The Technovation Center was opened on 5 November in Gosselies in the presence of His Majesty, King Philippe. The new AGC Glass Europe research and innovation center represents an investment of €30 million and 250 jobs.
AGC Glass Europe, based in Louvain-la-Neuve, employs no fewer than 14,500 people around the world. And it is no coincidence that the Group has decided to set up in Wallonia. The glass industry employs 7,700 people in Belgium.
A real Walloon tradition
Walloon expertise proved its worth many years ago. This recognition is due to Emile Foucault, the man who developed a method of producing flat glass. The history of AGC Glass Europe in Wallonia dates back to 1961, when two large Belgian glass manufacturers decided to join together to form Glaverbel. This company was bought by the Japanese group Asahi Glass in 1981. AGC Glass Europe, the European branch of AGC Glass, develops, manufactures, transforms and markets glass products used in construction, car manufacturing and specialized industries.
In addition to the historical links, the region has a number of other advantages which influenced the decision to choose Wallonia.
On the one hand, Wallonia's geographical location allows easy access to the main countries of Europe in just a few hours. Located on the borders of France, Germany and Luxembourg, as well as the Netherlands, Wallonia has an extensive road and motorway network and waterways which facilitate the transportation of materials as heavy as glass.
On the other hand, the University of Louvain-la-Neuve is an excellent research center, suggesting a potential partnership for the development of new forms of glass.
Glass - a business of the future
The engineers, researchers and technicians working in the new center are creating new cutting-edge technologies. They are developing increasingly high-performing glass. The many projects being undertaken by the Walloon company include the marketing of a 12 mm-thick insulating glass. The engineers would have no qualms about describing this project as extraordinary. The work of the Group's researchers makes it possible to constantly extend the range of functions of glass (comfort, energy management, health and safety and aesthetics) by giving it revolutionary properties.
