AGC Glass Europe, the European division of Japanese glass manufacturer AGC, is investing in an upgrade of the magnetron coater at its plant in Lodelinsart, Belgium. The company announced the investment on its website.
AGC’s Lodelinsart plant produces silver-based coated glass and supplies it to markets around the world. The coater applies two types of coating to the glass: low-emissivity and solar-control coatings. The coatings are thin, almost invisible layers of metal and metal oxide. They improve the thermal insulation of the glass and protect interiors from solar radiation.
AGC has been developing glass for energy-efficient construction for many years. High-performance coated glass contributes to the energy efficiency of buildings. This reduces energy consumption and CO2 emissions.
The technology upgrade will expand the range of high-performance coatings available at the Lodelinsart plant. It will also increase production flexibility for complex and innovative coated insulating glass units (IGUs). The company plans to commission the upgraded line in the third quarter of this year.
“At AGC, we see glass not only as a sustainable material with a future, but also as a genuine tool capable of regulating heating, lighting and air conditioning. By investing in upgrading the coater technology in Lodelinsart, we are giving our local production of high-performance coated glass a new future,” says Davide Cappellino, President Architectural Glass Europe & Americas at AGC.
At its Lodelinsart plant, AGC also produces vacuum insulating glass for the architectural market.
Polish company Pilkington Polska previously announced a similar investment. It invested in a new architectural glass coating line.