The
Bombay Sapphire Prize: Glass Bridge Wins Major Design Award
Designer Thomas Heatherwick was announced on September 26th as the £15,000
winner of The Bombay Sapphire Prize for excellence and innovation in glass
design for his spectacular Glass Bridge.
The Prize-winning design (pictured right) - Glass Bridge - is a seven
metre bridge to be set over water and has been commissioned by Chelsfield
for Paddington Basin in London.
The Thomas Heatherwick Studio had worked alongside engineer Anthony Hunt
since 1995 researching into the feasibility of building a bridge made
only in glass, using advanced adhesives but no other supporting material,
fixings or cables.
The
deck of the bridge contains pieces of water-cut glass, set on edge and
laminated together to form the arch of the bridge. Handrails are made
of sheets of annealed glass.The bridge is lit from within by lights set
inside each end of the span transmitting light along the length of the
bridge.
One of the judges - international designer Tom Dixon - commented on the
winning design, 'The Glass Bridge is simply an outstanding example of
design innovation both in terms of its structure and the technical use
of glass. It is also rare in public art for something as daring as this
to be commissioned. It's great that Heatherwick has won this award - I
can't wait to see it built.'
Award winners in the categories of Glass in Art and Glass in Design were
Chiho Hitomi for Rings (pictured right) - a hanging sculpture made from
chains of very fine lead crystal rings - and Tord Boontje for his Dragonfly
and Bird vessels, The Wednesday Collection and Wall Flowers. Both received
awards of £2,500.
Click here for full story and more pictures
(including the rather interesting 'Double Ended Glass Dildo by glamorous
glass artiste Shiri Zinn from South Africa!).
Local
Architects Shine in RIBA Small Projects Prize
The
five winners of this year's Downland Prize for Architects, announced on
1st October, include a glass cube which overhangs a cliff (pictured);
a house inspired by the shape of a snail; and a museum for classic cars.
Run by RIBA South East and sponsored by lbstock Brick Ltd, the Downland
Prize is awarded to architects who are based in the South or South East
of England for small projects (under £500,000 total cost).
The winners are:
Overall winner: Harry Groucott + Michael Ford, Miller Hughes Associates
Ltd, Chichester: Woodpeckers, Amberley - cliff-hanging extension to conventional
bungalow. Click here for details and more
pictures.
Commended: Neill Beasley, The Genesis Design Studio, Romsey: CDT/ICT block,
Stanbridge Earls School, Romsey - timber-framed open-plan workshop and
classroom for children with special needs
Commended: Rupert Cook, architecture plb, Winchester: The Barn, Drayton
St Leonard, Wallingford - headquarters of the Aston Martin Owners' Club
in Grade II* building formerly used for seaweed extraction.
Commended: Andrew Dyke, Cresswell, Cuttle + Dyke, St Peter Port: L'Escargot,
Forest - new-build house with free-form spiral plan. Click here
for details (pictures to follow).
Commended: Richard Johnson, Oliver Cunningham, Rodney Graham, Design Engine,
Winchester: House in Worthy Lane, Winchester - extension of Victorian
town house for couple working at home with family.
The winning entries and shortlisted projects - 21 in all, out of 78 entries
- could be seen at the Downland Prize exhibition in Gallery 2, RIBA, 66
Portland Place, London W1 from 1 to 5 October.
The judges, comprising architects and representatives of lbstock Brick
noted the high quality use of materials and craftsmanship coupled with
particularly innovative thinking. Bob Rathmill, Chairman of the judges
of the Downland Prize and Chairman of RlBA South East, said: 'People sometimes
forget that locally-based architects design buildings which have as much
'wow factor' as the major, well-known projects. Many of the architects
who live and work in our local towns and villages are doing exciting,
pleasing work.'
The Downland Prize for Architects has been awarded annually since 1998
to a Chartered Architect based in the areas covered by RlBA South or RlBA
South East whose nominated building is considered to best demonstrate
the value of using the skills of an architect in the design and execution
of a low cost project.
Tel: 01892 515 878
Email: mailti:info@ribasoutheast.org
Web: http://www.architecture.com
Glassex
on Target to Continue Success for 2003
The organisers of Glassex, the showcase for the UK window, door and conservatory
industry, are reporting excellent stand sales to all sectors of the market
for the next event, which will take place from 23rd to 26th March 2003
inclusive in Halls 17, 18 and 19 of the NEC, Birmingham. Six months ahead
of the event, over 75% of exhibition space has been allocated to 125 exhibitors.
