For the best thermal and acoustic insulation, the only choice used to be triple glazing. But it’s a compromise: triple glazing makes for extremely thick glass, noticeably reducing light transmission.
AGC is committed to developing products with better environmental performance in order to improve the energy efficiency of buildings and homes. It would be revolutionary to have glass with the comfort and performance of triple glazing, but that is as thin and light as single glazing. A challenge to take on!
AGC had been exploring and researching vacuum-glazing innovations for several years, but the real momentum began after joining forces with Panasonic to combine their plasma screen technology for consumer electronics with AGC’s glazing expertise. Using the Panasonic technology for producing insulating glass meant AGC needed to design a production line with entirely tailor-made machines and integrate this equipment into a continuous production flow, meeting the requirements of the glass industry in terms of automation and reliability.
Thanks to a three-way collaboration between Panasonic and the AGC teams from the Technovation Centre and the Lodelinsart plant (the Belgian AGC plant which houses the production line) this unique production line was designed and constructed within 6 months’ time.
The final result is a double glazing made up of two sheets of glass of 3mm thick, including one coated with a super-insulating layer, separated by a vacuum space of just 0.1mm. Small cylindrical pillars, spread throughout this vacuum space and practically invisible, prevent the two sheets from touching as a result of external pressure.
This vacuum glazing, named FINEO, delivers the same energy performance as triple glazing with no compromise on style. By comparison with triple-glazing, a same-sized Fineo pane is 4 to 5 times thinner, and a third of the weight. With its thin profile it can integrate seamlessly into renovation projects or new constructions alike. Unlike other vacuum glazing technologies, FINEO - exclusive to AGC - has no visible evacuation port and features very slim edge seals, giving you the most unobstructed view possible.
FINEO is the first vacuum glazing to have obtained CE marking and the first to hold an third-party verified EPD (Environmental Product Declaration). It also has numerous country-specific certifications (Technical Assessment in France; aBG in Germany; ATG in Belgium; BCRG quality declaration in the Netherlands). A second FINEO production line is scheduled to start operations in Lodelinsart in the second trimester of 2026.
