Peguform Bohemia (CZ-46078 Liberec; www.peguform.cz) will team up with Exatec (Europe: D-51429 Bergisch-Gladbach www.exatec.biz), a development joint venture of Bayer MaterialScience (BMS) and GE Advanced Materials (GEAM), on the first series manufacture of polycarbonate automotive glazing using Exatec´s plasma technology. Peguform plans to start production of side and rear car windows as well as panoramic roofs during the course of 2005.

At a pre-K 2004 press conference, BMS executives predicted annual demand for PC glazing of around 75,000 t/y by 2007. The product, which combines an enhanced 10-year weathering layer with a glass-like plasma topcoat, has been tested in some small-run models, and a number of machinery manufacturers demonstrated processing of PC for glazing at the fair. Market opportunity for the glazing, which Peguform Bohemia will sell as “cleverGlass”, is “huge,” said CEO Pavel Neuman. He added that its production will be “one of the most important steps” in the company´s growth strategy.”