Shaping the future of glass SCHOTT Glass

shaPing the future of glass

SCHOTT is a leading international technology group in the areas of speciality glass and glass-ceramics. The company has more than 130 years of expertise, and offers a broad portfolio of high-quality products and intelligent solutions. With its pioneering innovations, the company stands at the forefront in its field.

SCHOTT is an innovative enabler for many industries, including the home appliance, pharma, electronics, optics, life sciences, automotive and aviation sectors, and is committed to innovation and sustainable success. The parent company, SCHOTT AG, has its headquarters in Mainz (Germany) and is solely owned by the Carl Zeiss Foundation. As a foundation company, SCHOTT assumes special responsibility for its employees, society and the environment.

The company has a global presence and maintains close relationships with its customers through manufacturing and sales units in all major markets. Europe remains the most important economic region, generating sales of €936 million with 9100 employees (5200 are based in Germany alone), but Asia-Pacific ranks as one of the most important markets for the future with its huge growth potential.

Last year, the company achieved a record-breaking net income of €197 million. All business segments contributed to the success. Demand was particularly dynamic in the application areas for ZERODUR® – an extremely low thermal expansion glass ceramic – glass for optical applications and speciality glass products for use in medical technology and pharmaceutical packaging.

Key material

For 130 years, SCHOTT has been shaping the future of glass technology. Its research and development capabilities include The Otto Schott Research Centre in Mainz, one of the world’s leading glass research institutions, the development centre in Duryea, Pennsylvania, (USA), and technical support centres in Asia, North America and Europe.

Last year was marked by a large number of innovation projects, which again prove that glass will continue to play an important role in high-tech applications in the future.

Ultra-thin SCHOTT AS 87 eco glass, which is used in camera modules, fingerprint sensors and flexible displays, is a good example of the company’s innovative strength. The ultra-thin glass is as flexible as plastic, yet strong, age-resistant and aesthetically pleasing. Moreover, SCHOTT AS 87 eco is more than a high-quality solution – it is environmentally friendly. In contrast to similar glass suppliers, SCHOTT completely foregoes the use of highly hazardous hydrofluoric acid during production. With its innovative Down Draw Process, it is the only company in the world that manages to directly draw the required thicknesses down to the thinnest glass.

Glass is also a key material in diagnostics. SCHOTT’s portfolio of high-quality speciality glass for use as a substrate material and its wide range of solutions continue to improve the quality of life for many sick people. With the new glass substrate D 263® bio SCHOTT offers a quality material for microscopic analysis in the field of optical diagnostic and biotechnology, with certified biocompatibility as well as very low autofluorescence across its entire transmission range. The new glass is built on a proven legacy in optical diagnostics as set by D 263® M, the leading material for microscopy coverslips since the 1960s.

The automotive industry is yet another sector where SCHOTT makes a difference. The new MultiLight light source equips cars with customised interior lighting through a mix of evenly radiating contour light guides and spots from a single light source. This allows for the reduction of

electronic components, particularly in the case of coloured illumination. Electronic circuitry is simplified, making it more cost-effective and less susceptible to defects.

Continued leadership

In May 2017 SCHOTT signed a contract with the European Southern Observatory (ESO) for the production of the primary mirror for the Extremely Large Telescope. SCHOTT will supply 949 hexagons for the 39-m-diameter mirror, along with maintenance and replacement segments. Besides the primary mirror, SCHOTT is also producing the mirror substrate for the secondary (M2), tertiary (M3) mirrors and the fourth mirror (M4). It is the largest single order for an astronomy project that SCHOTT has ever received.

The company’s innovation focus is supported by investment in increased production capacity. For example, its competence centre in St. Gallen, Switzerland, is increasing the production of pre-fillable polymer syringes in response to growing demand. Growth is also expected to come from Asia. In October 2017, the joint venture SCHOTT Xinkang expanded its production capacity for pharmaceutical packaging with the opening of a new state-of-the-art plant in Jinyun, China. Up to two billion ampoules, vials and cartridges can be produced there annually. SCHOTT’s production facility in the United States, offering the latest generation of pharmaceutical vials, has also been expanded.

The innovative technologies developed by SCHOTT give its 35 production units and sales departments all over the world a leading edge over the global competition. Decades of experience in successfully transforming technological innovations into business success will form the basis for the company’s future development.