This corresponds with the same period last year in the build up for the
2002 Glassex, which was widely regarded by exhibitors as one of the most
successful ever.
A number of familiar names have returned for 2003, together with a line
up of new exhibitors bringing services and products that have never been
seen at Glassex previously. Rehau, HW, Eurocell and Selecta are amongst
the PVCu systems suppliers taking part, with big brands from the hardware
sector Avocet, Mila, Winlock, Laird, Reth and Winkhaus already ensuring
a strong representation. In line with the market, there will be a large
number of exhibitors showing conservatory systems and conservatory related
products and services.
A key reason for most visitors to attend any exhibition - to find new
products and suppliers - should be satisfied at Glassex 2003. During the
summer months alone around a dozen brand new names signed contracts to
appear at Glassex, including aluminium extruders, machinery suppliers,
access safety specialists and conservatory equipment distributors. Of
key interest is that a third of these new exhibitors are from overseas.
Many of the popular visitor initiatives introduced for 2002 - which drew
7% more visitors over the previous year - will be repeated for 2003. The
New Products Zone was declared by visitors to be the most popular promotion,
ensuring its repeat next March. A full seminar programme, presented by
top speakers on the key glass and glazing industry topics of the day,
will also be one of the features to return.
Following the principle that business can indeed be mixed with pleasure,
there are also plans to inject fun into the event; although details have
yet to be revealed the organisers hint that it will be 'in keeping with
this year's promotional theme' for which advertisements bear the slogan
'Can Glassex Deliver? You Can Bet On It!'
Chris Keller, Event Director for Glassex is very confident that the success
of 2002 will be repeated:
'Glassex 2002 was incredibly successful with exhibitors and visitors alike
- there was a tremendous buzz about the place and we will be doing everything
to ensure this will happen again. Of course we can't see into the future
but the feel for next year's Glassex is the same, if not even more enthusiastic.'
Tel: 0208 277 5000
Email: mailto:nikki.lazenby@emap.com
Web: http://www.glassex.com
Solaglas
acquires Windowcare
On
7th October 2002 Solaglas (part of the worldwide Saint-Gobain Group) announced
the success of its bid to acquire 100% of the share capital of Windowcare
UK.
Both companies operate national 24-hour door and window replacement or
repair services for households and businesses, mainly on a partnership
basis through insurance companies and insurance service providers.
The Solaglas Replacement Glazing ('SRG') division specialises in the emergency
replacement of glass, locks and garage doors, whilst Windowcare, a privately
owned business based in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, has particular expertise
in the repair of PVC, aluminium and timber frames.
The combination of these specialist skills across the two organisations
will enable the merged business to provide complete service and coverage
across the UK for insurance companies, insurance service providers and
facilities management businesses - all of whom need emergency replacement
or repair of windows and doors.
The merged business will employ over 300 staff, with a fleet of field
engineers covering the whole of the UK 24 hours a day. Current Windowcare
owners Mel Thompson and Ian Davy will be staying on as Chief Executive
and Managing Director respectively.
Mel Thompson said, 'There are obvious synergies between Windowcare and
Solaglas - Solaglas specialising in glass, and Windowcare in frame repair.
This move will allow us to offer a complete national service to insurance
companies, who are demanding increasingly high levels of service from
their suppliers. The backing of the Saint-Gobain Group will ensure that
we have the investment needed to meet their exacting standards in terms
of both speed of service and quality. Our aim is to create the best business
in this sector of the market.'
Contact:
Nadine Matthews at Solaglas on 024 7654 7540
Alan Martin at Windowcare on 07900 820878
Pilkington
Planar™ Supplied for the Winter Garden, New York
A towering wall of Pilkington Planar™, supplied by Pilkington Architectural
to its American customer, W & W Glass Systems Inc, was the first step
in the rebirth of the 11th September attack site in New York, central
to the reconstruction of the stunning Winter Garden structure.
The
18m high by 34m wide wall forms the new façade of the Winter Garden,
the celebrated glass dome, designed as the centrepiece of the World Financial
Centre. Its original façade of Canadian granite and the bridge
that linked it to the World Trade Centre across West Street, were both
destroyed in the terrorist attack that brought down the twin towers. The
new glazed façade is seen as the most critical element in the £34
million renovation.
The wall of double-glazed Pilkington Planar™ uses panels of 12mm
Pilkington Optiwhite™ with 6mm Pilkington K Glass™ and 15mm
Pilkington Optifloat™ Clear with 14mm laminated Pilkington K Glass™,
backed by 19mm Pilkington Optifloat™ Clear fins.
