Ruiz said he plans to manufacture the containers in Albuquerque, creating approximately 100 new jobs in the area. Sandia is a multiprogram Department of Energy laboratory, operated by a subsidiary of Lockheed Martin Corporation. With facilities located in Albuquerque, New Mexico and Livermore, California, Sandia has major R & D responsibilities in national defense, energy, environmental technologies and economic competitiveness.