Saint-Gobain Sekurit and Corning Incorporated are establishing an exclusive joint venture, equally owned by Saint-Gobain and Corning, to develop, manufacture and sell lightweight automotive glazing solutions. The venture is expected to build manufacturing facilities to meet worldwide automotive market demand, according to the companies’ statement.
“Laminated windows made with ultra-thin Corning Gorilla Glass for Automotive and Sekurit’s automotive glass and window technologies offer a significantly improved combination of lightness, toughness and optical quality over traditional solutions,” according to the companies’ joint release.
These glazing solutions can “significantly reduce vehicle weight,” which will improve fuel efficiency, environmental impact and vehicle handling. The glazing can also assist in improving Heads-Up Display (HUD) images, according to the companies.
“By combining the know-how of Saint-Gobain, a world leader in developing and processing automotive glass, with Corning’s innovative Corning Gorilla Glass technology, the joint venture will provide the opportunity to create a major innovation in one of Saint-Gobain’s historical businesses,” says Houchan Shoeibi, president of Saint-Gobain Sekurit.
“We are excited to collaborate with a world leader in automotive glass, Saint-Gobain, to accelerate adoption of thin, lightweight, durable and optically-advantaged auto glazing,” says Martin J. Curran, Corning’s executive vice president and innovation officer. “Today’s announcement further demonstrates Corning’s ability to leverage its glass fusion manufacturing expertise and auto industry experience to extend Gorilla Glass into the automotive glass market.”
This agreement is subject to the approval of the relevant competition authorities.