Architects, Cesar Pelli and Associates, who also designed the original
award-winning building, wanted the façade to 'create a sense of
opening and entry, space and light'. The Winter Garden was, and is now
again, the largest public space at the World Financial Centre. It was
created as a grand glass public hall with a huge bay window giving views
across the Hudson River. With walls lined with shops and restaurants and
regularly the setting for music, dance and theatre events, the Winter
Garden became the key meeting place for both the World Financial Centre
and World Trade Centre occupants.
With the twin towers now gone, the four much smaller glass and granite
towers of the World Financial Centre and the Winter Garden itself, are
now visible from Broadway. Mr Pelli said that he hoped the new façade
would 'help make the area desirable for other enterprises and businesses
and help lead the return of pedestrians' in a place once dominated by
monumental structures.
Both Pilkington Architectural and W & W Glass Systems Inc were proud
to have been part of the regeneration of the World Trade Centre and World
Financial Centre sites and look forward to seeing the whole area completed.
Tel: 01744 692000
Email: mailto:contact@pilkington.com
Web: http://www.pilkington.com
Cost
Control and Strategic Acquisitions Highlight Alcoa Third Quarter
On October 4th Alcoa reported earnings for the 2002 third quarter of $216
million, or 26 cents per diluted share, excluding a special after-tax
charge of $23 million, or three cents per share, principally related to
the previously announced curtailment of production in the company's primary
smelting operations. lncluding the special charge, net income was $193
million, or 23 cents per share, compared with net income of $232 million,
or 27 cents per share, in the second quarter of 2002.
'Despite lower aluminum prices and idle capacity, our alumina and primary
metals businesses performed well. These upstream businesses partially
offset continued weakness in the aerospace, industrial gas turbine and
telecommunicatians markets. We are looking beyond the challenging global
economy, and are focused on managing those things that are in our control,'
said Chairman and CEO Alain Belda.
'ln the short term, our restructuring activities and deployment of the
Alcoa Business System (ABS) are helping to lessen the impact of continuing
weak economic conditions. In the long term, they will position us to capture
opportunities and efficiencies as conditions improve.'
The three-month LME price for primary aluminium fell two cents a pound,
or 3.5%, from the second quarter of 2002. Compared with the third quarter
of 2001, the LME three-month average price declined three cents a pound,
or 5.3%.
At the end of the 2002 third quarter, Alcoa had achieved $560 million
in annualised cost savings and remains confident it will achieve its $1.0
billion 2003 goal. The run rate at the end of the third quarter was $140
million, compared with $123 million in the prior quarter.
In this quarter, Alcoa continued its strategic growth initiative on several
fronts: completed purchase of Ivex Packaging, a specialty packaging company;
announced acquisition of Fairchild Fasteners, a high-tech aerospace supplier;
and increased its stake in Elkem to 46.2%. Ivex's operations are being
integrated and its contribution to Alcoa's margins will begin in the fourth
quarter. The company has already achieved $8 million of the anticipated
$75 million in annual cost synergies as it integrates Ivex. These savings
are in addition to the $1.0 billion 2003 cost savings goal.
Alcoa has approximately 438,000 metric tons (mt) of aluminum production
idled on a base capacity of 3,948,000 mtpy.
Glazing
Media Luncheon in France 2002
The 10th annual Glazing Media Luncheon in France took place on 30th September
this year, so if you were unable to reach your favourite editor that day,
you now know the reason why!
(Left) Cliff Rankin getting to grips with his
(female) guests; Right: Your humble publisher and other scribes.
Organised
by glazing industry PR specialists Austen Harlow Flitter and hosted as
usual by Mister Glass himself, Clifford Rankin, this year's lunch was
also for the first time attended by representatives of the GGF as well
as Emap, organisers of Glassex, together with industry special guests
Steve and Karen Byers of Ritec International.
Held in the classically styled Grand Salon of the Hotel Meurice in Calais,
a recent choice of venue that has proved very popular with media guests,
the lunch was a gourmet's delight and thoroughly enjoyed by all.
CGI
International goes Coast to Coast in the USA
Supplier
of fire resistant glass, CGI International Ltd, based in Merseyside, England,
began a Coast to Coast promotion of its Pyroguard range of clear and patterned
non-wired fire glasses in September at the Glass Expo West Exhibition
in Long Beach, California, USA.
A new purpose-built exhibition stand was used for the first time and showed
Pyroguard Clear non- wired glass as well as the new Pyroguard Designer
range including Master and Satin.
