Project Overview
At Zhongbo Glass, our expertise extends far beyond jumbo facade panels. When the Grand Hyatt Dalian required a series of exceptionally robust, crystal-clear structural glass elements for its luxury interior architecture, we were entrusted to deliver. These were not vast panoramic windows, but rather precision-engineered ultra-thick glass fins and structural supports — small in dimension, yet monumental in strength and clarity.
The design demanded glass components that could bear significant structural loads while disappearing into the visual environment. We manufactured custom triple-ply SentryGlas® Plus (SGP) laminated glass panels using 19mm ultra-clear tempered glass, achieving an overall thickness exceeding 60mm. Every piece was fabricated to exacting dimensional tolerances and edge finishes, showcasing our mastery of heavy structural glass lamination for high-end hospitality environments. This project proves that at Zhongbo Glass, our engineering precision is as sharp for a 450mm structural fin as it is for a 13-meter facade panel.
Glass Configuration — A Compact, Heavy-Duty Structural Composite
The glass specification called for a laminate that functions as a load-bearing structural member while offering the purest transparency. We supplied a configuration of extreme density and integrity:
19mm Ultra-White Tempered + 2.28mm SentryGlas® Plus (SGP) + 19mm Ultra-White Tempered + 2.28mm SGP + 19mm Ultra-White Tempered — Fully Laminated
Every element of this make-up is designed for structural performance and optical perfection:
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All 19mm Ultra-White (Low-Iron) Glass: We used thick, premium low-iron glass for all three plies. Even at 19mm per ply, the ultra-clear composition eliminates the greenish tint of standard glass, maintaining a bright, neutral appearance. This was critical for the Hyatt’s luxury aesthetic, where any color cast would detract from the interior design.
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Fully Tempered: Each 19mm ply was thermally tempered to a surface compression exceeding 69 MPa, providing four to five times the strength of annealed glass. Tempering glass of this thickness demands exceptional furnace control to achieve uniform stress without distortion.
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Dual 2.28mm SGP Interlayers: Two layers of SentryGlas® Plus ionoplast interlayer bond the three plies into a single structural composite. SGP is essential here: its high modulus and tear strength (five times that of PVB) give the laminate the rigidity and post-breakage load capacity required for a structural fin. Even under extreme stress, the panel remains intact and load-bearing.
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Total Thickness Exceeds 61mm: With 57mm of glass and 4.56mm of SGP, each finished panel is a dense, rigid glass block. This thickness provides the bending resistance and stability required to support adjacent glass facades or canopies.
Maximum Glass Size: 450mm × 1180mm — Precision Over Scale
The maximum glass panel size for this project was 450mm in width by 1,180mm in height. While these dimensions are compact compared to our record-breaking jumbo panels, the technical challenge is equally profound — and in some ways, more demanding. These panels are not decorative; they are structural glass fins or supports, where every millimeter of thickness, every edge condition, and every bond line is critical to the safety and stability of the entire glass assembly.
At this scale, the glass component is essentially a thick, narrow beam. Cutting, tempering, laminating, and finishing such dense, heavy pieces requires the same precision equipment and rigorous quality control that we apply to our largest projects. For Zhongbo Glass, there is no such thing as a “small” job when the performance stakes are this high.
Overcoming the Challenges — Zhongbo Glass’s Expertise in Thick Structural Glass
1. Tempering 19mm Ultra-Clear Glass to Exact Standards
Tempering thick glass (19mm) presents unique challenges. The core must cool at a controlled rate relative to the surface to achieve the desired surface compression without creating excessive stress or spontaneous breakage risk. For ultra-clear glass, the thermal absorption characteristics differ from standard clear glass, requiring proprietary furnace recipes. Our advanced flat tempering furnace precisely managed these variables, producing 19mm tempered plies with uniform surface stress and flatness within the tight tolerances required for multi-ply lamination.
2. Triple-Ply Lamination of Small, Thick Panels
Laminating three 19mm plies with two SGP interlayers, even in a compact format, is a process demanding absolute cleanliness and process control. The stiffness of SGP and the thickness of the glass stack make de-airing particularly challenging. Our process included:
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Class 1 cleanroom layup to prevent any particle contamination that would cause optical defects or bond-line voids.
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Vacuum bag de-airing with extended cycles tailored for thick laminates, ensuring complete air removal from between the heavy glass plies.
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Custom autoclave cycle in our high-pressure autoclave, calibrated to bond the entire 61mm stack uniformly without glass displacement or edge squeeze-out.
The result is a crystal-clear, bubble-free laminate with full SGP adhesion across the entire bond area — capable of transferring structural loads as designed.
3. Edge Work and Dimensional Precision
For structural glass elements, edge quality is paramount. Each panel’s edges were precision-ground and polished to a high-luster, transparent finish. This not only provides the specified aesthetic but also removes any micro-cracks that could become initiation points under structural loading. Our CNC edge-working centers held dimensional tolerances of ±0.5mm, ensuring that every fin fitted perfectly within its steel shoe or point-fixing hardware.
4. Handling and Delivery
While the small format simplifies transport, the weight of these dense glass blocks (each panel weighing over 80 kilograms despite its compact size) demanded careful handling. We used custom foam-lined crates with individual compartments to prevent edge contact and surface abrasion. Every panel arrived at the Dalian project site dimensionally verified and ready for immediate structural installation.
Why Zhongbo Glass? — Mastering Glass at Every Scale, from Millimeters to Meters
The Grand Hyatt Dalian project highlights a crucial facet of Zhongbo Glass’s identity: our expertise is not defined by size alone, but by engineering complexity and quality.
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Thick Glass Capability: We routinely temper and laminate glass from 3mm up to 19mm and beyond, building laminates with total thicknesses exceeding 100mm. Our furnaces and laminating lines are equally proficient with ultra-thin and ultra-thick glass.
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Structural SGP Lamination: We are recognized leaders in SentryGlas® Plus processing, producing laminates for structural fins, beams, stair treads, floors, and balustrades. Our SGP laminates meet the most stringent global safety and structural codes.
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Absolute Dimensional Control: Whether a panel is 12 meters long or 450mm wide, our CNC cutting, edge polishing, and lamination jigs deliver the precision that structural applications demand.
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Ultra-Clear Glass Expertise: We understand the handling characteristics of low-iron glass at every thickness, ensuring that even thick, multi-ply laminates remain brilliantly neutral in color.
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Full Spectrum Portfolio: The Grand Hyatt Dalian joins a peerless portfolio that spans the 13.5-meter Huawei R&D Center panels, the 12-meter Banyan Tree structural fins, the 11.4-meter curved Zeekr Center laminates, and the 7-ply Wuhan SKP glass. From the world’s largest facade panels to the most compact structural glass elements, Zhongbo Glass delivers.
Conclusion
At the Grand Hyatt Dalian, the presence of Zhongbo Glass may be subtle to the untrained eye — but it is fundamental to the building’s transparent, light-filled architecture. Our 19mm + 2.28SGP + 19mm + 2.28SGP + 19mm ultra-clear tempered laminated structural glass panels, sized up to 450mm × 1180mm, provide the invisible strength behind the hotel’s most elegant spaces. This project is proof that at Zhongbo Glass, we engineer glass solutions for every scale — massive or minute — with the same passion for perfection.
Contact Zhongbo Glass today to discuss your structural glass requirements. From thick glass fins and beams to oversized facade panels, our technical team is ready to collaborate on engineering the glass components that will define your next project.