On 25 November, AGC Glass Europe won the Best Innovator Award Belgium 2009 in the large companies category, ahead of the three other finalists 3M, Belgacom and UCB. The competition, organised in Belgium for the third year running by the international strategy consultant A.T. Kearney and its partners (1), offers companies the opportunity to identify and compare themselves with the capabilities and practices of innovation leaders.
The jury (2) singled out AGC's innovation process, which combines a "top-down approach" led by the 200 researchers and technicians in the company's Jumet R&D Centre on the one hand, and on the other a "bottom-up approach" in which all members of personnel are involved. The company has developed a special web-based platform that enables members of personnel at all levels to contribute ideas and to participate in the innovation process. The jury pointed to significant advances made as a result of this approach in 2009, including:
- new products: Planibel Tri triple glazing, Glassiled RGB outside glazing incorporating light-emitting diodes (a world first), and extra-clear glass for solar applications (the latter has also won the Technological Innovation Award in Wallonia);
- a new production process, with the most environment-friendly float plant in the world. This combines oxygen combustion with gas preheating (also a world first), reducing energy consumption and CO2 emissions by around 25%.
An excellent example of commitment and leadership in heavy industry, the jury concluded.
(1) Business press and television (Trends/Tendances magazine and Canal Z television), trade associations and chambers of commerce (UWE-Union Wallonie des Entreprises, VOKA-Vlaams Netwerk van Ondernemingen and BECI-Brussels Enterprises Commerce & Industry) and Solvay Brussels School Alumni Association.
(2) The jury is composed of eminent leaders from business, sciences and society so as to guarantee the independence, quality and impact of the Best Innovator Award Belgium.
AGC Glass Europe, a European leader in flat glass
Based in Brussels, AGC Glass Europe produces and processes flat glass for the constructionindustry (external glazing and indoor decorative glass),the solar industry, the automotive industry and specialist industries*. It is the European branch of AGC Glass, the world's largest producer of flat glass.
Its baseline "Glass Unlimited" reflects the possibilities offeredby:
- glass as a material to meet a growing variety of needs (comfort, energy control, health & safety, aesthetics);
- innovation in products and processes, derived from sustained research in advanced glass technology;
- industrial facilities comprising 18 float plants, 7 automotive glass plants and more than 100 processing and distribution units throughout Europe, from Spain to Russia;
- a worldwide marketing network;
- the resources of its personnel motivated by operational excellence and innovation.
AGC Glass Europe currently employs some 14,500 people.
For further information see www.agc-glass.eu (corporate site), www.yourglass.com (glass site for the construction industry), www.agc-automotive.com (glass site for the automotive industry) and www.agc-solar.com (glass site for solar applications ).
* Transport industry (glazing for ships and railway/subway carriages), domestic appliances and high-tech applications.
This press release is available in English, French and Dutch at
www.agc-glass.eu.
More info:
AGC Glass Europe – Communications
Marie-Ange Dhondt
Tel. +32 (0)2 674 34 28
Mobile: +32 (0)499 97 65 47
marieange.dhondt@eu.agc-flatglass.com