Gentex, PPG Dimmable Aircraft Window Shade on Display at Boston's Institute of Contemporary Art

Date: 7 November 2007

As part of an exhibition titled Design Life Now: National Design Triennial, the general public can get an advance look at the innovative electronically dimmable passenger cabin window shades developed for the Boeing 787 Dreamliner by Gentex Corporation and PPG Industries' aerospace business.

A window with the innovative shade is on display at the Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston along with over 300 examples of design excellence from organizations like Pixar, NASA, Nike and Herman Miller. The exhibit was previously on display at the Smithsonian's Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum in New York City.

Zeeland, Michigan-based Gentex Corporation, the leading supplier of automatic-dimming rearview mirrors to the worldwide automotive industry, partnered with PPG Aerospace to develop and manufacture the window shades for the fuel-efficient and passenger-friendly Boeing 787 Dreamliner. PPG Aerospace has the contract to supply Boeing with the electronically dimmable window shades for their first commercial aviation application in the Boeing 787.

The electronically dimmable window shades will allow the passenger seat occupant to control the amount of light transmitted through the windows at five levels, including completely clear, completely darkened, and three intermediate levels.

"Being involved with PPG Aerospace and applying our technology to enhance passenger comfort on the Boeing 787 Dreamliner demonstrates a creative use of our core dimming technology and electronics expertise," said Fred Bauer, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Gentex Corporation. "And, being recognized for innovation and design excellence by the National Design Triennial is also immensely gratifying. As an organization, we are honored to be part of this exhibition."

The new aircraft windows, which are 60 percent larger than most other aircraft windows, are dimmable through shades that use electrochromic technology, which utilizes electricity to darken a conductive medium between two layers of glass. The window panels and control systems combine Gentex's patented electrochromic technology and expertise in electronics and microelectronics and PPG's expertise and capabilities in aerospace transparency design, development, manufacturing and support.