Following its acquisition by market leader Saint-Gobain, Sage’s new team of architectural and glass experts are launching SageGlass solutions and assisting customers across Europe, forming a dedicated organization of electrochromic glazing specialists.
Sage, leading manufacturer of dynamic glass for façades, curtain walling, windows and skylights, has announced its new management structure for Europe. Following its acquisition by market leader Saint-Gobain, a new team of architectural and glass experts are launching SageGlass solutions and assisting customers across Europe.
Sage Saint-Gobain Europe regroups senior managers from Saint-Gobain with many years of architectural glass industry experience, forming a dedicated organization of electrochromic glazing specialists.
The specification team is headed up by Kirk Ratzel, Director of Marketing and Sales, who has more than 30 years of know-how in speciality glass market development and leads specialists with at least 10 years of experience each in the coated glass market. The team consists of Alain Garnier (Central and Eastern Europe), whose past experiences include the market development of photovoltaic solutions for buildings, Jean-Jacques Sanson (France), who previously provided glass expertise for major curtain walling contracts and Jeff Upton (UK and Ireland), a former senior façade engineer for Major Façade projects.
Project management expertise is assured by the Architectural Solutions team headed by Alexandre Richard, skilled former project manager of major dynamic glazing projects within Saint-Gobain. His team is composed of Julien Orillard, who has a master’s degree in technology and innovation management, six years of market development and field experience with electrochromic dynamic glazing and supports the development of strategic partnerships. Working alongside Julien are qualified engineers such as Dr Annabelle Andreau Wiedermaier, who participated in the development of dynamic glass solutions for Saint-Gobain, and Jean-Sébastien Chargé, who as Project Manager and qualified electrical engineer provides his technical knowledge in major photovoltaic installations.
“By adjusting electronically the level of tint, SageGlass allows the control of daylight and solar heat, thereby maximizing occupant comfort and energy efficiency. This dynamic solution opens new design opportunities for architects and building owners to create more comfortable living spaces and productive working environments. With energy efficiency legislations coming into play across Europe, there is no better time for our team to bring SageGlass to the European market,” said Kirk Ratzel, Director of Marketing and Sales, Sage. “The new structure brings a wealth of experience focused on providing quality to customers, driving sales and ultimately building the business in Europe. We are intent on offering Europe a unique glass solution that enhances a building’s occupant comfort and productivity to a new level.”
Saint-Gobain, the world leader in the habitat and construction markets, designs, manufactures and distributes building materials, providing innovative solutions to the challenges of growth, energy efficiency and environmental protection. With 2011 sales of more than EUR 42 billion, Saint-Gobain operates in 64 countries and has nearly 195,000 employees.
Sage Electrochromics is the world’s leading manufacturer of advanced dynamic glass that can be tinted or cleared to optimize daylight and improve the human experience in buildings. SageGlass controls the sunlight and heat that enter a building, significantly reducing energy consumption while improving people’s comfort and wellbeing. SageGlass can reduce a building’s cooling load by 20% and HVAC requirements up to 30%. It is a smarter, more elegant solution than conventional sun controls such as mechanical window shades, blinds and louvers. The company was founded in 1989 and is headquartered near Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn., in the heart of “the Silicon Valley of the window industry.” Sage is a wholly owned subsidiary of Saint-Gobain of Paris, France, the world’s largest building materials company.