Glass technology live 2008

What are the benefits of triple glazing in modern office buildings? An exclusive preview of the future of glass technology and its use in architecture will be provided by the Special Show glass technology live presented as part of the international trade fair glasstec from 21 to 25 October 2008 in Düsseldorf.At this early stage over 30 renowned architects’ offices, companies and research institutes have already confirmed their participation at this spectacular Special Show and more are to follow suit. They will be showcasing the latest product developments, manufacturing processes and technologies and exhibiting current research results and forward-looking architectural projects in the areas of glass and solar technology. The spectrum ranges from visionary studies to concrete solutions ready for mass-production. The Special Show was initiated and will be implemented by Stefan Behling, Professor at the Institute of Building Construction and Design, Chair 2, of the Stuttgart University.



Topical: glass and energy

The focal theme of this year’s glass technology live will be “Glass and Energy”, subdivided into the four exhibition areas “Photovoltaics”, “Solar-Thermal Systems”, “Thermal and Solar Protection” as well as “Light and Transparency”. Climate efficiency and environmental protection are topics ranking high on the global agenda. The demand for innovative solutions is therefore correspondingly high. Thanks to its unique combination of function and design glass offers tremendous potential as a construction material. The Special Show glass technology live therefore offers architects, façade producers and engineers, in particular, a whole host of ideas and practical assistance for their projects. By way of examples the exhibition will demonstrate possible applications for innovative glass products in energy-efficient and integrated façades and building skins. The “Lehrter Bahnhof” station realised by architects Gerkan, Marg & Partner and the Monument to the Victims of M11 in Madrid, planned by the Spanish architect FAM and the engineering office Schlaich Bergermann & Partner, are just two of the highlights of the extensive exhibition programme.



Accompanying symposium – lectures and discussions on latest developments

Held in parallel with the Special Show will be a high-calibre technical symposium with lectures and presentations by researchers and practitioners. Each day of the trade fair will address another focal issue. The series of lectures will be kicked off under the title “Glass for Energy-Saving and Generating Applications”. The following days will see a variety of talks held under such headings as “Current Architectural Projects”, “Active-Solar Building Skins”, “Thermal and Solar Protection” and “Saving Energy with Glass”. The Berlin architects’ office Armand Grüntuch will present a current building project, Saint Gobain will lecture on glass wool insulation materials and the Window Engineering Institute (ift) will provide information on new applications for triple glazing. Solar thermal applications also play a key role. Schott Solar will deliver a talk on “Solar Façades and Building Integrated Solar Roofs – Pre-Report on Trends, Status Quo and Perspectives for the Solar Industry”. Furthermore, there will be an entire session of papers describing manufacturing technologies for thin-film modules.



Architects’ Congress on Façade Technology

Another highlight at glasstec will be the International Architects’ Congress held on 24 October 2008. This event launched at glasstec in 2006 will be organised in cooperation with the Architects’ Chamber North Rhine-Westphalia and TU Delft. Approximately 500 architects attended in 2006 using this opportunity to visit glasstec at the same time. The title of this year’s event is “Transparency! Glass and Façade Technology”. Household names in architecture, engineering, planning and façade construction such as Wilkinson Eyre Architects – London and Intersolar – Stuttgart / Yale, to name but a few, will inform delegates on the latest development in the areas of design, construction, research and climate design.



On glasstec – No. 1 trade fair for the global glass sector

Be it glass manufacturers, glass machinery producers or the glazier trades – glasstec is the only international trade fair presenting the entire glass value chain with all its facets. For its 20th event in October 2008 approximately 1,250 companies, associations and research institutes from over 40 countries are expected. During the latest glasstec in 2006 more than 56,000 trade visitors from all over the world travelled to the Düsseldorf Exhibition Centre to gather information on high-tech highlights in the industry.