Project Overview
At Zhongbo Glass, we thrive on bringing the most ambitious architectural visions to life — especially when they demand glass of extreme scale, complex geometry, and integrated aesthetics. When Zeekr, the premium electric vehicle brand, designed its landmark Zeekr Center in Nanjing, the architectural concept required a seamless, flowing glass facade that mirrors the brand’s commitment to innovation, sustainability, and pure design.
We were selected as the sole glass manufacturer for this iconic project, tasked with delivering two distinct glass configurations: an ultra-long curved triple-ply SGP laminated glass with digital ceramic frit that stretches over 11.3 meters in a single pane, and a high-performance insulating glass unit for other envelope zones. The centerpiece curved panels represent one of the longest single-piece curved fritted laminates ever produced, and they stand as a testament to our unmatched manufacturing depth. For Zhongbo Glass, the Zeekr Center is not just a project — it is proof that no length, no curve, and no decorative integration is beyond our capability.
Glass Configurations — Curved Artistry Meets Energy Efficiency
To fulfill the varied performance requirements across the building envelope, we engineered and supplied two specialized glass make-ups, both executed to our highest quality standards.
Configuration A: The Signature Curved Facade
12mm Ultra-Clear Curved Tempered + 2.28mm SentryGlas® Plus (SGP) + 12mm Ultra-Clear Ceramic Frit Curved Tempered + 2.28mm SGP + 12mm Ultra-Clear Curved Tempered — Fully Laminated
This monolithic curved laminate serves as the visual and structural hero of the Zeekr Center:
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All-Ultra-Clear (Low-Iron) Glass: Three plies of 12mm low-iron glass provide a brilliant, neutral transparency with zero greenish tint. The pure clarity allows Zeekr’s vehicles to be showcased in their truest colors.
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Curved Tempering for Every Ply: Each 12mm glass ply is individually hot-bent and tempered to an identical, precisely controlled radius. This ensures perfect inter-ply matching and full surface compression above 69 MPa for superior strength.
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Integrated Ceramic Frit Layer: The central glass ply features a permanent ceramic frit pattern, screen-printed and fused during the bending and tempering process. The frit creates controlled shading, visual texture, and brand identity — permanently sealed within the laminate for lifelong durability.
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Dual 2.28mm SGP Interlayers: Two layers of SentryGlas® Plus ionoplast interlayer bond the three plies into a monolithic structural composite. SGP provides five times the tear strength of PVB and exceptional post-breakage integrity, ensuring the panel remains intact even under extreme impact.
Configuration B: High-Performance Insulating Glass Units
8mm Low-E Tempered Glass + 16mm Air Cavity + 6mm Clear Tempered Glass + 1.52mm PVB + 6mm Clear Tempered Glass — Insulated Laminated Unit
For other sections of the facade, we supplied a flat insulating glass configuration:
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Low-E Coating: A high-performance low-emissivity coating on the #2 or #3 surface reduces solar heat gain while maintaining excellent visible light transmission.
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16mm Air Cavity: The sealed air space provides effective thermal insulation, reducing energy consumption for the building.
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Laminated Inner Panel: The 6mm + 1.52mm PVB + 6mm clear tempered inner laminate adds safety and security, holding glass fragments in place if breakage occurs.
Maximum Glass Size: 11,392mm × 2,863mm — A New Curved Length Record
The maximum glass panel size for Configuration A reached an awe-inspiring 11,392mm in length by 2,863mm in width — over 11.3 meters long and covering approximately 32.6 square meters per single curved panel. To put this in context:
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A single curved laminated panel is longer than a standard shipping container.
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The aspect ratio of nearly 4:1 creates a slender, elegant ribbon of glass.
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Weighing several tonnes, each panel demands monumental handling throughout production.
Fabricating a curved, ceramic-fritted, triple-ply SGP laminate at this extreme length is an achievement that sits at the absolute apex of glass processing technology. At Zhongbo Glass, we accomplished it with the same systematic precision that defines all our super-jumbo productions.
Overcoming the Impossible — Zhongbo Glass’s Technical Mastery
1. Bending and Tempering 11.4-Meter Fritted Glass
Applying a ceramic frit pattern to a 12mm ultra-clear glass sheet, then bending and tempering it to a precise curvature over an 11.4-meter span, requires an extraordinary fusion of ceramic printing and thermal processing expertise. Our process:
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Precision screen printing of the ceramic frit design onto the cut glass.
