Frameless Glass Construction

The innovative project of the „ Frameless Glass Construction” proves that challenging times do not always have to mean a standstill. The cooperation between Eastman and Thiele Glas is characterized by impressive and innovative projects.

Be it the colorful Princess Máxima Centrum in Utrecht (Netherlands) or the XXXL laminated safety glass (the world´s largest pane with structural PVB (DG41XC)) for the Eastman tradeshow booth at Glasstec 2018. A further milestone is now the “Frameless Glass Construction”. Here a glass object was created and produced, which had never existed before. It consists of a total of 38 panes of glass that are completely self-sufficient. This is because 244 high-precision stainless steel fittings were laminated into the 38 composite safety glass.

The development of the project required highly precise planning and extensive calculations. The team of Knippers Helbig Advanced Engineering in Stuttgart (Germany) took over this part of the project. In order for the construction to be self-sustaining, almost 6 months of preliminary work were necessary in which the static calculation of the load on the individual panes was carried out. This intensive work makes it possible that no further steel components are needed for the assembly of the exhibit.
Each of the laminated safety glass panes consists of two 8 mm thick semi-stressed individual panes made of low-iron white glass. They are connected by several foils. Each fitting found its place in the recesses of the middle foil. The final connection of the components took place via the vacuum bag process. 
The laminated safety glass was then ready for the assembly. For this purpose, the individual panes were brought to their final position and screwed together. Altogether, the exhibit reaches a height of 4.5 m, a diameter of 3.5 m and an impressive weight of almost 1,400 kg. 

Due to the current corona pandemic, the exhibit was presented digitally in an Eastman Live Stream Event on 10 th November 2020. Roman Schieber from Knippers Helbig presented the project. According to current plans, the frameless glass construction will be presented at the glasstec trade fair 2021. The fair takes place from 15 th – 18 th June 2021 in Düsseldorf (Germany).