Gratten Williams, CGII’s Sales Manager for North America commented,
'Pyroguard is unique to the North American market as it is the only 20
minute rated non-wired fire glass that can be stocked and cut locally,
solving many of the problems seen previously with shipping across such
large geographical areas.
'As Pyroguard is now distributed nationally across the country, it can
be supplied from stock to suit the most urgent of requirements.
'Promoting coast to coast is the natural way to do this, as the product
is available where and when you need it.'
The programme continues with an exhibition on the East Coast on 1st and
2nd November at the Glass Show being held in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
In addition, Pyroguard and CGII’s comprehensive range of fire glasses
can be seen at the Glasstec 2002 Exhibition in Dusseldorf, Germany from
28th October to 1st November 2002.
Tel: + 44 (0) 207 960 6060
Email: mailto:info@cgii.co.uk
Web: http://www.cgii.co.uk
K2
Goes East
K2 Conservatory Roof Systems played host to six Vietnamese businessmen,
as part of a Trade Delegation programme organised by the British Embassy
based in Vietnam.
The
programme was arranged by the Embassy in attempt to determine the feasibility
of developing business opportunities within the extrusion industry in
Vietnam. Two companies were involved on the programme, for their machinery
and knowledge of in-house extrusion, lamination and moulding facilities.
Austrian based, downstream equipment suppliers Technoplast, were the first
company to welcome the Vietnamese delegates and take them on a tour of
their facilities, then it was across the channel to the North West of
England where K2 Conservatory Roof Systems awaited their arrival.
K2 has gained a reputation within the manufacturing industry for its in-house
extrusion, lamination and injection moulding expertise, and has recently
invested several million with Techniplast on state-of-the-art computer
controlled extrusion equipment and tooling.
The visit to K2's manufacturing premises enabled the delegates to experience
Techniplast's machinery in operation. K2's production manager, Keith Halliwell,
commented: 'It has been an honour for K2 to be involved in such a prestigious
programme run by the British Embassy.
'As a company committed to innovation and expertise, it has been a pleasure
for us to offer advice on innovative solutions which will add value to
the development of business opportunities in the Far East.'
Tel: 01204 554554
Email: enquiry@k2conservatories.com
Alcoa
Initiates Tender Offer for 3.5 Million Elkem Shares
Alcoa announced on October 2nd that it has initiated a cash tender offer
for 3.5 million shares in Elkem at 175 Norwegian kroner per share. Alcoa,
which currently owns 46.3% of Elkem's outstanding shares, will buy the
shares on a 'first come, first served' basis. To protect smaller shareholders,
Alcoa will also accept all tenders from holders of 1000 shares or less.
'We believe that Elkem is a solid long-term investment, and we would like
to be in a position to set the company's future direction,' said Alain
Belda, Chairman and CEO of Alcoa.
The tender offer formally opened on October 3, 2002 at 10:00 a.m. and
will close on October 15, 2002 at 4:00 p.m. (Oslo time.)
The offer document will be available as follows:
- Distributed to all Elkem shareholders registered in the VPS share registry
as of October 2, 2002 by mail.
- On the web-site of ABG Sundal Collier at http://www.abgsc.com;
and
- By phone from ABG Sundal Collier at +47 22 01 59 94.
Payment will be settled after the close of the tender offer.
Elkem, through its 50/50 partnership with Alcoa, is the second largest
producer of aluminum in Norway. Elkem Aluminium has a primary production
capacity of 210,000 metric tons per year. Elkem is also the world's largest
supplier of silicon metal.
Alcoa has a nearly 40-year history of operating in Norway through joint
ventures with Elkem. Together, Elkem and Alcoa own and operate aluminum
plants in Lista and Mosjoen, and have made significant commitments to
modernising both facilities. Alcoa also invested NOK 500 million ($56
million) in the state-of-the-art Scandinavian Casting Center in Lista,
Norway to produce structural components for cars.
'Slow
Recovery' in Building and Construction
BAU 2003, which takes place from 13 to 18 January 2003 at the New Munich
Trade Fair Centre, could mark the start of a slow recovery in the European
construction sector, 'Next year things look set to trend upwards again,
but the rate of expansion will remain flat' - this is the conclusion of
the latest industry report (June 2002) by Euroconstruct, a cooperation
of European research institutes with special expertise in the construction
sector.
