TOKYO, April 23, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- AGC, a world-leading supplier of glass, chemicals, ceramics and other high-tech materials and components, today announced the company has become the sole-source supplier of all glass components for the construction of Arena Corinthians. Located in Sao Paulo, Brazil, the football stadium features a design heavily accented by glass, extra-clear glass selected for its aesthetic qualities and deployed in the facades, balustrades and VIP lounges.

The glass-studded stadium is set to host the opening match of the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™.

AGC was selected as an official supplier of the stadium upon favorable evaluation of Planibel Clearvision, a specialty float glass that provides exceptional clarity through minimal impurities. Low iron content allows objects to be viewed naturally in their original color and to maintain an optimal color rendering when painted. 

"We selected AGC's Planibel Clearvision for its excellent transparency, quality and color stability, in addition to its reliable supply," said Anibal Coutinho, chief architect of Arena Corinthians. "As the home stadium of the Sport Club Corinthians Paulista, Arena Corinthians needs to incorporate the team's colors, which are black and white. Following several tests, we determined that Planibel Clearvision was the ideal glass material for this historic architectural project for its rendering of purely white colors."

"Planibel Clearvision is the perfect choice for glass fittings at Arena Corinthians," said Davide Cappellino, President of AGC Glass Brazil. "Planibel Clearvision's wider architectural applications include interior partitions, building facades, shop fronts and museum displays, while industrial applications include lighting and solar cell covers, furniture and shower screens."

Arena Corinthians is the 11th largest stadium in Brazil, with a seating capacity of 48,234. Newly constructed by Odebrecht and featuring an original, modern look, the stadium is scheduled to host six 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™ matches, including the opening game. The stadium's East facade, incorporating AGC's Planibel Clearvision glass, is the world's largest video screen, measuring 170m in length and 20m in height. A total of 72,000m² of glass weighing 1,500 tons is used for the facades, balustrades and VIP lounges.

About the AGC Group
The AGC Group, with Tokyo-based Asahi Glass Co., Ltd. at its core, is a world-leading supplier of flat, automotive and display glass, chemicals and other high-tech materials and components. Drawing on more than a century of technical innovation, the AGC Group has developed world-class expertise in fields including glass, fluorine chemistry and ceramics technologies. The group employs some 50,000 people worldwide and generates annual sales of approximately 13 billion USD through business in about 30 countries. For more information, please visit www.agc-group.com/.

For more information on Planibel Clearvision, please visit www.yourglass.com.

Media Contact
Junichi Kobayashi, General Manager, Corporate Communications & Investor Relations, AGC Asahi Glass Co., Ltd.
(Contact: Tsuyoshi Odahara; Tel: +81-3-3218-5603; E-mail: info-pr@agc.co.jp)

(Reference)

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SOURCE AGC