In view of the world-wide climatic changes, energy efficiency has become an explosive topic. Stringent requirements in structural engineering compel the selection of high-grade structural components. To date, glazing is in many places still considered as energetic leak in the building, but in the meantime, functional coatings on glass substrates considerably contribute towards an improvement of the energy balance.
With its "Apollon" coating systems, the Glass & Solar business unit at Leybold Optics, Alzenau/Germany is setting the benchmark as far as coatings of architectural glass are concerned. During the last few months, two systems were ordered by Asian companies. Further contracts are about to be concluded. Apollon is a flexible, horizontal inline coating system producing functional coatings on architectural glass in an efficient, homogeneous and uncompromising manner. Within a relatively short period of time – approx. 30 seconds Apollon 3300 is able to coat glass substrates of up to 20 square metres, i.e. 3.300 millimetre x 6.000 millimetre (width x length).
The annual productivity ranges at around 12 million square metres. The "Apollon 2540" design processes substrates with the dimensions 2.540 millimetre x 3.660 millimetre (width x length), thus approx. 9.5 square metres. The system's high degree of flexibility permits an easy change of both substrate and coating during a production series. Any necessary configuration changes can be directly effected by the customer. High-quality coatings provide for a well-balanced climate inside a building.
In winter, it is necessary to prevent heat from being lost from the inside to the outside while in summer on the contrary, the greenhouse effect caused by penetrating thermal radiation needs to be prevented. Special recipes for coatings on glass substrates reduce the incidence of light by means of reflection and absorption, thus providing for the desired thermal insulation value. The scope of coating groups ranges from Low-E, a heat protection coating with a thin silver layer and Double Low-E, an insolation protection with two silver layers – world-wide regarded as standard for modern glass architecture – up to the superior Triple Low-E.
This high-quality design with three silver layers is in particular preferred for projects where climate protection and aesthetic architecture are realised in a sophisticated manner. The coatings are respectively located in the inside space between the panes. Depending on the design, the multiple glazing is filled with a special gas and sealed with a bonded frame made of aluminium or stainless steel.
The trend towards triple coating is clearly noticeable. In the meantime, glass is no longer only regarded a design element, but is very sensibly integrated into a building's entire energy calculation. Leybold Optics is able to respond flexibly to special customer requirements such as substrate thickness, format and other details. Technical findings of the internal research and development department are continuously incorporated into the enhancement of Leybold Optics coating systems.
The practical, functional design, the use of high-quality components, the long useful life, combined with the possibility to have maintenance tasks carried out by the customer provide for a convincing price/performance ratio. Apollon is sold world-wide. Information and prices on request. Company Profile: Leybold Optics GmbH is one of the world's leading suppliers of vacuum technology. It also develops processes and manufactures complex high-end coatings. This reputed thin film specialist sets milestones in the fields of sputtering, PEVCD, plasma assisted evaporation, automation and software. It is organised into two divisions: Optics and Glass & Solar.
The Glass & Solar division portfolio comprises vacuum systems for the photovoltaic industry and machines that are used to coat architectural glass, displays and other large-area applications. The Optics division markets deposition systems for precision optics, ophthalmic lens coating, the automotive and the electronics industry. The foundation stone of its success was laid over 160 years ago by the founders and inventors Ernst Leybold and Wilhelm Carl Heraeus. Their pioneering spirit and dedication to research and the development of new production procedures is reflected in the market standards that have gained worldwide recognition since the company was founded.
