Project description
A novel silica nanocomposite revolutionises the things that can be done with glass
Glass is a timeless material with varied properties fundamental to many high-tech applications. However, the technologies to shape it are outdated, preventing the production of the complex structures needed. The German SME Glassomer has developed a silica nanocomposite of the same name that revolutionises the ways glass can be processed. The material is compatible with everything from injection moulding and additive manufacturing to classical subtractive processes like drilling and milling, all at room temperature and with significantly lower energy consumption and emissions than other glass manufacturing technologies. The EU-funded Glassomer project is helping the company take its product to market for waiting customers.
Objective
Glass is a material with unique properties: unmatched optical transparency, heat, pressure, and chemical resistance, outstanding biocompatibility to name but a few. This makes glass the best material for a vast range of key applications, such as optics & photonics for data transfer, smartphone lenses, and Lab-on-a-Chip. However, glass processing techniques are centuries old, and prevent the production of complex structures required in key applications.
Glassomer GmbH has developed the disruptive Glassomer® Technology, which revolutionizes the use of glass by allowing an almost limitless freedom of design. The unique, patent-pending technology allows structuring of glasses at temperatures below 130 °C, which enables the creation of tiny, complex glass components required in current and future key applications such as in (fiber) optics. The entire production can be done with machines used for polymers (e.g. injection molders), at the same low cost and high production volumes, but with 100% recyclability, 80% less energy consumption and resulting CO2 emissions. This opens up vast current and future markets, as proven by the first orders from companies such as Zeiss, BASF, Heinz Glass, Chanel, AAC for the smartphone market and Molex, a leading global fiber connector vendor. Glassomer has generated major interest with several investors, and has secured two Letters of Intent (LOIs) for impending investments. Glassomer has also won several prestigious awards and secured major interest in world-renown media.
An award-winning team, world-class advisory board and major companies already as customers are our recipe for successful growth. We have a “100-100-10” Three-Phase Development Plan to grow into a €100 million annual revenue, 100 employee company in 10 years, creating a European center of excellence on “future glass” to ensure Europe’s competitiveness in essential applications.
Fields of science
Keywords
Programme(s)
Funding Scheme
SME-2 - SME instrument phase 2Coordinator
79110 Freiburg Im Breisgau
Germany
The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.