Saint-Gobain Research India – Chennai - Inde
Who we are
Saint-Gobain Research India (SGR India) is located within the IIT Madras Research Park and is spread over 120,000 sq. ft. and set up with an investment of about Rs.150 crores (about 20 million US dollars). With its proximity to IIT Madras, one of the premier academic institutes in India, the center is part of a unique ecosystem that fosters innovation through collaboration with academia while partnering with start-up companies. The R&D center supports Saint-Gobain’s existing businesses while enabling creation of new businesses enabling the Group to improve its growth and create customized products and services for its customers in India and the region.
Our expertise
Building Science for Hot & Humid Climates, Coating Processes for Flat Glass, Digitalized Products & Services, Grinding Technology for Abrasives and Core Materials & Characterization are the key areas of focus for SGR India. A key element is the strong collaboration with local business, central R&D team, transversal R&D centers, key customers in India, academia and suppliers.
Our approach – Customer oriented Product/Process, Services & Solutions development
SGR India houses pilot lines for research on product and process development enabling customer intimacy & co-creation. A world-class experience center, showcases advanced products and solutions of the different businesses and also provides customers with a multisensory experience for the habitat and automobile segments. A Grinding center supports the development of high performance abrasive products through accurate and efficient testing simulating field conditions. State-of-the art key competency labs that work across all functions support the structural, physical and chemical testing and characterization of materials required for the development of products, processes and systems.
R&D activities in the construction sector in SGR India span across upstream activities such as new product and process development (e.g., coated glass) to downstream activities including systems, services and solutions (e.g., Glassmate).
India presents unique challenges such as the need for multi-comfort solutions for hot-humid-and-highly luminous climates. Research on multi-layer coatings for glass facades provide thermal comfort and optimal daylighting while being energy efficient. Exterior products such as insulating walls, mold resistant plasters & roofing improve thermal performance of the building.
Interior glass products that combine aesthetics with safety and seismic-resistant partitions/assemblies with acoustic performance improve the comfort of the occupants. In addition to the products, a key focus is development of accessories and systems that enable simple robust installations. Physically realistic rendering & auralization enable rapid development of custom solutions for our customers to truly perceive the impact of Saint-Gobain’s solutions on aesthetics and acoustic comfort.
Teams are also working with Automotive OEMs on thermal control windshields and bearings for better handling that improve occupant comfort.
Industrial market solutions from abrasives are tailored for improving the safety & productivity of the hand tool worker while delivering high throughput & quality finish.
