Southwall Technologies Inc. has announced that it has acquired a 70% majority interest in Chicago-based Southwall Insulating Glass. Ron Spielman, president of Sound Solutions Windows & Doors, will rem…
Southwall Technologies Inc. has announced that it has acquired a 70% majority interest in Chicago-based Southwall Insulating Glass. Ron Spielman, president of Sound Solutions Windows & Doors, will remain a partner and continue to contribute his extensive glass and window industry expertise to the venture. Thanks to this acquisition, Southwall Technologies has strengthened its position in the fast-growing green building market, and can accelerate the automated production of Heat Mirror insulating glass. This move also demonstrates the company“s continued focus on investing in strategic innovation to contribute in its meeting the growing demand for improved window energy efficiency, required by the Department of Energy“s recently introduced Highly Efficient (R-5) Windows Volume Purchase Program. “We established the joint venture 24 months ago to directly address the challenge of manufacturing high performance Heat Mirror insulating glass at volume,” said Dennis Capovilla, Southwall chief executive officer. “As the market increasingly demands higher energy efficiency performance that can no longer be achieved with dual-pane insulating glass technology, this acquisition positions Southwall to drive broad market adoption of higher performing Heat Mirror suspended-film technology.” “The selection of Heat Mirror insulating glass by established brands such as Owens Corning and in landmark projects such as the Empire State Building energy efficiency retrofit has helped validate green building as a potential high growth market for Southwall. Coupled with the solid progress that we have made on key process automation projects, the timing was right to accelerate our investment in making Heat Mirror insulating glass suitable for high-volume production.” Heat Mirror insulating glass suspends one or more low-emissivity and solar-reflective Heat Mirror films inside an insulating glass unit to create two, three or even four insulating cavities without adding weight. Thanks to this innovative approach, window fabricators can obtain offer higher performance glass options for both existing window systems as well as for those under development. Heat Mirror suspended film technology thus creates the industry“s first “super glass” with centre-of-glass insulating performance ranging from R-6 to R-20 while minimizing solar heat gain and blocking UV radiation. Southwall Technologies Inc., leading innovator of energy-saving films and glass products that dramatically improve the energy efficiency of buildings, homes and vehicles, is an ISO 9001:2000-certified manufacturer with customers in over 25 countries.