New rooflight keeps campers happy
23 October 2007Automotive has developed an innovative panoramic roof for the award-winning Knaus Sun TI camper van.
Knaus is one of Germany's biggest RV manufacturers and the rooflight is the first ever to successfully combine a large sheet of glass with Plexiglas in what is effectively a double-glazed unit. The glass is produced in Laitila, Finland, with assembly in Wesel, in Germany."The original rooflight was laminated glass but this led to condensation problems inside the vehicle, for instance when people were cooking," said Wolfgang Erner, glazing system manager at the Witten Glazing Solutions Centre, which developed the unit.
"Knaus requested a different concept, which would not mist up, would still use glass to protect against stone impact whilst driving, but would not weigh any more than the original.
"The challenge for us was that glass and plastic have different expansion rates so we needed to come up with a suitable adhesive which was both strong and flexible enough to cope with the combination."
The huge window, which measures approx 1.75 x 0.9 m depending on the model, extends over the driver's compartment. "It gives an unbelievable feeling of light and airiness inside the vehicle," said Oliver Schmidt, Technical Marketing Manager, Bus and Coach. "It is like sitting in a sunroom.
"The market demand for such glass roofs is very high. It is a very prestigious project for the Group and the GSC and shows our expertise as Full-Service-Supplier."