South Korean glassmaker Hankuk Glass Industries (Hanglas) and US-based Research Frontiers have announced the formation of a separate subsidiary of Hanglas devoted exclusively to the mass production an…
South Korean glassmaker Hankuk Glass Industries (Hanglas) and US-based Research Frontiers have announced the formation of a separate subsidiary of Hanglas devoted exclusively to the mass production and sale of suspended particle device (SPD) light-control film and a wide variety of end products using SPD film. Hanglas is licensed by Research Frontiers to use its patented suspended particle device (SPD) light-control technology. The South Korean firm, which will have a majority holding in the new division, known as SPD Inc., together with a group of outside investors, will contribute approximately Won 8 billion (US$ 6.4 million), including Won 6 billion in equity, to the new company. The SPD division“s board of directors will include Seheon Lee, Hanglas Group president and CEO, Seong Man Kim, the president of the Hanglas flat glass division, and Dr. Jeong Hoon Lee, vice president and director of Hanglas. Dr. Byung Seok Yu of Hanglas“s technical research institute has been appointed as the SPD division“s chief technology officer and will oversee research and product development. “The formation of a subsidiary of Hanglas dedicated exclusively to the mass production, marketing and distribution of SPD film and a variety of end-products will permit us to more rapidly deploy dedicated facilities, equipment, personnel, and capital to take advantage of our successful development effort,” said flat glass chief Seong Man Kim According to Robert L. Saxe, president of Research Frontiers, the establishment of a new company with resources dedicated to mass production of SPD film and products signals the “imminent arrival” of variable light transmission products for a “multitude” of purposes. Applications of SPD technology include smart glazing for the building and automotive sectors as well as anti-glare treatments for flat-panel displays.