{"id":3695,"date":"2019-01-11T18:00:36","date_gmt":"2019-01-11T16:00:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.charleroi-metropole.be\/?p=3695"},"modified":"2019-01-28T18:56:11","modified_gmt":"2019-01-28T16:56:11","slug":"how-agc-transforms-glass-into-a-technological-gem","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/charleroi-metropole.be\/en\/decouvrir\/how-agc-transforms-glass-into-a-technological-gem\/","title":{"rendered":"How AGC transforms glass into a technological gem"},"content":{"rendered":"

AGC, Charleroi, Fleurus, Lodelinsart, Seneffe<\/h2>\n

Imagining a glass light conductor, heating or bulletproof… some of the many challenges that launched the\u00a0Technovation Center of AGC Glass Europe<\/a>, based at the Biopark de Gosselies. There, 270 researchers are inventing the high-tech glass of tomorrow.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\u2018I\u2019m working on micro-particles that are fixed to glass. \u00a0They can\u2019t be seen by the naked eye but have extraordinary qualities\u2019<\/em>, explains Nicolas Rivolta, research engineer for AGC, specialising in the manufacture of plate glass.<\/p>\n

\u2018For example, this enables, better thermal insulation both for cold and heat, or better visibility. \u00a0I\u2019m simply thinking of shop windows: these particles enable you to see through the window without seeing your own reflection,<\/em>\u2019 he adds.<\/p>\n

\"AGC-technologie-verre-demande\"
One of the latest technologies that AGC has brought to market is glass which turns opaque upon request<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Technological windows for increased well-being<\/h2>\n

Le verre plat est un mat\u00e9riau tr\u00e8s demand\u00e9 dans l\u2019architecture d\u2019aujourd\u2019hui. L’enjeu est donc de le fabriquer en fonction des contraintes environnementales et contextuelles. Le verre, appr\u00e9ci\u00e9 pour sa principale fonction de paroi transparente, est travaill\u00e9 pour am\u00e9liorer ses propri\u00e9t\u00e9s. Pour cela, AGC y posera des couches de mol\u00e9cules d’oxydes m\u00e9talliques.<\/p>\n

Today, plate glass is a much sought-after material in architecture. The challenge is therefore to make it according to environmental and contextual constraints. Glass, appreciated for its main function of being a transparent wall, is worked on to improve its features. To do this, AGC will fix layers of metal oxide molecules to it.<\/p>\n

\u2018We have been marketing variable transmission glass for a while. It turns opaque upon request or automatically. \u00a0We will be able to see this innovation at the Tour & Taxis<\/a>\u00a0ferry terminal\u2019<\/em>, explains Beno\u00eet Ligot, corporate communication manager.<\/p>\n

Glass is becoming a high-tech material thanks to its new features<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

These layers are also incorporated into car windows or different buildings. \u2018This glass provides solar protection, is durable and has a much appreciated aesthetic finish\u2019<\/em>, he says.<\/p>\n

The idea behind working on this glass is to improve the well-being and comfort of its users.<\/p>\n

\"AGC-innovation-panneaux-solaires\"
AGC creates innovations in glass by incorporating solar cells directly in the glass, for example<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Light and heat glass conductor<\/h2>\n

\u2018We are also innovating on other levels. \u00a0We have built a glass light conductor or heat generator by incorporating solar cells\u2019<\/em>, continues Nicolas Rivolta. He says: \u00a0\u2018So, the glass is not only a wall of a building but also a generator of energy, heat and electricity\u2019<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Improved glass that then generates energy<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Nanotechnology enables the glass to diffuse the light via LEDs. \u2018This glass panel is in high demand in communication\u2019<\/em>, he says pointing at a display panel. The metal oxide layer will act as a conductor through the wall and will be connected to an electrical source.<\/p>\n

Reflective plate glass<\/h2>\n

\u2018I\u2019m currently working on the features of the opaque glass designed for the biggest telescope in the world, in Chile. \u00a0AGC is looking to design a machine which manufactures reflective glass, a sort of mirror which is resistant to light and desert environments\u2019<\/em>, explains Nicolas Rivolta.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m developing specific mirrors which will be in the biggest telescope in the world<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

This project was ordered by the European Southern Observatory. It will be installed at an altitude of 3,000 metres. It includes a mirror with a diameter of 19 metres which AGC will also produce. It should be ready in 2024 and will be more powerful than all of the current large ground telescopes put together.<\/p>\n

\"Ingenieur-AGC-biopark-Charleroi\"
270 engineers are designing the glass of tomorrow in the AGC research centre in the Biopark de Charleroi<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A Charleroi M\u00e9tropole flagship company<\/h2>\n

The company AGC is well established in Greater Charleroi. It has several factories in Fleurus, Seneffe and Lodelinsart. Investment in a research and innovation centre for AGC Glass Europe in the Biopark in Gosselies is a strategic choice. It enables the manufacture of new glass features in the nearby factories.<\/p>\n

270 people of various nationalities work on-site. These include researchers, engineers, postgraduates in physics or chemistry, but also technicians to implement the various tests.<\/p>\n

Glass is therefore still a sector of the future. High-tech, it is constantly developing. There is still a lot of potential to explore in this regard.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Contact :<\/strong>
\nAGC Technovation Centre
\nRue Louis Bl\u00e9riot 12
\n6041 Charleroi
\n+32 (0)2 409 12 73
\nwww.AGC-glass.eu<\/a><\/p>\n

\u00a9Vid\u00e9o\/Reed & Antoine Gualandi<\/small><\/p>\n

****<\/p>\n

\u00a0Sweet Corner, Nicolas\u2019 favourite for desserts<\/h2>\n

Nicolas Rivolta, from Charleroi M\u00e9tropole, enjoys walking around the city before or after work. \u00a0 \u00a0He often goes to Sweet Corner<\/a>, a tearoom selling sweet and savoury tarts which opened on rue Dampremy in Charleroi 1 year ago. \u2018The peanut tart is especially good\u2019<\/em>, he says.<\/p>\n

Sweet Corner sells 12 sweet tarts and 9 savoury ones to eat in or take away, in slices or as whole tarts. \u00a0There are also cupcakes, macaroons, eclairs, etc.\u2019 We have also started offering breakfast and dinner set menus\u2019<\/em>, explains the manager. More and more Charleroi M\u00e9tropole residents are attracted to the set menu.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

AGC, Charleroi, Fleurus, Lodelinsart, Seneffe Imagining a glass light conductor, heating or bulletproof… some of the many challenges that launched the\u00a0Technovation Center of AGC Glass Europe, based at the Biopark de Gosselies. There, 270 researchers are inventing the high-tech glass of tomorrow. \u2018I\u2019m working on micro-particles that are fixed to glass. \u00a0They can\u2019t be seen […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":27,"featured_media":1671,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[172],"tags":[270,271,272,52,55,154,160,51,56,127,119],"class_list":["post-3695","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-economic-dynamism","tag-autres-en-9","tag-autres-en-10","tag-autres-en-11","tag-construction","tag-energie","tag-energy","tag-glass","tag-international","tag-science","tag-sustainable","tag-technology"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/charleroi-metropole.be\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3695"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/charleroi-metropole.be\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/charleroi-metropole.be\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/charleroi-metropole.be\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/27"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/charleroi-metropole.be\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3695"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/charleroi-metropole.be\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3695\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/charleroi-metropole.be\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1671"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/charleroi-metropole.be\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3695"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/charleroi-metropole.be\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3695"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/charleroi-metropole.be\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3695"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}