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Firing and bending in our super-jumbo curved tempering furnace, which uses multi-zone heating and an adjustable bending mechanism to achieve a consistent radius across the full length while simultaneously maturing the ceramic ink to a permanent, durable finish.
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Full tempering to achieve surface compression exceeding 69 MPa, with no frit discoloration, peeling, or optical distortion.
2. Triple-Ply Curved SGP Lamination at Record Length
Laminating three 11.4-meter curved plies with two stiff 2.28mm SGP interlayers is one of the most complex glass laminating operations possible. SGP’s high modulus requires the glass plies to match in curvature to sub-millimeter tolerance. Our process includes:
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Pre-shaped SGP interlayers, CNC-cut to match the exact curvature.
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Class 1 cleanroom layup using vacuum lifters and alignment jigs to position the three massive plies and two interlayers without contamination.
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Extended vacuum bag de-airing to remove all air from the curved stack.
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A customized autoclave cycle in our massive autoclave, delivering uniform heat and pressure across the entire 11.4-meter assembly. The finished laminate is crystal-clear, bubble-free, and structurally monolithic.
3. Optical and Aesthetic Consistency
For a premium automotive brand like Zeekr, any visual defect in the glass would be unacceptable. We controlled every variable — glass batch, tempering parameters, SGP thickness, frit density — to ensure perfect optical quality. The curved fritted panels exhibit zero roller-wave distortion, consistent frit opacity, and flawless transparency.
4. Insulating Glass Production for the Complementary Units
While the curved laminates were our headline achievement, we manufactured the Configuration B insulating glass units with the same rigor. The Low-E coated tempered glass was processed in our dedicated IG cleanroom, with automated edge deletion, spacer application, and dual-seal perimeter sealing to guarantee long-term thermal performance and condensation resistance.
5. Logistics for 11.4-Meter Curved Glass
Transporting an 11.4-meter curved multi-tonne laminate from our factory to the Nanjing construction site is a supply chain operation of the highest magnitude. We designed custom curved transport stillages with continuous-contact cradles shaped to the panel’s exact radius. Vibration-monitored air-ride trailers, police-escorted night convoys, and meticulous handling protocols ensured every panel arrived on site immaculate and installation-ready.
Why Zhongbo Glass? — The Pinnacle of Curved Decorative Glass Manufacturing
The Zeekr Center Nanjing encapsulates the unique strengths that make Zhongbo Glass the global partner of choice for landmark architectural projects:
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Unrivalled Curved Glass Length: Our curved tempering furnace processes glass beyond 12,000mm, enabling us to produce curved laminates up to 11.4 meters and more — a capability that defines the frontier of the industry.
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Frit and Decorative Integration at Scale: We are experts in applying ceramic frit, digital prints, and other decorative treatments on jumbo curved glass, fully encapsulating them within SGP laminates for permanent durability and aesthetic brilliance.
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Multi-Ply SGP Lamination in Any Geometry: Flat or curved, our dedicated SGP laminating infrastructure handles single, double, and triple interlayer configurations with absolute reliability.
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Dual Configuration Supply: We can simultaneously deliver complex curved decorative laminates and high-performance insulating glass units for a single project, streamlining the supply chain and ensuring aesthetic consistency.
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Engineering-First, Full-Service Partnership: From frit design optimization and structural calculations to custom packaging and site logistics, our team supports every phase, reducing risk and accelerating project timelines.
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Proven Record with World-Leading Brands: The Zeekr Center joins our elite portfolio alongside the OPPO Store (digital print), Xiaomi Home Nanjing (curved frit), Xiaomi International Headquarters (dual curved IGUs), Huawei R&D Center (13.5m flat), and Foshan Vientiane City (10.7m curved). Our track record in delivering extreme, decorated, and curved glass for global brands is unmatched.
Conclusion
The Zeekr Center in Nanjing is a bold expression of automotive innovation and architectural elegance — and at its heart lies Zhongbo Glass’s most advanced curved decorative laminate: an 11,392mm × 2,863mm ultra-clear curved triple-ply SGP laminated panel with integrated ceramic frit. Complemented by high-performance insulating glass units, this project demonstrates our ability to deliver a complete glazing solution of record-breaking scale and aesthetic complexity. At Zhongbo Glass, we don’t just make glass; we make the impossible, possible.
Contact Zhongbo Glass today to discuss how our super-jumbo curved, fritted, and laminated glass solutions can define your next iconic project. From concept to completion, we are your partner in turning visionary architecture into built reality.