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Chennai, Dec. 1 Leading glass maker Saint-Gobain Glass India is planning to introduce a range of value-added products with new patented technologies such as bio-cleaning and aqua-cleaning. These products will have properties that will help glass attract lesser dirt and grime and also self-clean.

These glasses are basically meant for varied external applications and can be used in all environments and are particularly effective in heavily polluted areas. Besides, these glasses also offer clear vision even when it is raining, explained Mr B. Santhanam, Managing Director, Saint-Gobain Glass India.

The company has started market seeding for these products and would, depending on the demand generated thus, will invest in a separate platform at its Chennai facility to roll out these products.

Talking at a press conference to announce the 6th edition of International Glass Technology Trade Fair, Zak Glass Technology India - 2008, he said there is a great demand for such value-added products, particularly solar-control glass, in both the domestic market and international market. ‘Solar glass’ keeps out much of the heat and lets in the light, reducing the load on air-conditioners in the building.

Once the Government makes Energy Conservation Building Codes mandatory, the demand for these value-added products will go up, he said. The Bureau of Energy Efficiency has developed a draft energy conservation building code. The purpose of this code is to provide minimum requirements for the energy-efficient design and construction of buildings. Though today the application of code is voluntary, it is expected to be made mandatory for commercial buildings in future.

Saint-Gobain, with a range of products in this category, will leverage the emerging opportunities to derive substantial benefit from the likely demand. “We have decided to shift our focus from producing plain glass to these energy-efficient solar technology glasses. Even our commercials will talk about this,” Mr Santhanam said.

The three-day Glass Technology expo, scheduled to be held at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi, will begin on December 5. Over 100 national and international companies will be participating at the show, said Mr Syed ZakirAhmed, Chairman and Managing Director of Zak Trade Fairs.

More Stories on : New Products & Services | Glass

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