October 8, 2008

Automobile and other security provider, Pentagon Protection, has commenced operational activities in Nigeria.

With head office in the United Kingdom, Pentagon Protection, explained during the just concluded Lagos motor fair that apart from its qualified staff, all required procedures were being followed to ensure maximum safety for all its customers.

Pentagon Nigeria explained that worldwide, Pentagon Protection was saving lives, protecting property and reducing injuries.

“Window tints completed to Pentagon standards are virtually flawless. We spend two or three time on a car than most car tinting companies with quality control processes that are unrivalled.

“We also have extensive experience in handling all types of cars. Pentagon’s flagship operation in West London is generally recognized as being the finest car window tinting facility in the world. Our systems and process follow ISO9002 accreditation, directly from the BSI as a British Standards Registered Firm and we are now in Nigeria.

“Through a pentagon’s Nigerian network which we are presently building, we will be able to offer our renowned quality and service standards locally at branches around the country in a very short while.

“Babies and young children seated at the rear of the car, vital protection from harmful ultra violent (UV) rays and excessive heat or glare. A pentagon car window tint is more effective and practical (and better looking) than stick-on blinds.

“Keep cool, helps to keep your vehicle cooler and more comfortable to sit in or drive during bright and hot weather for all passengers.

“Supa glass provides valuable protection from car- jackers that may try to smash their way through a side window, whilst a car is being driven. With Supa glass both driver and passenger will feel safer and more secure when traveling through high risk areas where street crime is a known problem.

“Most thieves want to break through a side window when stealing from a vehicle. Supaglass protection is designed to resist and slow a thief down significantly so that in most cases he will simply abandon his attempt and run off.

Supaglas also prevents the interior of a vehicle being inundated with countless glass fragments, which is what normally happens during a break-in.

“In the event of a heavy side impact, a side window will shatter and shower the inside of a vehicle with countless glass particles.

“Designed to hold a broken window together Pentagon Supa glass reduces substantially the risks of injury from flying glass- keeping drivers and passengers safer and better protected at all times.

“In the event that a vehicle rolls over, when a window shatters, it is possible for occupants to be wholly or partially ejected from the cabin.

“Supa glass provides an excellent “ejection mitigation” barrier during a rollover accident, helping to protect all occupants and to minimize injuries,” said Adams

6 Oct, 2008, 1348 hrs IST, REUTERS

The finding, reported on Sunday in the journal Nature Materials, offers a new way to process conventional silicon by slicing the brittle wafers into ultrathin bits and carefully transferring them onto a flexible surface.

“We can make it thin enough that we can put it on plastic to make a rollable system. You can make it gray in the form of a film that could be added to architectural glass,” said John Rogers of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, who led the research.

“It opens up spaces on the fronts of buildings as opportunities for solar energy,” Rogers said in a telephone interview. Solar cells, which convert solar energy into electricity, are in high demand because of higher oil prices and concerns over climate change.

Many companies, including Japanese consumer electronics maker Sharp Corp and Germany’s Q-Cells are making thin-film solar cells, but they typically are less efficient at converting solar energy into electricity than conventional cells.

Rogers said his technology uses conventional single crystal silicon. “It’s robust. It’s highly efficient. But in its current form, it’s rigid and fragile,” he said. Rogers’ team uses a special etching method that slices chips off the surface of a bulk silicon wafer. The sliced chips are 10 to 100 times thinner than the wafer, and the size can be adapted to the application.

Once sliced, a device picks up the bits of silicon chips “like a rubber stamp” and transfers them to a new surface material, Rogers said. “These silicon solar cells become like a solid ink pad for that rubber stamp. The surface of the wafers after we’ve done this slicing become almost like an inking pad,” he said.

“We just print them down onto a target surface.” The final step is to electrically connect these cells to get power out of them, he said. Adding flexibility to the material would make the cells far easier to transport. Rogers envisions the material being “rolled up like a carpet and thrown on the truck.”

He said the technology has been licensed to a startup company called Semprius Inc in Durham, North Carolina, which is in talks to license the technology. “It’s just a way to use thing we already know well,” Rogers said.

Bus companies, public transportation services and even lawmakers were quick to question Llumar Graffiti Shield films’ ability to protect against injury in case of an accident. Instead, they feared that coated glass panes could impair their rescue efforts. An exercise carried out by the fire service of North Saxony has now provided proof of the film’s positive attributes: LLumar Graffiti Shield guards against glass fragments and simplifies rescue work as the coated panes can be removed in their entirety.

Films from the Llumar “Graffiti Shield“ series have been in use in vehicles and public transport shelters for several years now to protect their glass against vandalism. Since then, they have saved companies a lot of money in maintenance and repair budgets by acting as a protective layer which is “sacrificed” to save expensive glass surfaces from being scratched and attacked with paints and chemicals.

