TABLE OF CONTENTS
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- INNOVATIVE LIGHT-WEIGHT VEHICLE WINDSHIELDS and WINDOWS
- DEVELOPMENT OF NEW RAW MATERIALS
- WINDSHIELD DRAG – AN IMPORTANT CONTRIBUTOR TO FUEL EFFICIENCY
- LIGHT-WEIGHT VEHICLE WINDSHIELDS – A SUPERIOR OPTION TO MINERAL GLASS
- FUTURE AIRBORNE COMMUTER VEHICLES
- OUR 35 YEARS UNBLEMISHED EXPERIENCE IN AEROSPACE
- EXPLORE OUR PRODUCTS AND SERVICES
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CLI is Embracing Innovation
INNOVATIVE LIGHT-WEIGHT VEHICLE WINDSHIELDS and WINDOWS
At CLI we are working with many high profile enterprises requiring complex polymer transparency products. Our goal is to provide excellent alternatives to traditional mineral glass; ideal solutions for modern light-weight vehicle windshields and windows. Our hard coated transparency products are designed and built to achieve the very highest standards of safety and durability.
DEVELOPMENT OF NEW RAW MATERIALS
We are now witnessing humanity’s greatest time of innovation with many avant-garde enterprises embracing novelty and creating environmentally sustainable transport solutions, previously viewed as ‘dream concepts’.
Amongst the many advances in ‘new’ materials are plastic polymers which have evolved dramatically, especially over the past century. More recently as we entered into the 21st century, we see the emergence of new composites which were unimaginable just thirty years ago.
Where transport is concerned, there is a dramatic revolution taking place, with a prime focus on the environment and new generation light-weight electric vehicles. Emphasis is being placed on creating vehicles incorporating light-weight materials to dramatically improve efficiency through minimal fuel consumption.
WINDSHIELD DRAG – AN IMPORTANT CONTRIBUTOR TO FUEL EFFICIENCY
Perhaps no other measure is more important to fuel consumption than weight, especially with electric cars where power cell batteries alone add huge weight to a vehicle. To reduce wind drag, windshield angles relative to the vertical have dimished substantially.
However, to achieve a shallow angle, means the surface area of the glass increases significantly — a larger window, means more weight. Add in a panoramic sun-roof, which have witnessed greater popularity in recent years, means yet more heavy safety glass.
So the question remains: How to achieve a better drag coefficient and improved fuel consumption further?
LIGHT-WEIGHT VEHICLE WINDSHIELDS – A SUPERIOR OPTION TO MINERAL GLASS
With heavy glass taking up a greater proportion of the vehicles surface area, there is a far superior alternative to achieve a perfect drag coefficient and reduced fuel consumption.
At half the weight of mineral glass, hard-coated polycarbonate offers similar scratch resistance to glass, yet has a far greater resilience to impacts as well.
The substantial weight loss from a polycarbonate light-weight vehicle windshield and windows will directly improve fuel consumption efficiency as well. Add in a polycarbonate panoramic sun roof and the benefits improve further still. Aside of the considerable weight loss, (less than half the weight of glass), polycarbonate is far superior for safety since it has an impact resistance up to 250 times greater than glass.
FUTURE AIRBORNE COMMUTER VEHICLES
Another area which is developing at an astonishing pace is the concept of commuter drone vehicles. Able to freely roam the skies, they will become completely autonomous from the confines of congested freeways and side roads.
Here again, weight will play a key factor in their design and our light-weight vehicle windshields and windows designs can play an important part in achieving a minimum weight target.
OUR 35 YEARS UNBLEMISHED EXPERIENCE IN AEROSPACE
No other industry is more conscious of weight than aerospace. This may well be why Boeing abandoned traditional aluminum to coat its 787 Dreamliner, opting to replace the outer skin of the aircraft with 100% plastic composites.
Indeed 50% of all components in the 787 are made from plastic derivatives ― Shocking as this may be to believe. Regardless, the 787 is now regarded as one of the most fuel efficient commercial airliners in operation today.
As another example, a few years back it was reported American Airlines removed just one olive from its on-board catering salads, resulting an estimated annual fuel saving of $40,000.
CLI has an unblemished history working closely with many high profile enterprises, Boeing included, creating highly complex and extremely durable windshields, windows and canopies for aircraft and rotorcraft, as an excellent substitute for traditional mineral glass products. Indeed Acrylic and polycarbonate are first choice materials for many aircraft transparencies.
