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The NSG Group and University of Cambridge are collaborating on ground-breaking new glass applications , while using the latest technology to realise the future of manufacturing .
» THE GROUP , WHICH OWNS Pilkington United Kingdom Limited , is currently working with the University ’ s Fluids in Advanced Manufacturing team ( FIAM ) to establish a way of printing conductive materials onto wide areas of curved glass surfaces .
Currently , conductive materials can only be effectively printed onto flat glass surfaces . If successful , this innovation is set to enable the printing of metallic nano inks at high precision across curved glass , introducing new applications for glass in automotive and architectural sectors by increasing the potential functionality of glazing . New uses include helping detect pollution , incorporating heating elements or as digital signage .
The research aims to see the conductive materials applied to curved glass surfaces , such as car windscreens , using inkjet printing technology at the final stage of the manufacturing process . This process will help make high tech curved glass more cost effective to manufacture , while helping it to be increasingly customisable for customers – boosting its marketability .
For the first phase of the research , the partners are using virtual reality to model and design a laboratory that uses robotic technology to print the conductive materials onto curved glass surfaces . Using robots , printing the nano inks will be done with high precision and speed , while accounting for the curvature of the glass .
Dr Su Varma , R & D incubator academic programme director at the NSG Group European Technical Centre , said : “ This is an exciting project that has the potential to extend the boundaries of glass ’ use in car manufacturing and building design .
“ It allows high-tech applications of glass to not be limited to flat surfaces , expanding opportunities for architects , while revolutionising the role that glass can play in vehicles .
“ The project is our latest initiative working by the side of the University of Cambridge , a relationship that extends past the inauguration of the institution ’ s Pilkington prize in 1994 , which recognises outstanding contributions made by academics and researchers to the University .”
Dr Ronan Daly , head of FIAM and senior lecturer at the University of Cambridge , said : “ Smart technology applied to glass has the potential to perform a number of important tasks - from identifying the presence of bacteria on a hospital window to performing as a touchscreen display , for example .”
“ Conductive materials can already be printed onto flat surfaces , and alongside the NSG Group we ’ re now overcoming the physical challenge of completing this for curved applications – this opens up new opportunities for designers to use glass technology to solve their modern design challenges .”
The pair are also co-funding a PhD student , James Macdonald , who is based at NSG Group ’ s European Technical Centre in Lancashire and at the Institute for Manufacturing , University of Cambridge , for researching new ways of patterning and printing on glass . Dr . Cristina Rodriguez- Rivero from the Institute for Manufacturing is leading the printing-to-shape research .
NSG Group , the parent company of Pilkington glass in the UK is a global company with Architectural , Automotive and Technical
glass divisions . In the UK it manufactures a wide range of float , coated , rolled , laminated , fire-resistant and toughened glass products as well as its own range of high-performance insulating glass units . Glass is distributed direct to customers , either as stock or as bespoke processed products to meet their needs , either direct from St Helens or through its network of branches countrywide . The company is highly focused on quality and service , continually improving to deliver the benefits of the NSG Group ’ s technical ability and innovation to the end user .
Today , NSG Group has manufacturing operations around the world and sales in over 100 countries . In the fiscal year ending 31 March 2020 , the Group reported revenue of JPY 556.2 billion ( approximately euro 4.60 billion ). Of this , 38 per cent was generated in Europe , 28 per cent in Asia including Japan and 27 per cent in Americas .
pilkington . com / en-GB / uk
CLEARVIEW-UK . COM » DEC 2020 » 49