Wilful scratching is the primary cost factor. It not only makes glass panes unsightly and makes the passengers’ feel less safe, but can also structurally weaken the glass panes up to the point when there is a risk of them breaking and an accident occurring.

Depending on the structure of the glass and the frame system, changing the glass pane is often difficult and cannot be done without investing a great deal of time and money.

Coating the surface of the glass with the replaceable protective film provides renewable protection, even in such cases where the service life and entry time for the vehicle or property in question is short. From a financial point of view, it can provide a saving of factor 20 (meaning 20 film changes are the equivalent of the cost to change a single pane). Glare and thermal shield functions and decorative printed designs can also be integrated.

Actionism without foundation
In April 2008, an initiative fronted by the Ministry of Transport informed transport companies that the use of any kind of films was generally prohibited on those glass panes situated at the emergency exits of buses (meaning all side and rear glass panes). This was apparently due to concerns expressed by the emergency services in which – presumably based on cases where the film was not applied properly – they criticised the fact that their rescue attempts were hampered on the one hand and, on the other, that disembarkation through the emergency exit areas was made more difficult.

If this intended regulation had come into force, the German bus operators would have had to pay a great deal of money to remove several thousand square metres of already installed advertisement and sun protection or fragment/scratch protection films and to do without their services. They would have no longer had the option to retrofit their vehicles in an attempt to solve new problems.

In this case, with the ABG-tested LLumar Graffiti Shield GCL SR RPS 6 protective film, the Bielefeld-based company CPFilms was able to dispel their doubts with hard proof provided BY the rescue services FOR the rescue services. Within the framework of the summer training exercises held by the North Saxon fire services, a 272 UL series MAN-Bus was subjected to rigorous emergency disembarkation and rescue tests. They were based, on the one hand, on heavy rescue equipment such as metal cutters and spreaders. On the other hand, precisely the reason for concern expressed by the ministry was addressed: if the panes are coated professionally with a properly homologated protective film, does this really cause an impairment, is the effect neutral or does the film actually assist access or disembarkation in emergency situations?

Improved safety thanks to the Llumar Graffiti Shield
The latter was the case. It was possible to break the panes made of single-layer safety glass by striking them once with the standard emergency hammer (the ISO-ESG standard requires two to three strikes). In contrast to the uncoated reference pane – NO glass fragments (which could otherwise get into a person’s eyes or airways) were dispersed. Instead, a controlled, full-surface break using normal physical strength and exerted with bare hands caused the pane to be pushed right out of the frame without any risk of injury, thus leaving the complete window opening free for use as an escape route.

The ESG pane which was not protected by the film, on the other hand, only displayed an opening the size of the palm of your hand with sharp edges and numerous additional strikes with added risk of flying glass were needed to create a hole which was big enough to climb through. Even so, edges which could lead to injury still remained leaving it unsuitable for panic situations.

The test pane which was coated on both sides (Llumar Graffiti Shield on the inside and advertisement film on the outside) also displayed benefits. Here, the fire service struck it from the outside with an axe and was able to remove the complete film-coated pane from the frame in one piece after two light hits and after just a few seconds.

Heinz Noll, District Fire Chief of the Torgau-Oschatz fire service was full of praise: “This is a really good product. When the fire service breaks into the buses, the film-coated pane remains in one piece and the passengers, who may already be injured, are not exposed to any additional danger.”

LLumar Graffiti Shield
The LLumar Graffiti Shield from CPFilms is a film with a thickness of only 0.1 to 0.4 millimetres which absorbs any mechanical and chemical influences without affecting the glass underneath. When applied professionally, the film is practically invisible and has the same characteristics as normal glass. Self-professed “artists” do not notice that they are writing on or scratching a plastic film.

In addition to its protection against vandals and the positive qualities it displays during rescue activities, Llumar Graffiti Shield also has a number of additional advantages. Small scratches which occurred before the item was covered in the film are compensated by the film, the film acts as a UV filter and blocks up to 99% of damaging UV rays and it can be used as emergency glazing for damaged, but still unbroken panes.

Notice for editors: LLumar® is a registered trademark of CPFilms Inc., unit of Solutia Inc.

CPFilms Profile
Solutia’s CPFilms Inc., is the world’s largest producer of high-quality, aftermarket window films and a leading supplier of high-value precision-coated film and film components sold to a variety of businesses. The business manufactures films that provide comfort, aesthetics, energy savings, safety and security when applied to glass. Our LLumar films are designed to meet worldwide standards, carry a factory-backed warranty, and are professionally installed. For more information about LLumar products, log on to www.llumar.com. CPFilms Inc. is a subsidiary of Solutia Inc.

