Glasstec 2008, International Trade Fair with Special Show glass technology live, will cover important topics: the main focus will be on energy-efficient glass products and applications, the latest finishing and processing technologies, solar energy products and innovations in the technical glazing sector.

The event will be held from October 21 – 25, 2008 at the fairgrounds in Düsseldorf, Germany. Energy-efficient construction technology is becoming increasingly significant in view of rising energy prices and climate protection. In this context the material glass is of great importance - as large-scale roof or facade glazing, selective window glass and also as a component in photovoltaic or solar thermal energy modules.

New glazing and applications
Leading glass manufacturers and finishers from all over the world such as Saint-Gobain, AGC, PPG, Trösch, Scheuten and Interpane will present their solutions for the future at glasstec 2008. Their product spectrum has once again increased: triple insulation glazing, which fulfils the highest heat insulation requirements, the latest generation of functional coatings for the hardening and bending of coated glazing and new switchable and light-directing glazing. In the sector of finished glazing for interior applications, new developments in silk-screen and digital printing as well as insert-lamination for the most diverse materials such as wood, metal, etc., offer attractive new design possibilities and variations. The increasing involvement of the glass industry in the worldwide growing sectors of solar energy and thin-glass technology will also be evident at glasstec 2008: internationally operating
companies such as Solarwatt AG, Schott and Schollglas will be in Düsseldorf with new solar energy modules, innovations in the area of thin-film technology and product highlights from the broad application area of thin glazing.

Highly efficient processing technologies
Highly specialized mechanical engineering and technology is needed for the manufacturing of a large spectrum of functional glazing. In addition to the world’s leading industrial glass mechanical engineering companies such as Bystronic, Grenzebach, Lisec, glaston and Hegla, numerous small and medium-sized manufacturers will also display their products at glasstec 2008. This year the focal point of the presentations will be on even more efficient lines for insulation glass production, laminated glass production, glass hardening and glass finishing. In order to offer users greater flexibility in their product design, an increasing number of mechanical engineers also prefer to use modular construction systems. Due to the worldwide boom in solar energy technology, quite a number of mechanical engineers have expanded their product range to include corresponding processing technologies.

Unique product diversity of the suppliers
The suppliers from all over the world are traditionally also strongly represented at glasstec. Sealing materials, silk-screen paints, films, nano coatings, fittings and tools –the trade fair visitor will find everything the market has to offer the glass industry in terms of forward-looking products. Global players such as Bohle along with several hundred small and medium-sized companies will present a wide range of new solutions aimed at further optimizing glass finishing and extending the spectrum of finishing technologies and glass applications. Bohle already announced the new, small micro-patterned cutting wheel for the mechanical cutting of wafer-thin TFT LSD and display glazing with excellent edge precision. “glass technology live” presents visions of the future glasstec 2008 will set new record-breaking figures in terms of exhibitor numbers, exhibition space and the diversity of the topic spectrum. The show organizers also placed great emphasis on presenting product and application diversity when they planned the ancillary program. The motto of the “glass technology live” special show and the supporting five-day trade symposium is “Glass and Energy”. The other topics on the agenda delivered by the top ranking speakers at the symposium include building-integrated solar energy systems, ultra-white and switchable glazing, vacuum glazing and thin-film solar energy module technology. More than 50 renowned architects’ offices, companies and research institutes have already confirmed their participation.

Architects’ Congress on facade technology
The use of state-of-the-art functional glazing will also be a central topic at the International Architects’ Congress on October 24. “Transparency! Glass and Facade Technology” is the motto of the event where the latest products, technologies, trends and research results will be presented.

For further information on visiting or exhibiting at glasstec 2008, contact Messe Düsseldorf North America, 150 North Michigan Avenue, Suite 2920, Chicago, IL 60601. Telephone: (312) 781- 5180; Fax: (312) 781-5188; E-mail: info@mdna.com. Or visit the web site http://www.mdna.com