Although many people believe glass is a heavy and more fragile substrate not suited for excessive use in car manufacturing, emerging trends have seen a huge increase in its application. Concepts have become more complex and designs now incorporate around 20 per cent more glass than they did 20 years ago.

With increased volumes, manufacturers have looked to considerably reduce the weight of windshields and windows to ensure there’s no impact on fuel efficiency through weight gain, whilst also increasing safety and security.

Typically, the reduced weight of glass now only represents three per cent of a vehicle’s mass. And when equipped with solar control glass, such as Pilkington Sundym™ or Pilkington Siglasol™, vehicles can save up to an additional four per cent on fuel by minimising solar heat entrance and the need for air conditioning.

Pilkington Automotive

Pilkington Automotive is one of a small number of automotive glass manufacturers with the technical capability and geographic presence to meet increased demand. Its advanced range glass products offers solar control glass for passenger comfort, glass heating systems to control condensation / icing as well as security glazing.



Ensuring that Pilkington and its range of Automotive glass products maintains at the forefront of innovation, the company has been collaborating with the RCA (Royal College of Art) Vehicle Design programme for the past 27 years through the annual Pilkington Vehicle Design Awards.

The RCA is the world’s leading vehicle design programme and every year Pilkington challenges students to create concepts that uniquely facilitate glazing in vehicles, rewarding their efforts in two main categories; ‘Best Use of Glazing’ and ‘Best Design Interpretation’.

For more information on the awards as well as details on this year’s winner, please follow the link the below. And for additional information on Pilkington Automotive, click here.

http://www.cardesignnews.com/site/home/display/store4/item302313/

http://formtrends.com/pilkington-announces-2014-award-winners#.U6gjgpRdWH0

http://cars.uk.msn.com/news/cars-of-the-future