Native innovation serving to Toledo hold its Glass Metropolis title

TOLEDO, Ohio (WTVG) – We all know Toledo’s nickname is “The Glass City,” but the nickname is more than just a nod to the city’s rich history in the industry. There are still many glass innovations here.

The NSG Group has long been on the cutting edge of the industry. The North American headquarters are located here in northwest Ohio.

“We have been on site for over 120 years. First as LOF, then as Pilkington, and now as NSG Group, ”said Kyle Sword, business development manager for NSG North America. “We have a history of innovation and glass technology.”

Many of the products available through the NSG Development Center in Northwood are things you may not know had a Toledo connection.

“We support dozens of start-up technologies in everything from touchscreens to refrigeration to high-performance windows in cars and buildings,” says Sword.

A window installation is actually a test site for the latest project.

“One of the areas we’re most interested in is whether or not you can turn the glass you look through every day in your home or building into a power generation source,” said Kevin Sanderson, R&D director for North America .

Sanderson says the answer is yes. “With this technology, all of the glass you are looking through could theoretically generate electricity for you,” he explains. “As a result, you could help reduce your electricity bills and have a greener footprint.”

According to Sword, the project is a partnership with a company in California.

“We make the glass and we make the coatings that make the technology possible,” he says. “The Californian company will then build on our products to develop the new high-tech technologies.”

These power generation windows are likely to be found in homes and businesses in the not too distant future

“This technology is underway and will be introduced in the next few years,” says Sword.

This new technology helps Toledo retain its Glass City title for decades. The new window technology is expected to be deployed in the residential real estate market and then expanded to commercial buildings.

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