Dow, collaborators win 2019 Glass Magazine Award for Best Feat of Engineering

Winners recognized during GlassBuild America: The Glass, Window & Door Expo in Atlanta & Project and product category winners featured in September 2019 issue of Glass Magazine

MIDLAND, Mich. – Dow (NYSE: DOW) has been recognized for its collaborative efforts on a recent engineering project that brought together the latest in product technology with leading-edge glass architectural design techniques.

Glass Magazine announced the winners of its 2019 Glass Magazine Awards on September 13. The prestigious glass and metal industry awards program recognizes the best products and glass applications the commercial, retail and fabrication markets have to offer. Dow, along with its project collaborators, won the Best Feat of Engineering Award for the development of an exhibit titled “Gravity.”

The Dow team worked with Define Engineers, Carpenter | Lowings, and seele to create the exhibit, which featured an upside-down car suspended from two sheets of super-thin glass swinging like a giant pendulum, during the 25th glasstec International Trade Fair in 2018 in Düsseldorf, Germany.

A key feature of “Gravity” is the transparent connection between the glass and the stainless steel brackets made with DOWSIL™ TSSA Transparent Structural Silicone Adhesive from Dow, which eliminates the need for mechanical fixing through the glass, allowing for a continuous glass surface. This advanced structural adhesive is 10 times stronger compared to conventional structural glazing silicones and also is crystal clear, enabling the highly demanding adhesion challenge while maintaining clear glass aesthetics.

“Gravity” showcased potential in glass processing, adhesives, high-precision engineering and manufacturing in a highly innovative, efficient and aesthetic design. Free of mechanical fixings, the visually and physically light structure hides its load-bearing capacity. The thin glass stretches under the dynamic load, which eliminates all bending and ensures the glass behaves as a membrane – the most efficient way to carry a load.

“We were very enthusiastic about the fun idea of hanging a 2-ton car upside down, held only by thin glass fixed with a structural adhesive,” said Sigurd Sitte, senior TS&D scientist for Dow Silicones Deutschland GmbH. “It was a technical challenge that demonstrated the outstanding performance of DOWSIL™ TSSA Transparent Structural Silicone Adhesive.”

Collaboration key to success

“Creation of the ‘Gravity’ exhibit was a definitely a team effort,” said Lori Floyd, commercial & customer experience communications manager for Dow High Performance Building. “Extensive collaboration is what makes it possible to pull together design and construction tasks like this.”

Guided by the central design trio of Define Engineers, Carpenter | Lowings and seele, “Gravity” was viewed by its contributors as an efficient and focused process, with a collaborative spirit characterized by a high level of trust and technical knowledge and respect for the value of good design from all parties.

Main collaborators: Define Engineers and CL Carpenter I Lowings.
Supporters: Seele, TriPyramid, sedak, DOW, BSYS Ltd.,Glaston
Additional Acknowledgements: 

  • The tripod and podium were fabricated in Bulgaria by BSYS, Ltd
  • The bonding material was provided by Dow, along with technical advice and sponsorship. 
  • TriPyramid Structures provided technical and design advice for the central pivot detail and supported and sponsored the exhibit. 
  • The glass was supplied by Glaston of Finland, fabricators of glass processing equipment who were able to supply thin heat-strengthened sheets of glass. 
  • The glass lamination with SGP was carried out by Sedak
  • We thank Dr.Robert Akerboom for his kind support during the process as part of the organising team.

About Dow High Performance Building
Dow High Performance Building, part of Dow Consumer Solutions, collaborates with industry professionals around the world to develop solutions to enhance design and aesthetics, increase durability, advance the energy efficiency of buildings, and improve the health and safety of building occupants. Taking a holistic approach, Dow brings together expertise from across the company to help customers find solutions to a wide range of high-performance building challenges. Featuring DOWSIL™ brand products, Dow’s high-performance building solutions include proven materials for structural and protective glazing, weatherproofing, insulating glass, window and door fabrication, and building materials protection, as well as innovations for high-efficiency insulation, LED lighting, thermal management systems, and the incorporation of photovoltaic cells and solar panels into building design. Visit www.dow.com/construction to learn more.

About Dow
Dow (NYSE: DOW) combines one of the broadest technology sets in the industry with asset integration, focused innovation and global scale to achieve profitable growth and become the most innovative, customer centric, inclusive and sustainable materials science company. Dow’s portfolio of performance materials, industrial intermediates and plastics businesses delivers a broad range of differentiated science-based products and solutions for our customers in highgrowth segments, such as packaging, infrastructure and consumer care. Dow operates 113 manufacturing sites in 31 countries and employs approximately 37,000 people. Dow delivered pro forma sales of approximately $50 billion in 2018. References to Dow or the Company mean Dow Inc. and its subsidiaries. For more information, please visit www.dow.com or follow @DowNewsroom on Twitter.


For further information please contact:

Lori Floyd
Dow
+1.989.496.8447
lori.floyd@dow.com

Brittney Quider
AGP & Associates, Inc.
+1.989.839.5800
brittney.quider@agp-inc.com