Construction Output Set to Rise to Over 990 Billion Euros
The experts expect a 'moderate expansion' in construction activity in
Europe in 2004. The construction output in the Euroconstruct partner countries
(15 in Western Europe and four in Central and Eastern Europe) should then
rise to over 990 billion euros. For 2001, the Euroconstruct scientists
identified a figure of 955 billion euros for construction output, which
is equivalent to 'stagnation at a high level'. However, the bottom of
the cycle 'has now been reached, and we are through to the other side,'
says the report of the 53rd Euroconstruct conference which was held in
June 2002 in Dublin. While construction output in Euroconstruct countries
in 2002 is likely to rise by only 0.5 %, the experts predict 1.5% growth
in 2003.
Above-average Growth in Central and Eastern Europe
In the period covered by the report - from 2001 to 2004 - real growth
in construction output in Europe is put at 38 billion euros. But activity
varies considerably between the19 partner countries. While growth in the
four Central and Eastern European states (Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland,
Slovak Republic - which together make up only four percent of construction
output in Europe) is 'above-average', the percentage growth in Western
Europe is only half that figure. Nevertheless the absolute growth in Western
Europe is 35 billion euros, and only three billion euros in the Central
and Eastern European countries, despite their faster growth rates.
Heterogeneous Picture in the 'Big 5'
Among the 'Big 5', too, (France, Germany, Great Britain, ltaly and Spain),
which account for over 70% of building services in Europe, the picture
is very diverse. After a year of mergers and acquisitions (2003), Germany
will not make a considerable turnaround until 2004 (+1.7%), while Spain
(+4%), Great Britain (+2.8%) and ltaly (+2.2%) are predicted to show clear
signs of growth in 2002. However, in these countries the growth curve
will flatten out again in 2003 and 2004. Italy, Spain, Great Britain and
also France, will still account for the major part of the rise in European
construction output in the reporting period, followed by Hungary, Sweden
and the Czech Republic.
Slow Recovery in new Residential Construction not until 2004
The Euroconstruct report for the period under review comes to the following
conclusion about the different subsectors of the construction industry:
'While renovation and maintenance (R & M) work will continue to expand
in all subsectors, and thereby have a stabilising effect on the economic
cycle in the industry, there will be considerable shortfalls in new builds,
particularly in the field of residential construction.' The biggest subsector
in the construction industry is still residential, which accounts for
a proportion of 45.5% of total European construction output. Following
the almost two percent fall in residential construction output in Europe
in 2001, the Euroconstruct experts predict that 'a boom in new residential
construction is not in sight' for 2002 and the years thereafter. The reason
lies in the serious downturn in the new-build market which has brought
in part considerable losses in almost all European countries. Euroconstruct
forecasts that it will not be until 2004 that there will be a 'slow recovery'
in new residential construction.
Tel: +49 89 9 492 0630
Email: mailto:info@bau-muenchen.de
Web: http://www.bau-muenchen.de
Marketing
Rethink at BPF Group
The newly constituted Marketing Committee of the BPF's Windows Group met
industry promotional issues head-on when it held its inaugural session
in late August.
Building
on the Group's recent successes in attracting new members, mounting Group
stands at 'Glassex' and 'Interbuild', and developing an industry consensus
on waste management, the Group is determined to project its achievements
to the windows industry at large.
Committee Chairman, Peter Hayes of Heywood Williams, said that 'a key
decision was taken to move forward with a web-site. This will be the home
page of the UK plastics windows industry and offers tremendous potential
to members in creating a cost effective marketing platform.' Hayes is
keen for the Committee to develop new membership benefits for Group members:
'The site will provide a blue chip data base for customers. They will
know which companies they can trust for a high quality and reliable service.
'The industry has been dogged by campaigns of misinformation levelled
against PVCu materials by competing industries. The web-site will provide
customers with a reference 'Bible' of key things they need to know about
plastics materials and their use in windows, so that myths can be rapidly
dispelled before they take root.'
'The good thing about the creation of a web-site is that it will raise
many issues about the scope of the Group, how it involves the different
manufacturing and using sectors as well as how it is visually presented.
We will be discussing all these matters with the Group's Management Committee
when it next meets in October.'
Alongside Peter Hayes, other Members of the Committee are Adam Firbank
of Anglian, Chris Edwards of EVC, John Ogilvie of Veka and Paul Jervis
of the BPF (see picture above). The Committee is co-ordinated by BPF Media
Relations Executive Sarah Kelly.
Contact: Sarah Kelly
Tel: 020 7457 5025
Email: mailto:skelly@bpf.co.uk
Web: http://www.bpf.co.uk
Castle
will be King of the High Security Resi Door
Mila Hardware is being used in the construction of a new door aimed at
the public sector and housing associations.
