Do you know how bulletproof glass was created? The panels made of glass + polycarbonate for bulletproof purposes were developed after 1977 in the USA through the use of plastic resins that could securely bond the glass surface with the polycarbonate. Initially, its use was for aircraft windshields, where the reduction in weight of the composites offered a significant advantage over laminated glass. Not long after, in 1980, Isoclima acquired an exclusive license for Europe to use the synthesized polyurethane film. The purpose of this license was to allow the application of polyurethane in safety glass. We became the first to offer the market curved bulletproof glass made of glass and polycarbonate, capable of replacing the technologies that existed until then.

Since then, ballistic polycarbonate has come a long way, just like us.

Development of This Product for the Security Sector

Talking about ballistic polycarbonate, or commonly known as bulletproof glass, brings to mind something resistant, hard to scratch, behind which one feels protected and safe. At Isoclima, we are at the forefront of producing bulletproof and shatterproof glass with polycarbonate mounted on armored vehicles worldwide for both military and civilian use. What we do is focus on armored vehicles (bulletproof glass) for civilians and provide protection through armor for military vehicles and ships. These projects started long ago, and they continue to excite us even after all these years. We still fondly remember the first vehicle we installed Isoclima bulletproof glass on: it was the Alfa Romeo “Alfetta,” produced in Arese with a B4 protection level. In 1982, we followed with the Daimler W140 model, with the same level of protection: two icons that have made automotive history.

How We Got Here

We could call it curiosity, intuition, ingenuity, or simple inspiration: the evolution of our company regarding ballistic polycarbonate was born from a mix of all these things and the desire to explore new ideas, including the very concept of laminated bulletproof glass. Today, this product is the one that best identifies us in the market, making us undisputed leaders.

The real challenge was how to combine glass and polycarbonate, two obviously different materials with different thermal expansion coefficients, which led to our collaboration with Sierracin and the development of our most high-performance glass—OMNIARMOR®—which became our flagship product.

Over time, we developed other products, including:

• Glass capable of withstanding extreme weather conditions (-32 +45 °C), mechanical conditions (stones, desert mountains), and thermal variation. These glasses are equipped with heating systems, electromagnetic shielding, IR coating, ballistic steel and aluminum frames, anti-fog features, integrated radiofrequency and GPS antennas, and solar control.
• We are also suppliers for many Italian and foreign car manufacturers (Iveco Defence, Mercedes-Benz, Stellantis, Audi, BMW, Volkswagen Group) that provide vehicles for Heads of State, from the Carabinieri to the Police.

Our strength in ballistic polycarbonate is not just the quality of the product but also the tailor-made craftsmanship with which we produce each item that carries the Isoclima name around the world.

Are you wondering how to shield electromagnetic waves emitted by electronic devices? The answer is Emigard, our multilayer product designed to provide protection from electromagnetic waves.

Protecting ourselves from electromagnetic waves is sometimes absolutely essential, both professionally and in civilian contexts, as we are increasingly surrounded by devices emitting these types of pulses. Just think about the smartphones we connect to daily, computers, antennas, televisions, and other technological devices we use in our everyday lives.

Specifically, our Emigard product has been designed and developed to shield electromagnetic waves emitted by electronic devices, ensuring that both the vehicle and the transmitted data remain safe.

In Which Fields Can a Product Like Emigard Be Used?

At Isoclima, we designed Emigard with specific industries in mind, each with its own unique needs, such as the naval, aerospace, military, and architectural sectors. In addition, there are other areas where high-level protection of data and people’s health is required.

Protection from electromagnetic waves is potentially necessary in many aspects of everyday life. Even within the home, adopting this kind of protection is important, especially for more vulnerable groups like children and the elderly.

Do You Think a Glass That Protects from Something Automatically Becomes Less Aesthetic?

The perfect transparency of our products is a quality we never compromise on. Emigard is a valuable product, both for the safety of people and for the clarity of the glass itself.

The Manufacturing Process of Emigard

Just like ballistic-resistant glass, the glass designed to provide protection from electromagnetic waves must undergo a specific manufacturing process. Emigard is a laminated glass, offering ballistic or shatterproof protection depending on the requirements, and it features a unique and ingenious shielding system. This system can consist of a metal mesh or a transparent, conductive nanometric coating, or a combination of both elements, processed and combined together.

