Glasstec 2008, held in Dusseldorf in October, featured a 23-ft (7m) transparent bent bridge made of cold-molded glass. Cold-bending technology enabled the molding & forming of the glass without using heat. This technique results in particularly brilliant surface clarity & purity, as well as maximum efficiency & safety characteristics for structural glass construction. Cold-bent glass is particularly suited for designing wide-span facades or roofs. Its use as a bridge provides a multitude of possibilities for architects to use when implementing their visions. The glass bridge, which visitors could walk on, consisted of individual 0.15" (4mm) bent glass panes, each with a dimension of 1.4" total lamination. The material-optimised panes were connected using a special laminating technology that enabled them to withstand extreme stress & strain.
