Glassomer – A Revolution in Glass Processing | Glassomer | Projet | Fiche descriptive | H2020 | CORDIS

Description du projet

Un nouveau nanocomposite de silice révolutionne les choses qui peuvent être faites avec du verre

Le verre est un matériau intemporel doté de différentes propriétés essentielles à de nombreuses applications de haute technologie. Les technologies utilisées pour le tailler sont toutefois dépassées et empêchent de produire les structures complexes requises. La PME allemande Glassomer a développé un nanocomposite de silice du même nom qui révolutionne le traitement du verre. Le matériau est compatible avec n’importe quel procédé, depuis le moulage par injection et la fabrication additive aux processus soustractifs classiques comme le perçage et le fraisage, le tout à température ambiante et en consommant bien moins d’énergie et en produisant moins d’émissions que les autres technologies de fabrication du verre. Le projet Glassomer, financé par l’UE, aide l’entreprise à introduire son produit sur le marché pour ses clients, impatients de l’obtenir.

Objectif

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.