Invisible Shield glass protection – where the science of protecting glass began!

A family legacy of innovation and success

Invisible Shield® Window Protection and Glass Repair has been a leader in glass and surface protection, window cleaning & glass coating technology for decades.  In the early 1970s, Howard Ohlhausen, the founder of Unelko, developed and improved glass coating technologies including the Original Rain-X® Automotive Glass Treatment to dramatically improved wet weather visibility on windshields, side and rear windows, mirrors, and lights for safer driving. Simultaneously, he also invented the Invisible Shield Glass Coating branded within the commercial glass and household category, to preserve & protect glass windows, facades, doors, shower enclosures, mirrors, partitions, balconies, solar panels, tile and more to protect them against excessive soiling & staining, weather, pollution, minerals, acid rain, scratching, pitting, etching, and other environmental degradation.

Howard Ohlhausen

“The adhesion and build-up of water insoluble soil and contaminants could only be prevented long term by durably sealing and protecting glass to make it water, soil and stain repellent, and resistant to degradation and ongoing corrosion.”

– Howard Ohlhausen, the founder of Unelko

About the Inventor
History of Rain-X / Glass Coating Technology

The family business continues today with Steven Ohlhausen, Howard’s son and his family, and the advancement of the Invisible Shield® PRO 15 brand, and other cleaning, stain removal and glass protection products.

A family gathering leads to a dynamic franchise opportunity.

Moving to the next phase of the family business, the Ohlhausens were discussing the success of Invisible Shield while having a weekly dinner as they often do.  The family began discussing several residential and commercial glass protection projects in which they guided clients through the training and application of their Invisible Shield Pro 15 Glass Coating on volume glass.  They trained cleaning contractors on protecting glass on the Willis Tower (formally Sears Tower) in Chicago, the prominent Apple Cube on 5th Avenue in New York, and several high-end homes along the Coast of Florida and in Southern California due to excessive salt spray & build-up.  It gave birth to the idea of franchising the sales & application of the Invisible Shield Glass Coating.  Their conversations led to formalizing the sales, application & training success using their products, and to bring the benefit of the Invisible Shield Glass Protection to the broader window cleaning and glass restoration markets.  After further discussion, the answer was clear – it was time to franchise!

The glass protection category has grown and hundreds of glass companies, glass fabricators, residential and commercial cleaning companies, and Architectural glass projects worldwide have benefited from the Invisible Shield Glass Protection.

Invisible Shield has been a proven leader in durable glass protection for decades

Notable glass companies world-wide including AGC, Saint Gobain, Guardian, Andersen Windows & Doors, Contractors Wardrobe, Arizona Shower Door, Coastal Industries, CR Laurence, Oldcastle & Trulite Glass, (some of the largest glass fabricators in U.S.) and many other companies have confirmed the coatings application, performance, and value.   Invisible Shield has protected countless glass on hotels such as Marriot/Hyatt, Hilton, Choice Hotels, MGM & Four Seasons, the U.S. Airforce, Boeing/Airbus, prominent and historic buildings like the Smithsonian Institute, Louvre Museum, Vanderbilt Estate, along with recognized theme parks including Disney,  Sea World, the Monterey Bay, Georgia & Chicago Aquariums to maintain the appearance of their glass and to resist soiling, staining, scratching, etching, fingerprints and other degradation.

Residential and commercial glass is easily stained, scratched, damaged and obscured

As most professionals know, Residential and Commercial Glass is easily stained, scratched, damaged, and obscured by improper cleaning, the environmental and exposure to weather, sand/grit, salt, pollution, acid rain, carbon emissions, minerals, cement, and aluminum run off and other corrosive elements.

It is widely held that 10% of all windows and facades fail even before they are installed.  Another 10% or more are scratched, etched, pitted, and fail because of exposure to soil, dust, debris during the long and difficult construction process, and within 15 years, a growing number of windows already need to be restored or replaced at exorbitant cost.  Protecting Glass with the Invisible Shield Glass Coating can prevent much of this damage, extending the life and appearance of glass.  Invisible Shield seals the microscopic pores of glass to block out stains.  Like an Insurance Policy for Your Glass!

The best glass products… not only better products

Having industry-leading products is a tremendous leg up in window cleaning and the glass restoration business, but it is only one piece of the puzzle. The Invisible Shield team hired franchise experts to guide them through a comprehensive sales & marketing plan, and an advanced glass coating application system, with suitable training and support materials.  They also worked on proprietary marketing initiatives to create immediate and long-term value and assure success for the product, its application, and the franchisee network.

Full steam ahead!

The family business launched its New, lower cost franchise model, that utilizes decades of experience in glass protection and stain removal using their quality products, and long-term relationships within the glass and window cleaning industries.  Invisible Shield is excited to offer a complete franchise model to window & cleaning contractors, glass restoration companies and other worthy entrepreneurs.

Invisible Shield® Protection

Unelko - Glass Illustration - Protected

Invisible Shield durably seals the microscopic pores of the surface to actively repel water, soil & stains for easy removal.

Water, Grime & Mineral Stains

Unelko - Glass Illustration - Unprotected

Water, soil and stains stick to an untreated surface requiring harsh chemicals and abrasives for removal.

Join the future of glass care by becoming an Invisible Shield Window Protection & Glass Repair Franchisee

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This website is not a franchise offering, nor is it directed to any person in any state. It is for information purposes only. An offering can only be made by a Franchise Disclosure Document, which must be registered in certain states. We will not sell a franchise unless our Franchise Disclosure Document has been delivered to the purchaser prior to the sale in compliance with state and federal law. We will not offer or sell a franchise unless the franchise offering is registered in the state where the purchaser resides or where the franchise will be located, if required by state law and no exemption applies. Registration in any state or province is not an endorsement by the state or province. The following states require registration or exemption of our franchise offering. Unless and until we have obtained the required registration or exemption in these states, we are not offering franchises to residents of, or for franchises to be placed in, these states: California, Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin. To find out about our current status in your state, please contact us.