Project location:
Shanghai
Glass Configuration:
10mm Ultra-Clear Ceramic-Fritted Heat-Strengthened Curved Glass + 2.28mm PVB + 10mm Ultra-Clear Heat-Strengthened Curved Laminated Glass
10mm Ultra-Clear Tempered Curved Glass + 2.28mm SGP + 10mm Ultra-Clear Tempered Curved Laminated Glass
Maximum Glass Size:
7330mm * 1720mm
At Zhongbo Glass, we are honored to contribute to the world’s most prestigious hospitality addresses. When the Shanghai Qiantan Shangri-La — a landmark of luxury on the banks of the Huangpu River — required a sweeping curved glass facade, the design demanded a solution that harmonizes artistic elegance with uncompromising performance. We were selected as the exclusive glass manufacturer to supply two distinct curved laminated glass configurations, each engineered for specific zones of the building.
The architectural vision called for a seamless, crystal-clear curve that integrates decorative ceramic frit shading and premium safety interlayers. Our response was a dual-specification package: heat-strengthened curved laminates with PVB and ceramic frit for distortion-free optical quality, and fully tempered curved laminates with SentryGlas® Plus (SGP) for maximum structural strength. Panel lengths reached 7,330mm, proving our mastery in producing large-format curved glass with multiple interlayer technologies under one roof. The Shanghai Qiantan Shangri-La now enjoys a signature facade that embodies the serenity and sophistication of the Shangri-La brand.
To meet varying structural and aesthetic requirements across the building envelope, we engineered and fabricated two specialized curved laminated glass configurations, both crafted from ultra-clear low-iron glass for the purest transparency.
10mm Ultra-Clear Ceramic-Fritted Heat-Strengthened Curved Glass + 2.28mm PVB + 10mm Ultra-Clear Heat-Strengthened Curved Glass — Fully Laminated
This configuration prioritises optical flatness and decorative solar control:
Heat-Strengthened (Semi-Tempered) Plies: Both 10mm glass plies are heat-strengthened, achieving a surface compression between 24 and 52 MPa. This process provides twice the strength of annealed glass while virtually eliminating the roller-wave distortion and spontaneous breakage risk associated with fully tempered glass. The result is a beautifully flat, true reflection across the curved surface.
Integrated Ceramic Frit: The outer glass ply features a permanent ceramic frit pattern, screen-printed and fused during the heat-strengthening and bending process. The frit provides artistic shading, reduces solar glare, and enhances privacy for hotel guests — all while being permanently sealed on the exterior-facing surface.
2.28mm PVB Interlayer: A thick polyvinyl butyral interlayer bonds the two plies, providing excellent acoustic dampening, UV protection, and safety retention. PVB was selected for its proven optical clarity and cost-effectiveness in applications where the extreme structural performance of SGP is not mandated.
10mm Ultra-Clear Tempered Curved Glass + 2.28mm SentryGlas® Plus (SGP) + 10mm Ultra-Clear Tempered Curved Glass — Fully Laminated
For areas with higher structural demand or more stringent safety requirements, we supplied a robust SGP laminate:
Fully Tempered Plies: Both 10mm glass plies are fully tempered to a surface compression exceeding 69 MPa, delivering four to five times the strength of annealed glass.
2.28mm SGP Interlayer: SentryGlas® Plus is an ionoplast interlayer with five times the tear strength and significantly higher stiffness than PVB. In the unlikely event of breakage, the SGP holds the glass fragments firmly in place, maintaining the panel’s structural integrity and preventing fall-out — critical for overhead or high-traffic zones within the hotel.
The maximum glass panel size for both configurations reached 7,330mm in length by 1,720mm in width, covering approximately 12.6 square meters per curved panel. A 7.3-meter-long single curved glass sheet creates an uninterrupted ribbon of transparency that maximizes river views and natural daylight for the Shangri-La’s interiors.
Producing curved laminated panels of this length — in two distinct tempering and interlayer combinations — demands absolute control over the bending, heat-treatment, and lamination processes. At Zhongbo Glass, 7.3-meter curved panels are produced with the same systematic precision as our record-breaking 11-meter and 13-meter formats.