We have built our unblemished reputation through the creation and manufacture of superlative products for the aeronautical and rotocraft industries; an industry which surpasses all others in terms of safety standards and product excellence. CLI is proud to have supplied tens of thousands of transparencies, many of which are subjected to extreme forces in flight, yet have performed flawlessly through the life-cycle of the aircraft in which they are fitted.
Explore Our Products & Services
If you would like to know more about our comprehensive product lines and services, please drop us a line and we shall be delighted to discuss your enterprise’s specific product and design requirements with great interest.
CLI is Embracing Innovation
INNOVATIVE PRODUCTS LIGHT-WEIGHT VEHICLE WINDSHIELDS and WINDOWS
At CLI we are working with many high profile enterprises requiring complex polymer transparency products. Our goal is to provide excellent alternatives to traditional mineral glass; ideal solutions for modern light-weight vehicle windshields and windows. Our hard coated transparency products are designed and built to achieve the very highest standards of safety and durability.
DEVELOPMENT OF NEW RAW MATERIALS
We are now witnessing humanity’s greatest time of innovation with many avant-garde enterprises embracing novelty and creating environmentally sustainable transport solutions, previously viewed as ‘dream concepts’.
Amongst the many advances in ‘new’ materials are plastic polymers which have evolved dramatically, especially over the past century. More recently as we entered into the 21st century, we see the emergence of new composites which were unimaginable just thirty years ago.
Where transport is concerned, there is a dramatic revolution taking place, with a prime focus on the environment and new generation light-weight electric vehicles. Emphasis is being placed on creating vehicles incorporating light-weight materials to dramatically improve efficiency through minimal fuel consumption.
WINDSHIELD DRAG – AN IMPORTANT CONTRIBUTOR TO FUEL EFFICIENCY
Perhaps no other measure is more important to fuel consumption than weight, especially with electric cars where power cell batteries alone add huge weight to a vehicle. To reduce wind drag, windshield angles relative to the vertical have dimished substantially.
However, to achieve a shallow angle, means the surface area of the glass increases significantly — a larger window, means more weight. Add in a panoramic sun-roof, which have witnessed greater popularity in recent years, means yet more heavy safety glass.
So the question remains: How to achieve a better drag coefficient and improved fuel consumption further?
LIGHT-WEIGHT VEHICLE WINDSHIELDS – A SUPERIOR OPTION TO MINERAL GLASS
With heavy glass taking up a greater proportion of the vehicles surface area, there is a far superior alternative to achieve a perfect drag coefficient and reduced fuel consumption.
At half the weight of mineral glass, hard-coated polycarbonate offers similar scratch resistance to glass, yet has a far greater resilience to impacts as well.
The substantial weight loss from a polycarbonate light-weight vehicle windshield and windows will directly improve fuel consumption efficiency as well. Add in a polycarbonate panoramic sun roof and the benefits improve further still. Aside of the considerable weight loss, (less than half the weight of glass), polycarbonate is far superior for safety since it has an impact resistance up to 250 times greater than glass.
FUTURE AIRBORNE COMMUTER VEHICLES
Another area which is developing at an astonishing pace is the concept of commuter drone vehicles. Able to freely roam the skies, they will become completely autonomous from the confines of congested freeways and side roads.
Here again, weight will play a key factor in their design and our light-weight vehicle windshields and windows designs can play an important part in achieving a minimum weight target.
WE HOLD 35 YEARS UNBLEMISHED EXPERIENCE IN AEROSPACE
No other industry is more conscious of weight than aerospace. This may well be why Boeing abandoned traditional aluminum to coat its 787 Dreamliner, opting to replace the outer skin of the aircraft with 100% plastic composites.
Indeed 50% of all components in the 787 are made from plastic derivatives ― Shocking as this may be to believe. Regardless, the 787 is now regarded as one of the most fuel efficient commercial airliners in operation today.
As another example, a few years back it was reported American Airlines removed just one olive from its on-board catering salads, resulting an estimated annual fuel saving of $40,000.
CLI has an unblemished history working closely with many high profile enterprises, Boeing included, creating highly complex and extremely durable windshields, windows and canopies for aircraft and rotorcraft, as an excellent substitute for traditional mineral glass products. Indeed Acrylic and polycarbonate are first choice materials for many aircraft transparencies.
We have built our unblemished reputation through the creation and manufacture of superlative products for the aeronautical and rotocraft industries; an industry which surpasses all others in terms of safety standards and product excellence. CLI is proud to have supplied tens of thousands of transparencies, many of which are subjected to extreme forces in flight, yet have performed flawlessly through the life-cycle of the aircraft in which they are fitted.