The joint ventures were formed to meet worldwide demand of Halio Smart-Tinting Glass Technology
AGC Asahi Glass, a global manufacturer of glass, chemicals, and high-tech materials, and Kinestral Technologies, maker of Halio smart-tinting glass, announced the creation of three joint venture companies that will sell, distribute, and service the product to the global market. Formed to accelerate the adoption of the product, the new ventures – Halio North America, Halio International, and Halio China – will be the exclusive sales and marketing agents for the smart-tinting glass in the commercial and residential housing industries. Halio China includes a third partner: G-Tech Optoelectronics Corp. (GTOC), a subsidiary of Foxconn Technology Group. The three partners have been introducing the product in their respective markets since it was first unveiled in January at the BAU Trade Fair for Architecture, Materials and Systems in Munich, Germany.
“Joining forces with AGC gives us access to a global sales and support infrastructure as well as decades of expertise in the use of glass in façades. GTOC meanwhile bolsters our manufacturing expertise and gives us access to China, one of the fastest-growing markets for smart-tinting glass,” said S.B. Cha, CEO of Kinestral Technologies.
The product’s technology enables glass to tint, reducing glare and blocking unwanted solar heat – automatically or on command. The product looks like ordinary clear glass until it tints, achieving its darkest shade in less than 3 minutes. It improves occupant comfort in smart homes and buildings while achieving the highest levels of energy efficiency.
“We are convinced that the product’s technology is poised to transform the glass industry. Natural light is the most desired feature in office designs, but conventional glass requires blinds, shades, and awnings or architectural elements that block heat and glare. The product gives people the best of the outdoors while meeting increasingly stringent energy codes,” said Jean-François Heris, Senior Executive Officer of AGC and President of AGC Building and Industrial Glass Company.
Jim Arnold, formerly Senior Vice President of Sales at Control4 and DIRECTV, will lead Halio North America. Alain Jardinet, a veteran executive of AGC Glass Europe, will lead Halio International which will sell to all markets outside of North America and China. Halio China will be headed by Alex Jiang, an executive of GTOC.