The project required us to deliver both heat-strengthened and fully tempered curved plies. Our super-jumbo curved tempering furnace is programmed with distinct heating and quenching profiles to achieve either the 24-52 MPa surface compression of heat-strengthened glass or the 69+ MPa of fully tempered glass. For Configuration A, we precisely controlled the cooling rate to prevent excessive surface stress, ensuring the optical flatness that eliminates roller-wave distortion — essential for a luxury facade where any visual imperfection would be unacceptable.
Applying and firing a ceramic frit pattern onto a heat-strengthened curved substrate is a delicate process. The frit must mature to full color and durability during the bending cycle, without the extreme quench of full tempering causing micro-cracks or color variation. We employed precision screen printing and carefully calibrated furnace profiles to achieve a uniform, permanently bonded frit pattern that meets the Shangri-La’s exacting decorative standards.
Handling both 2.28mm PVB and 2.28mm SGP interlayers for curved laminates on the same project demonstrates our versatility. PVB requires specific temperature and humidity control during layup, while SGP demands extended de-airing and higher autoclave pressures. Our facility operates dedicated laminating lines for each interlayer type, with:
Class 1 cleanroom layup to prevent contamination.
Vacuum bag de-airing tailored for curved, thick interlayer stacks.
Large-format curved autoclaves capable of processing panels over 8 meters. Whether PVB or SGP, the resulting laminates are bubble-free, optically clear, and fully adhered along the entire curved edge.
Managing parallel production of heat-strengthened PVB laminates with frit and tempered SGP laminates for a single project requires sophisticated scheduling and quality coordination. Our integrated factory — with in-house bending, fritting, tempering, and laminating — enabled us to deliver both configurations on time, with matching ultra-clear aesthetics and consistent edge finishes, so the facade reads as one cohesive design.
Transporting 7.3-meter curved laminated glass panels from our factory to the Qiantan site in Shanghai’s Pudong district was executed with military precision. Our custom curved transport stillages, equipped with full-contact cradles and vibration-dampened air-ride trailers, ensured every panel — whether the more delicate fritted HS unit or the robust SGP laminate — arrived in flawless condition, ready for immediate glazing.
The Shanghai Qiantan Shangri-La project highlights the breadth and depth of Zhongbo Glass’s capabilities:
Curved Glass Size Leadership: Our curved tempering furnace processes glass up to 12,000mm, making 7,330mm panels a well-proven scale in our production portfolio.
Dual Heat-Treatment Expertise: We provide both heat-strengthened (semi-tempered) and fully tempered curved glass, allowing architects to optimize for optical quality or structural strength — all from a single supplier.
Ceramic Frit Integration on Curved Glass: We are specialists in applying and firing ceramic frit patterns on bent glass of any heat-treatment type, ensuring permanent, visually flawless decorative and functional shading.
Multi-Interlayer Capability: Our facility handles PVB and SGP laminates with equal expertise. We match the interlayer to the precise safety, structural, and acoustic requirements of each building zone.
Ultra-Clear Consistency: All glass plies are premium low-iron, guaranteeing a bright, neutral transparency that enhances the luxury guest experience and provides true-color views.
Proven Hospitality Portfolio: The Shanghai Qiantan Shangri-La joins our distinguished collection of five-star hotel projects, including the Conrad Shenzhen (multi-configuration jumbo glass), JW Marriott Beijing Central (curved fire-rated fritted IGU), Banyan Tree Nanjing (12m structural fins), and Grand Hyatt Dalian (ultra-thick fins). Our track record in delivering complex glass solutions for luxury hospitality is unmatched.
The Shanghai Qiantan Shangri-La now welcomes guests with a gracefully curved glass facade that reflects the highest standards of luxury and technical excellence — made possible by Zhongbo Glass. We delivered 7,330mm × 1,720mm ultra-clear curved laminated panels in two configurations: heat-strengthened with PVB and ceramic frit for optical perfection, and fully tempered with SGP for ultimate safety. This project is a definitive demonstration that Zhongbo Glass can provide a complete, multi-technology curved glass solution for the world’s most prestigious addresses.
Contact Zhongbo Glass today to discuss how our curved, fritted, and laminated glass capabilities can realize your next hospitality or commercial landmark. From concept to completion, our engineering team stands ready to partner with you.
