InnovationATC1
2021-03-09
The world around us is changing fast: smarter and greener cities, advanced connectivity and new models of mobility. The rising demand for smart cities and sustainable living is being supported by major advances in technology - and glass is playing its part.

AGC’s glass production processes now consume less energy than ever before thanks to the new technologies and benefits issuing from Industry 4.0. AGC glass itself has reached unprecedented levels of insulation and solar control performance, while constantly improving ways to connect people.

Sustainable buildings

Buildings account for around 40% of energy consumption and CO2 emissions, and AGC has been working on sustainable glass solutions for years. Vacuum insulating glass and smart-tinting glass are two of the energy-efficient solutions AGC has recently developed as part of its efforts to evolve towards comfortable zero carbon buildings.

Sustainable energy

Not only can glass control energy, but it can also play a role in generating electricity. Our active glass featuring embedded PV cells and our solar mirrors for solar farms are becoming increasingly efficient in order to meet the need for power generated from renewable energy sources.

Connectivity

Smart cities require full connectivity. De-coated glass that lets through more telecommunication signals and invisible antennas on windows can help build tomorrow’s connected cities.

Industry 4.0 

In line with Industry 4.0, AGC is evolving into an industry driven by big data. This use of data leads to significant reductions in the energy consumption of our processes and to mass customisation.

AGC’s dedicated team of research and development experts 

Our Technovation Centre is focused on improving glassmaking processes and developing new glass properties and products. With more than 300 people and 19 different nationalities working together in Gosselies, Belgium, the centre boasts expertise in different glass-related fields such as glass melting, surface treatment, electronics, antennas, engineering, and more. consumption of our processes and to mass customisation.

See Also

AGC leverages Low-Carbon Glass range to address customers’ sustainability concerns

AGC Glass Europe is constantly working to reduce the environmental impact of its production processes to ensure a sustainable future. AGC’s first Low-Carbon Glass range is a key milestone in AGC’s carbon neutrality roadmap. We are delighted to offer our customers a glass which, from the extraction of raw materials to final installation, generates around 40% less CO2 than our standard glass.

OverSized Glass sets out to conquer the market

Do you want 9 m, 12 m, 16 m or bigger? While glass was once confined to the traditional limit of 6 m x 3.21 m, today it is continuously beating old records in terms of length. There is very strong international demand from high-profile projects seeking to deliver sweeping, seamless panoramic views.

A Czech landmark showcasing Imagin patterned glass

The Tomáš Baťa Memorial, designed by prominent Zlín architect F. L. Gahura and built in 1933, is a high point of Zlín functionalism. Severely damaged during the bombing of Zlín in 1944, the Memorial was rebuilt and repurposed in 1954 as the House of Arts, a concert hall and gallery. Decades later, the project to renovate the Memorial and restore it to its original form began in 2016 and finally, in 2019, the Tomáš Baťa Memorial was reopened to the public. The interior features a model of the Junkers airplane in which Tomáš Baťa met his tragic end in 1932.