October 2012
| Business World Magazine | 15
N
OVUS Glass is the company that invented windshield
repair. For over 40 years, they have been an industry
leader in research and development and have led the
world in fully guaranteed automotive glass service.
The origins of NOVUS can be traced back to the early 70s,
when Dr. FrankWerner founded Origin, Inc – a testing laboratory
and commercial-physical research company. After replacing three
windshields due to small breaks caused by his local Wyoming ter-
rain, Werner set his mind on finding a way to fix windshields with-
out having to dispose of them entirely. His determination – com-
bined with help from chemical engineer Bill Wiele – led to the
discovery of windshield repair. In 1972, Werner partnered with
Gerald Keinath. The pair acquired the patent rights to windshield
repair, and strategically designed a business plan that would bring
it to the general market for the first time. The company was found-
ed as Keinath Incorporated, located in the basement of Keinath’s
home. Soon after, it was redubbed NOVUS – the Latin word for
“
new” or “innovative” – and in 1985, NOVUS Glass became a
full-fledged franchise company.