The nanometric coating is responsible for the high transparency of Emigard while still ensuring protection from electromagnetic waves through efficient electromagnetic shielding. Regardless of the data being transmitted, Emigard protects it and ensures the safety of people, preventing radiation from penetrating the body. This is a product that, due to its advanced technology and performance, we could only certify according to the strictest and most demanding quality standards.

Quality is often an overused word—its meaning varies greatly depending on the industry and the product or service being offered.

For us, complying with regulations in the shatterproof glass sector is just one more element that enhances the overall quality of our products.

From the very beginning, we have always aimed for excellence, driven by the desire to satisfy our customers both in terms of product quality and the consultancy we provide.

How do we achieve this? What sets us apart from the competition? In this article, we will explore how our glass solutions meet even the most demanding requirements.

Training, but also passion

Shatterproof glass regulations do not simply require precise execution of a production protocol; they also include a series of additional steps that a company may choose to adopt or not. One of these is training, which falls into the category of discretionary measures that businesses determine based on their own priorities.

For us, training is essential to maintaining quality.

We carefully monitor raw materials, oversee the functioning of our production systems, and assess workflow efficiency. All of this is carried out by highly qualified personnel who undergo specialized training courses.

Additionally, every installed product is “tracked” even after delivery, with follow-up inquiries made to those involved in the project. This ongoing feedback helps us identify areas for further improvement.

Our internal quality control standards

Beyond regulatory compliance for shatterproof glass, one of our core strengths lies not only in production but also in defect analysis.

By learning from errors, we continuously refine our processes and collaborate with our team to enhance performance.

Furthermore, each of our products is created within a strictly controlled supply chain. Every item is assigned a Rote Card, which allows us to reconstruct the entire production process, providing detailed insights into the raw materials used and the personnel involved in its fabrication. This comprehensive monitoring system helps us reduce production waste while ensuring full compliance with required specifications.

How do we develop our products? Our DFMEA and PIFMEA studies serve as the foundation for identifying critical issues and thoroughly analyzing all relevant factors—both regarding the glass itself and the manufacturing process—ensuring a safe and validated production outcome.

The need is to protect law enforcement and vehicles from vandalism attacks that may lead, through the breaking of windows, to the penetration of foreign objects inside.

Impact resistance, reliability, optical and technical quality. These are the main characteristics of shatterproof glass, reinforced products designed to be more compact and structured. The thickness of shatterproof glass is one of the key features of this product, which is created through a lamination process that reinforces and “solidifies” it by bonding multiple sheets together. Quality and innovation are then the characteristics of our shatterproof glass, obtained through production processes in which the finished product has a superior value and is guaranteed by our systems and technologies.

Omnigard, the shatterproof glass par excellence

Omnigard is one of Isoclima’s most well-known products, a flagship of our production. It is not only the reduced thickness of Isoclima’s shatterproof glass that makes it so special and unique: Omnigard is obtained from products compatible with the originals and transformed into shatterproof, which are then tested, validated, and certified just like first-impact glass. Certification is another strong point of this product, as it demonstrates the innovation present in it. Destined for the automotive sector, Omnigard is in fact adopted by the major automotive manufacturers in the world for its incredible reliability and resistance. They are products perfectly interchangeable with the original transparencies and also mounted directly in line. In this way, we achieve shatter resistance, and the certainty of a product never before seen on the market.

Installation and verification testing of our shatterproof glass

For the thickness of shatterproof glass, we rely on specific plastic materials for impact resistance. The addition of materials maintains the reduced thickness of the glass, which remains thin and lightweight.

This allows us to make further progress: the installation of the glass on the vehicle’s original structure, without any modifications. The door and various door sliding systems remain exactly as designed by the automotive designers, because it’s important that technique also marries aesthetics. Do you know what one of the tests on our products consists of? In our laboratories, we subject the glass to an impact with a steel ball weighing 4.11 kg.

How does this test work?

The EN 356 standard “Security glass – Testing and classification of resistance to manual attack” is responsible for defining the test methods to classify glass based on their anti-burglary properties (in simple terms, it tests their resistance).