Corporate Profile
Solutia Inc. uses world-class skills in applied chemistry to create value-added solutions for customers, whose products improve the lives of consumers every day. Solutia is a world leader in performance films for laminated safety glass and after-market applications; chemicals for the rubber industry; heat transfer fluids and aviation hydraulic fluid; and an integrated family of nylon products including high-performance polymers and fibers. For more information about Solutia log on to www.solutia.com.

Solutia… Solutions for a Better Life.

For publication:

CPFilms Vertriebs GmbH
Herforder Str. 119-131, 33609 Bielefeld
Telefon: +49 (0) 5 21/9 32 48 -0
Telefax: +49 (0) 5 21/9 32 48-28
E-Mail: info@llumar.de
Internet: www.llumar.de

Press contact:

public touch –
Agentur für Pressearbeit und PR GmbH
Sigi Riedelbauch
Marktplatz 17, 91207 Lauf
Telefon: +49 (0) 91 23/97 47-13
Telefax: +49 (0) 91 23/97 47-17
E-Mail: riedelbauch@publictouch.de

October 1st, 2008
Source: CPFilms

“This is an excellent fit with our general business strategy to enhance the value we bring to our customers through technology and product innovation,” said Michael J. Murry, Vice President, Ferro Inorganic Specialties. “We believe our partnership with Nanofilm offers some exciting synergies and will benefit our application markets. We are pleased to be offering our customers an expanded product portfolio with Nanofilm’s cutting-edge technologies.”

Scott Rickert, Nanofilm’s co-founder, President and CEO, added, “Nanofilm is truly excited to be working with Ferro to bring nanotechnology solutions to their customers. We see tremendous growth opportunities created for us through Ferro’s global market leadership positions and look forward to a successful relationship.”

About Ferro Corporation
Ferro Corporation ( http://www.ferro.com) is a leading global supplier of technology-based performance materials for manufacturers. Ferro materials enhance the performance of products in a variety of end markets, including electronics, solar energy, telecommunications, pharmaceuticals, building and renovation, appliances, automotive, household furnishings, and industrial products.

Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, the Company has approximately 6,300 employees globally and reported 2007 sales of $2.2 billion.
About Nanofilm

Nanofilm ( http://nanofilmtechnology.com) is a leader in nanofilm technology and self-assembling thin films for a variety of substrates and surfaces. With an in-house team of nanotechnology specialists, the company continues to leverage its rich technological strengths and core competencies to capture growth opportunities in nanotechnology applications. Nanofilm is a privately held company with headquarters in Valley View, Ohio, near Cleveland.

“DuPont is supporting its customers by developing products and process technologies that improve the lifetime and efficiency of photovoltaic modules, and installing additional production capacity to help keep pace with the fast rising global demand.”

DuPont recently has added two new key products to the DPVS portfolio. The DuPont™ Solamet® PV159 thick-film metallization paste from DuPont Microcircuit Materials can deliver up to .5 percent more efficiency for frontside PV solar cells, and Kalrez® perfluoroelastomer parts from DuPont Performance Elastomers can help improve sealing reliability in photovoltaic processes that use plasma, high heat and aggressive chemicals. Significant programs to add manufacturing capacity and establish technical centers around the world also are underway.

Additionally, because of its high growth and significantly increased visibility within and outside the PV industry, DPVS has introduced a fresh, new approach to its brand image. Themed “Energy for a Thriving World”, DPVS communications are emphasizing how DuPont science is helping transform the sun’s potential into clean, efficient energy the world needs to thrive. A whole new look and feel has been introduced via the website and other DPVS communications.

For more information, visit: www.photovoltaics.dupont.com.

September 19th, 2008
Photo: DuPont
Source: DuPont

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The research and innovation teams working on Solar power are making progress with practical and effective solutions.  Multiple teams across the globe are focused on thinner materials and concentrators that can take sunlight and turn it into electricity.

Read About it all right here –>
]]> http://windowfilmonline.wordpress.com/2008/09/17/solar-power-from-your-windows/feed/ 1 windowfilmonline http://windowfilmonline.wordpress.com/2008/09/11/photovoltaics-and-solar-thermics-at-the-focus-of-glasstec-2008/ http://windowfilmonline.wordpress.com/2008/09/11/photovoltaics-and-solar-thermics-at-the-focus-of-glasstec-2008/#comments Fri, 12 Sep 2008 05:49:16 +0000 windowfilmonline http://windowfilmonline.wordpress.com/?p=269 ]]> Glass is playing an ever increasing role in the generation of heat and electricity through sunlight, which means throughout the world an increasingly lucrative market is now opening up for the glass industry and especially for machinery manufacturers.

