We recently teamed up with Saint-Gobain Glass and its sub-division Glasssolutions to test the processing capabilities and safety credentials of their new MIRALITE® EASYSAFE glass, which was launched in June.
This exciting opportunity emerged from our long-standing partnership with Saint-Gobain Glass and follows on from our succeeding glass curving trials for the COOL-LITE SKN 183 II solar-control glass last year.
About MIRALITE® EASYSAFE glass
Saint-Gobain’s MIRALITE® EASYSAFE glass is an innovative, shatterproof safety mirror featuring an anti-shatter resin coating. Compared to a standard mirror, this coating not only makes the mirror safer for the end-user but easier and safer to handle for the glass processor.
MIRALITE® EASYSAFE has been designed with environmental credentials in mind. The plastic-free safety mirror generates less waste and is fully recyclable at the end of its life. The product is also water-based and lead-free, which leads to better indoor air quality as it boasts low VOC emissions.
In addition, the shatterproof mirrored glass is suitable for various internal design applications, including domestic properties, commercial spaces and hospitality. As the glass retains 98% of glass splinters in case of breakage, it is suitable for high-traffic areas of a building and gives homeowners, businesses and interior designers greater peace of mind.
Using our cutting facilities to test the MIRALITE® EASYSAFE glass
Following its thorough NPD stage and gate process, Saint-Gobain planned for customer trials to validate product performance and to further explore its potential and versatility..
These trials aimed to further assess how the glass would perform when cut, checking for any sharp edges or residue, while also confirming its durability for processing into smaller units.
During the trial, we used our jumbo-cutting machine to cut a large unit of MIRALITE® EASYSAFE glass into smaller units, revealing the specialist glass’ reaction during processing. Our team then polished each unit to see if it could be processed safely to have smooth, safe edges suitable for various applications.
The trial was a great success and proved that the innovative product is suitable for cutting to bespoke measurements, which means it can be processed for a wide range of applications. Through further testing, we even discovered additional cutting techniques that yielded stronger results and we worked together with Saint-Gobain’s Technical Support Team to enhance the processing guidelines.
Hear from Specialist Glass and Saint-Gobain Glass
Speaking on the success of the MIRALITE® EASYSAFE glass trials, Wayne Wright, Technical Support Manager at Saint-Gobain Glass commented, “During the trial, we used Specialist Glass Products’ facilities to cut the product to an excellent standard suitable for processing.”
“The trial helped illustrate the benefits of the resin-backed mirror. We proved that the resin did not leave any residue behind in the polishing wheels, unlike the safety-backed mirror, which substantially benefits a glass processor.”
Elaborating further on the industry’s benefits of glass trials, Andrew Taylor, our Managing Director, added: “We felt fortunate to be involved in the testing phase of product development for Saint-Gobain Glass’ innovative safety mirror. These types of trials are crucial for testing the boundaries of innovation in our industry, ensuring that we deliver safe and durable products that meet the demands of processors and end-users.”
Our Capabilities
At Specialist Glass Products, we offer specialist glass processing for curved, toughened, or laminated glass to suit a range of project requirements.
Our cutting line allows us to cut bespoke shapes in glass panels, while our glass bending machine creates accurate bent glass units every time.
You can learn more about our factory and machinery by taking our virtual tour, which features our vertical and horizontal CNC Milling machines, heat soaking ovens, and automatic glass loading and retrieval line.
