WONDERLITE windows offer control over the level of light coming into a train, thermal insulation, acoustic insulation and other energy-efficient benefits.
Asahi Glass, one of the largest producers of flat glass in the world and a licensee of Research Frontiers (NASDAQ: REFR), featured its “WONDERLITE” SPD-SmartGlass train window at Innotrans 2014 in Berlin, Germany. Innotrans, held every two years, was open from September 23 to 26, and it is the largest international trade fair for rail transport technology, with over 160,000 visitors in attendance.
The SPD-Smart light control film technology developed by Research Frontiers is currently used in homes, offices, museums, yachts and in thousands of Mercedes-Benz cars worldwide.
Joseph M. Harary, President and CEO of Research Frontiers, said, “We are pleased to see the product offering and user benefits for AGC’s WONDERLITE brand of SPD-SmartGlass expand from automobiles to trains. SPD-SmartGlass technology is the highest performing smart window in the world. It offers very quick switching speed, wide ranges of fully variable light transmission, high levels of heat control, as well as acoustic and other energy-efficient benefits. With the large amount of glass used in a train, and the need for passengers to be connected to their outside environment while traveling, SPD-SmartGlass technology offers the ideal solution for the mass transit market.”
In addition to controlling the level of light and glare coming into a train, SPD-SmartGlass provides unsurpassed thermal insulation. SPD-SmartGlass rejects solar heat from entering through windows, keeping an occupied or unoccupied train car cooler without using any power. This increases passenger comfort and reduces air conditioning loads, thereby saving fuel and reducing CO2 emissions.
SPD-SmartGlass also has excellent acoustic insulation and eliminates the need for blinds or shades, getting rid of rattling noises, reducing general interior noise and making the task of cleaning easier. It does all this while providing maximum transparency and viewing opportunities when a small amount of power is applied to align nanoparticles inside a special film in the glass. SPD-SmartGlass can also be used as a partition between cars or between the engineer and passengers.