Let’s imagine for a second The world of boating before the technological introduction of curved glass. The boats mainly used flat glasses, porthole in tempered or acrylic glass (such as plexiglass) and, in some even older boats, transparent surfaces in mica or celluloid.
It was not just a matter of transparency and aesthetics: the glass is not curved It was lacking in flexibility, resistance to impacts and bad weather and very often it needed robust metal frames to guarantee the estate, which inevitably went to weigh down the overall structure of the boat.
Before the curved glass, out of necessity and needs, the windows of a boat had to be small size and possibly roundedin order to better distribute the water pressure and reduce the risk of breakage. Over time, plexiglass became a widespread choice for its lightness and greater impact resistance compared to traditional glass, even if it tended to scratch and yellow with exposure to the sun and salt.
The introduction of the curvature of the glass
It cannot be said that curved glass has a single inventor. On the contrary, it is the product of a technological evolution whose first experiments date back to the eighteenth century, but it is in the twentieth century that the most significant progress has been made.
In the 1930s, companies such as Pilkington And Saint-Gobain They began to develop industrial techniques for the curvature of the glass, using heat and molds to model it. Subsequently, in the 1950s and 1960s, with the innovation of the curved tempered glass and of the laminate glassthe automotive and nautical sector have adopted this technology to improve aerodynamics, safety and design.
This invention, only apparently so trivial, literally revolutionized the way of living and interviewing navigation.
Nowadays, companies such as Inglas glass have perfected the technique, bringing the shape of the glass to maximum limit of radiating or almost. In this case, the goal is to obtain artisan products through the use of technologies to the state of art, in order to identify the best solution for each specific need for the nautical sector, and beyond.
When it comes to curved glass, therefore, it does not refer only to a technology, but to a technique that still can still be considered a form of craftsmanship, where quality must remain in the first place.
How has curved glass change nautical?
The curved glass revolutionized the boating because it made it possible to make boats with more design aerodynamic, safe and comfortable.
Thanks to its greater resistance compared to the flat glass that was used once, or plexiglass, offers better protection from shocks, waves and marine stresses, while guaranteeing one Best watertight estate. His ability to create Continuous and panoramic surfaces It has improved visibility from the piloting cabin and made the bright and welcoming interiors.
Not only that: through special treatments such as UV protection, anti-reflex and thermal insulation, it has increased comfort on board, radically transforming the way in which yachts and boats are designed and lived.
The curved glass is layered by the best craftsmen, among other things, through the introduction of anti-wreher plastic. This type of glass consists of several curved glass layers, united by special plastic intercalates such as PVB (Polivinilbutirrale), SG (Sentryglas) or Polycarbonatewhich increase their resistance to impact, wind pressure and impacts caused by flying debris during a hurricane. This gives a watertight estate, duration, safety and quality to curved glass for luxury boating, but not only.
Speaking of luxury and aesthetics, the experiments with curved glass led to the improvement of the stratification technique, with for example the introduction of the ice. Used above all in the design of luxury yacht and in high -level architecture, this material offers translucence and light plays through the ability of the stone to spread and filter natural and artificial light.
A curved glass stratified with ONICE is ideal for enhancing and embellishing Partition walls, parapets and decorative surfaces on prestigious boats without giving up the high resistance of technology.
Inglas Vetri: technology and craftsmanship at the service of boating
Yachting and luxury boating need the realization of Stratified and temperate lateral glasscurved windshield and, for example, painted glass interiors. Inglas Vetri has perfected over the years the stratification technique, which provides for chemical tempera which, in addition to mechanical resistance, provides resistance and optical quality.
Nautical search for crafts and quality. Inglas Vetri, based in Pisa, offers five cutting -edge systems designed to respond to the requests of large shipyards or small customersand puts on the service of the latter, indulging in detail the most complex requests.