The ball test involves a sample of 1100 mm x 900 mm placed horizontally to withstand impacts from the 4.11 kg steel ball. Depending on the glass class, the number of impacts is determined.

Impact resistance is based on a very simple criterion: if the ball does not penetrate the sample within 5 seconds of the impact, the glass can be considered perfectly safe.

In light of such innovative and accurate tests, it is no surprise that Omnigard is the glass chosen for the vehicles of the most decorated police forces in the world, and for its incredible ability to resist impacts during events such as riots or disturbances, where the safety of officers is of paramount importance

Extreme geometries, 3D curvatures, and image precision. Talking about our laminated spherical glass means understanding the basics of geometry and applying them to a product that truly challenges the laws of calculation and form.

The glass we’re discussing today is one of the finest works we’ve created in the heart of our Saletto plant, specifically designed for yachts. The 3D Spherical Glass is not just any product; it is one of the most prestigious and exclusive types of glass available on the market, created by Isoclima Group. Want to know more? Immerse yourself in this brief story where we explain how we developed and created laminated spherical glass, a product of high engineering and aesthetics designed for the naval sector.

Innovation is at Our Core

Those who turn to Isoclima Group are individuals with clear and precise ideas, which need to be translated into high-end, top-quality products. Meeting every client’s request is a duty, while exceeding expectations is a pleasure. At our state-of-the-art facilities, we have created a laminated spherical glazing system for yachts and mega yachts with the following features:

• Chemically tempered glass
• Large dimensions: A2729 x L1460
• 3D multi-radius curvature with a cross-section of an average 3800mm and a vertical section of 1004mm
• Accurate geometry control
• Optical control with significant image distortion reduction

The 3D curvatures are achieved through multiple layers of laminated glass with minimal tolerance deviations between sheets. This work, already at the forefront of technical innovation for the marine world, also involves eliminating delaminations caused by the complex geometry, making it an extremely advanced and futuristic product that has no adhesion issues.

Behind these innovations in the naval sector, such as laminated spherical glass, are the brilliant minds of Isoclima’s technical department—professionals who are able to translate the desires of yacht owners into unmatched products in terms of quality, technique, and crew safety. How do we make all this possible? Thanks to continuous idea and vision exchange with the client, from the development phase to installation at shipyards. Technically, this is called co-engineering, but we simply call it the “Isoclima approach.”

But That’s Not All

In Saletto, we’re testing something truly groundbreaking: a chemical tempering system for glass up to 10 meters, added to our existing 10-meter curvature system. We are developing and testing this, and we already know that it will be a decisive step toward even more advanced and innovative manufacturing processes.

Excellence in Service to Nature

Many might think that an advanced production process like ours—whether for laminated spherical glass, the naval sector, or all of Isoclima’s products—could be highly polluting and harmful to the ecosystem. On the contrary, our manufacturing processes not only have environmental certifications for the protection of the planet but are also carried out in production facilities that hold the most important European and international certifications. We adhere to high-quality standards with great care and pleasure. That’s right, pleasure: respecting nature and investing significant financial resources to do so is something we are happy to do. It’s an obligation to the planet, and our clients are the first to care about this aspect. We don’t want to disappoint their expectations, which is why even with complex technological products, we never forget one important value: respect for nature. And perhaps, if we think about it, in the laminated spherical glass, we’ve followed the sinuous shapes of certain landscapes and natural elements, because what one sees through our glass always offers a beauty that remains a constant source of inspiration.

Have you ever looked at the sea, gazed at the horizon, and felt a profound sense of infinity? The idea of vastness that the sea gives us is unique, and few things in the world convey the same emotions. The relationship we at Isoclima Group have with the marine world is also unique, offering innovative, cutting-edge, creative, sophisticated, incredible, and stunning naval solutions. 

Our love for the yachting sector is just like the sea: infinite. And here, we want to share with you a story of passion and courage, accompanied by a touch of entrepreneurial vision. Because, yes, in our work, both metaphorical and real sight are our greatest allies, the ones that allow us to take bigger, more fabulous steps. 