Manufactured by Mila customer Castle Doors Ltd, the new residential door
was recently launched to acclaim thanks to the glazing method that is
used in its construction. Referred to by Castle Doors as the 'pocket glazing'
method, 22mm sealed glass is 'slid' into place from the top of the door
rather than using the traditional method of cassette glazing. In this
way the glass cannot be pushed out, making the door more secure.
The door incorporates a 3 piece Mila 4900 high security lock, Mila Sidewinder
adjustable door hinges and special door. Castle Doors Ltd holds a UKAS
PAS 024 pass certificate for the door.
The door also has a special foam core that is fire resistant, achieving
a 30-minute fire rating during tests conducted at the Warrington Fire
Test Centre. In the unfortunate event that the door should be exposed
to a naked flame, the company claims that the foam core will not give
off noxious fumes. Guaranteed for 10 years, Castle Doors have been tested
to PAS 023 standard for weatherability and have also been performance
tested for high heat resistance, noise reduction and scratch resistance.
Available in four styles and six different colours, Castle Doors offer
a low-maintenance solution, requiring only a wipe-down with a cloth and
mild detergent to retain their appearance. The door claims not to fade,
abnormally expand, contract or change shape with the weather and has an
acrylic capped thermoplastic skin Sleeved letterplates complying with
BS2911: 1980 are fitted as standard, whilst 180 viewers and knockers
in gold anodised finish may also be fitted.
Castle Doors are supplied made to measure and ready to fit and the company
can offershort delivery times to suit project flexibility.
Tel: 01327 872511
Email: mailto:sales@mila.co.uk
Web: http://www.mila.co.uk
Schott
Produces 250 Millionth Television Glass Component
On September 25 Schott, European manufacturer of screens and funnels for
cathode ray tubes, celebrated a very special event in its manufacturing
history. The 250 millionth piece of television glass came off the production
line at its main plant in Mainz: it was a large format, fully flat screen
measuring 76 centimeters across the diagonal. If all the television glass
components manufactured to date were placed end to end they would go around
the earth four times.
Television star and television glass
The official celebrations were attended by customers and competitors from
all over the world. Together with Schott employees from the television
glass sector they welcomed television star Mario Adorf who appeared as
a surprise guest. The actor’s international career and the development
of television glass at Schott in the last five decades were the subject
of a panel discussion chaired by Gundula Gause (ZDF) and also including
Schott management board members Dr. Leopold von Heimendahl and Dr. Udo
Ungeheuer. 'Television glass is an important business for the Schott Group
and, employing 1000 people, also one of the loadbearing pillars of our
activities at our main plant in Mainz', said Chairman of the Board of
Management Dr. von Heimendahl. On the question of future prospects Dr.
Ungeheuer, who is the member of the Schott management board responsible
for television glass, explained: 'The classic television tube will continue
to expand its position in the market in the long term because of its good
price-performance ratio, although new display technologies are attempting
to penetrate the television segment.'
Television glass pioneer
Schott’s television glass success story started in 1936. At the Olympic
Games in Berlin receivers set up in the television booths for direct transmissions
from the games were equipped with mouthblown glass components supplied
by the company which was still based in Jena at that time. In this way
Schott has ensured itself a firm place in the development story of the
medium from the very beginning. In 1953 production of screens and funnels
began at the new factory in Mainz, by hand at first and on a fully automated
basis from 1955 onwards. With the introduction of colour television in
Germany in 1967 glass suitable for colour television was also manufactured.
The 80s and 90s were marked by the development of the 16:9 format, bigger
and bigger types and flatter screens and funnels. The product range today
covers 50 different designs of both screens and funnels. Every day up
to 60,000 television glass components come off Schott’s production
lines in Mainz and the Czech Republic.
The television tube is a cathode ray tube (or CRT for short), a vacuum-tight
glass bulb equipped with electronics. It was originally called a Braun
tube after its inventor the German physicist Karl Ferdinand Braun and
the term is still used sometimes today in Germany. In the early days of
television the glass bulbs were still blown in one piece on a glassmaker’s
blowing iron. In the mid 1950s television glass manufacture was automated.
Since that time screens and funnels have been machine-pressed and then
welded together by the picture tube manufacturer using solder glass.
Tel: + 49 (0) 61 31/66-40 99
Email: mailto:juergen.breier@schott.com
Web: http://www.schottglass.co.uk