German companies are seen as the pioneers here. In machinery manufacture alone already over half the companies are involved in photovoltaics and solar thermal systems. And some are already generating 50% of their turnover in this field. A comprehensive and informative overview of the activities of this new branch of industry is provided by the sector’s leading fair glasstec 2008 in Düsseldorf. From October 21 – 25, manufacturers and research institutes from throughout the world will present their latest products, manufacturing techniques and research results in the field of photovoltaics and solar thermics.If the new innovations from German glass machinery manufacturers become reality, façades will no longer be plastered or covered in bricks or other materials in the foreseeable future. Together with roofs these façades will increasingly be used for energy generation. German glass machinery manufacturers have developed machines and plants that will make it possible to produce large format thin layer solar modules, not just every minute but now every second. And these will be mass produced and sold at prices far below those prevalent using previous production methods. Already in 2010, say sector representatives, the cost per installed watt could drop to under one Euro for the end consumer. This would mean in many industrialised nations electricity from thin layer cells would scarcely cost more than electricity from conventional power stations, thereby achieving so-called grid parity. Worldwide, the cost per installed watt of electricity currently stands at roughly between three and five Euros.Almost Unlimited Possibilities
Thin film technology is particularly suited for integration into buildings. It not only makes it possible to constantly exploit energy even without the presence of direct sunlight. The readymade modules deployed here can also be used as design elements for sun and heat insulation, light direction, shading or noise control. Possibilities also in terms of shapes and colours are almost unlimited. Already by 2030, 50% of all newly installed solar module production plants in Germany alone will be accounted for by the thin film sector. A similar development is also being forecast for other industrial nationsThin film technology is particularly interesting for glass machinery manufacturers as well as for their customers because glass is used as the base material and to cover the solar cells and the production methods are very similar to those used when producing quite normal sheets of insulation glass. It is precisely this similarity that German glass machinery manufacturers used to their advantage when modifying their techniques to manufacture thin layer solar modules.

It was also in Germany that the world’s first laminate-free thin-layer module was developed. Mechanical engineering company Lenhardt Maschinenbau GmbH will be showcasing the manufacturing process at glasstec. Also featured amongst exhibitors on the manufacturing side are renowned names like Applied Materials. This company is one of the world’s three largest suppliers of turnkey factories for the production of solar modules. Also exhibiting here are the German companies Reis Robotics and Grenzebach. Only this year Grenzebach concluded a cooperation agreement with laser specialist Reis Robotics. While Grenzebach largely deals with handling in the production process of thin layer modules, Reis Robotics provides the techniques for the manufacture of solar cells.

Also in the module segment many renowned manufacturers like Scheuten Solar, Schott, Schüco, Sulfurcell and Sunways will be showcasing topical solar modules including thin layer modules for integration into buildings. Also featured as exhibitors on the manufacturing side – alongside the already mentioned large companies like Applied Materials or Trumpf Laser – will be Jenoptik, Solarwatt and von Ardenne. This means some 130 companies from the solar segment will be showing new techniques and manufacturing processes either at their trade fair stands or at the special show “glass technology live”, this time focusing on the topics of “Glass and Energy”.

However, glasstec not only has innovations to offer in the field of photovoltaics but also in solar thermics. Alongside other exhibitors Wagner & Co. Solartechnik GmbH will be showcasing the highest performing flat-plate collector to be found on the market in Germany. The collector equipped with a solar unit for water heating was rated by Germany’s independent consumer body “Stiftung Warentest” as “very good”. From a choice of twelve different units this one was voted overall test winner.

Glass manufacturers like AGC, Saint-Gobain and Scheuten will also be rising to the challenges and presenting new glass developments tailored to the needs of the solar industry – such as lowiron, textured or specially coated glass. The increasing use of solar but also primarily thin layer modules as façade and roofing elements will change the kind of work demanded from manufacturers of building components, building firms and skilled tradesmen. The work of pantiles will now be performed by pre-fabricated solar modules and conventional façade cladding will also increasingly be replaced by solar modules. The skilled trade will therefore have to adapt to changes, in some areas at least.

Special Show “glass technology live”
This year the special show “glass technology live” is focused to a greater extent on the topics of glass and solar energy with its focal themes “Glass and Energy”. The special show is subdivided here into the four exhibition areas “Solar Technology”, “Innovation”, “Sun and Heat Insulation” as well as “Light and Transparency”. Over 50 renowned architect’s offices, companies and research institutions will be presenting the latest product developments, production processes, technologies and current research results and showcasing forward-looking architecture projects in the field of glass and solar energy. The spectrum ranges from visionary studies through to
specific solutions ready for mass production. The special show will be accompanied by a specialist symposium devoted, amongst other things, to such themes as photovoltaics, solar thermics and building integration. Top-flight speakers will inform the audience on current developments and trends. Amongst the topics also featured on the programme here will be “Solar Façades and Building-Integrated Solar Roofs – Forward-Looking Product Concepts” and “Development, Status and Perspectives in the Solar Industry”. An entire block of lectures will also be dedicated to manufacturing technologies for thin layer modules.

September 4th, 2008
Source: Messe Düsseldorf North America