Heart, Mind, and Vision

If we had to define the factors that have made us absolute leaders in the marine sector, we wouldn’t hesitate: passion, linked to the heart we put into every process; mind, because it’s thanks to the sharp insight of Isoclima’s founders that we got here; vision, because we have never set limits for ourselves. We’ve always set lines and goals, of course, but only to surpass them and do much more. Those who know us understand: we manage to design boats at the limits of what’s possible, which means we make the impossible possible. One of our strengths is offering turnkey solutions, with an approach that embraces the craftsmanship of Made in Italy. 

Each of our projects is a fusion, a forge of ideas: we work closely with designers and architects because creativity and technique go hand in hand. They envision it, and we make it possible. 

We Raise the Anchor, Let’s Set Sail: Here Are Our Strengths

State-of-the-art systems, top-tier management, incredible products. Taking care of the naval sector as we do is certainly no easy feat. Managing serial yacht projects, mega yachts, and giga yachts and becoming a leader in this field means strongly believing in what you do and constantly perfecting it. Our work knows no boundaries, and we are present in the largest mega yacht shipyards in the Netherlands, Germany, and Italy. At Isoclima Group, if there’s one thing we’re really good at, it’s exceeding expectations. The production and extreme curvature of our products are absolutely incredible, as are the complex geometries and optical performance. All this is possible thanks to our production facilities, which in terms of quality and capacity are unmatched elsewhere. A prime example? Our bending furnace, which allows us to work with glass sheets up to 10 meters in length with very extreme and complex curvature radii. This has allowed us at Isoclima to become excellent in the glass industry. 

Glass that sparkles, shines, makes the vessel more beautiful and impactful, with excellent quality and transparency.

On December 16th, 2021, at the Campidoglio Hall in Rome, the seventh edition of the 100 Italian Excellence Award was held, organized by the Liber Association in collaboration with the RDE Publishing House and with the contribution of Official Partner Sanity System. The purpose of the event was to recognize 100 protagonists of the best Italy, acknowledging the valuable contributions each of them has made to the growth of our country. Through the stories of these 100 Italian Excellences, the event aimed to showcase the face of beautiful Italy—individuals, companies, and entities that, through their work, help to enhance the emblem of a distinctive brand recognized worldwide.

With great pride, we are pleased to announce that Isoclima was awarded as an industrial excellence in the field of security glass. The symbolic recognition was presented to Daniele Santi, Commercial Director and Vice President of Isoclima S.p.A., directly by the President of the LIBER Association, Verdiana Dell’Anna, and the publisher Riccardo Dell’Anna.

The event was skillfully hosted by Dr. Safiria Leccese, a journalist and host for Mediaset. The Honorary Ambassadors of 100 Italian Excellences recognition was given to several members of the Honorary Committees of past editions, including Carlo Verdone.

We would like to express our deepest thanks to the entire Isoclima team for their invaluable contribution, which has led our company to achieve this remarkable result.

Anticipating and promoting future trends with products and services.

“More than just a supplier, Isoclima identifies itself as a partner that co-designs solutions, responding to needs that are sometimes very complex and technologically challenging. Innovation plays a pivotal role in our DNA, which is why we are often able to anticipate the trends of multiple sectors, without being affected by the cyclical crises we face, handling them with organizational flexibility and a now-consolidated compensation system. With a broad market outlook, we benefit from a constant business movement, always projected towards the future.” Daniele Santi, Commercial Director of Isoclima, emphasizes the Group’s leadership in the creation of high-quality glass and transparent surfaces, high-tech products that stem from an engineering process undertaken together with the client. “We provide a complete, highly customized package,” he points out, “where the competitive advantage we hold is shared with the client, regardless of the market they belong to. Recently, for example, we are experiencing exponential growth in the nautical sector, which has orders for the next three years, for which we are organizing strategic activities to adjust the organization and plants. More generally, I can confirm that our focus is increasingly future-oriented: we’ve been innovating since 1977, and we’ve never stopped embracing challenges. The recent pandemic, in a sense, froze the old world, marking a before and after, and we are already in that after. Urban transport, electric cars, hybrid boats, but even further ahead, we’re talking about autonomous driving, with vehicles that allow passengers to look around, and they will do so through ever-larger, smarter, and interactive windows, and drones designed for transporting people within the new metropolises. Throughout all of this, sustainability remains a priority, with investments in new 100% recyclable materials and 97% recovery of special waste.” Complex geometries, meeting specific requirements such as lightness, maximum safety, solar protection, acoustics, large sizes, and extreme curvatures with high performance (up to almost 10 meters, thanks to the bending furnace and the new chemical tempering plant, the largest in Europe, which will be inaugurated by the first quarter of 2022 in Saletto), are already a reality.

“Our solutions have become true case studies, and giants like Apple, Formula Indy, Leonardo, Mercedes, and the major shipyards –” adds Santi, “involve us in exciting and many futuristic projects. And we’re here: when something starts moving, we’re already ready.” Isoclima Group, with 5 production plants, 120 patents, 1,000 employees, over 500 clients, and 500,000 square meters of glass produced, excels also in post-sale services, with maintenance, monitoring, and timely interventions; 5% of turnover is dedicated to Research & Development, the beating heart of the Group and a forge of solutions where a team of professionals, creating unique patents, is able to revolutionize the market. “We can’t stop now, just as we are facing a new world,” concludes Daniele Santi, “and our mission will continue to be that of enabling present and future generations to see through.”

One of the flagship products for which we are known and appreciated worldwide is the large-size curved laminated glass. This creation has helped us become global leaders in the high-performance glass market, thanks to a series of applied and developed technologies over time.

In laminated glass, as in all our products, you will find a constant pursuit of perfection, quality, and extreme technical characteristics that represent the highest expression of innovation and ingenuity. Laminated glass is designed for human safety in various environments: on land, in the air, and at sea.

Just like with laminated glass, we respond to every type of need and customization request based on the client’s specifications.

Features and Characteristics of Laminated Glass

The production of laminated glass with Privalite liquid crystal film began in 2001, along with another major milestone: the launch of production for the naval sector of curved laminated glass with chemical tempering.

In the specific case of laminated glass, we at Isoclima have successfully harnessed the potential and unique qualities of the material, adapting it to a series of additional functionalities. The exclusive bag-lamination technology and the use of proprietary adhesion promoters contribute to ensuring the absolute quality of the glass. But these incredible characteristics are not limited to just these. The combined use of interlayers with differentiated elastic modules allows application in the most varied and versatile security scenarios, making it suitable for any type of context.

Furthermore, the integration of functional elements for solar control, acoustic control, and aesthetic patterns within the laminate enables us to meet the most complex energy and appearance requirements.

The Right Glass for Every Sector

Curved or flat laminated glass is perfect for showcasing its beauty across multiple sectors, especially those where the production of accessories and components with high technological content and large dimensions is required, merging quality and safety standards.

Isoclima products follow three core principles: quality, safety, and aesthetics. Every design we create embodies these three qualities equally and with the same level of importance.

We have worked hard to reach this point and become a reference not only for reliability but also for versatility, which has allowed us to create patented, advanced, and certified solutions adopted by some of the largest companies in the world, from automotive to other sectors.

On November 4th, Isoclima completed the acquisition of Dlubak Specialty Glazing Corporation and Global Security Glazing in the United States. These companies, market leaders for over 70 years, are renowned for their ability to provide complete solutions for safety glazing, protective glass, special and architectural glass for embassies, detention facilities, schools, and military vehicles. The two companies operate production facilities in Pennsylvania and Alabama and have now been consolidated under the unified control of Isoclima Specialty Glass LLC.

This acquisition represents an important step forward in our global growth strategy. Expanding into a new market segment and leveraging production facilities located in a key region to achieve our goals, the group strengthens its leadership in the field of transparent solutions for ballistics. From this strong foundation, Isoclima aims to become the leader in the North American market for armored transparent materials.

Lance Cotton, the current President and CEO of Isoclima Specialty Glass LLC, commented: “Isoclima is known for its focus on quality, innovation, culture, and partnerships with leading companies. The organization is focused on the design and production of high-value-added engineered glass, and we couldn’t be more excited to have now a property that provides us with the necessary resources to continue offering the best solutions to our customers.”