CLEARSHIELD TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
A subsidiary of Ritec International Limited, UK
RAIL TRANSPORT
For glass in platform shelters, bridges, waiting areas and rolling stock, ClearShield Eco-Glass® is the ideal solution for...
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cleaner glass that stays looking new for longer
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easier removal of most graffiti
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making passengers feel safer
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reducing passenger complaints
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Glass Renovation
Metal oxides, such as dust from rails and brake pads, as well as usual atmospheric pollution will badly stain and discolor glass. Cleaning the dirt build-up is very difficult, if not impossible. Not only does dirty glass affect visibility, it also creates an unclean and unsafe image. The ClearShield Eco-System® can renovate glass to an ‘as-new’ appearance.
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Ritec ClearShield® Protection
ClearShield Eco-Glass® resists staining and discoloration, keeping all glass looking like new for longer. This results in increased passenger comfort and satisfaction as well as reduced maintenance requirements.
RAIL TRANSPORT CASE STUDIES
Luton Airport Parkway Station
Luton, UK
Glass at Luton Airport Parkway station not only had to contend with the usual dirty residue from diesel trains, but also unburnt hydrocarbons from aviation fuel generated by aircraft taking off and landing at nearby Luton Airport. The glass had not been cleaned since the station opened in 1999 so there was a significant amount of dirt build-up. Thameslink Rail, the company that runs the station, had to find a long-lasting solution. Thameslink contacted Ritec to provide the answer.
Ritec’s on-site team subsequently treated most of the glass at the station, including the entrance façade and platform shelters, with its award-winning ClearShield® glass surface treatment.
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The Head of Retail for Thameslink Rail said: “The glazing was difficult to keep clean – regular window cleaning was not effective and was costly. We needed something that kept glass cleaner longer and, if needed, made the cleaning easier to do. RitecClearShield® was the ideal solution and I would recommend it to anyone.”
Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto Station
Hokkaido, Japan
This station has been rebuilt and very extensively enlarged to serve from March 2016 as the northern terminal of the new Hokkaido Shinkansen (‘bullet train’) line. All the external glass surfaces (19,350ft²) of this station have been protected with the ClearShield Eco-System®, applied in the factory.
Previously, Hokkaido Railway Company (JR Hokkaido) specified photocatalytic coatings ('self-cleaning' glass) for glass windows and curtain walling of many new stations. However, the company was becoming increasingly aware that photocatalytic coatings were not performing as well as expected, particularly under wet and / or salty conditions, like those close to the sea. In fact, this type of coating has never been used for glass in marine vessels or shower enclosures, and also not recommended for buildings near the sea. Japan consists of large and small islands and many railway stations are located on the coast, so an alternative technology had to be found.
On the other hand, Ritec ClearShield® works in all conditions and environments. It was originally specified to protect glass in a number of stations, including Numanohata (3,770ft²) and Ainosato-Kyoikudai (small area) in 2007, then Shiroishi (14,000ft²) in 2010 with excellent results. These successful experiences have led to JR Hokkaido specifying ClearShield® for this prestigious shinkansen station.
Bergen Central Station
Bergen, Norway
A newly-built glass fence, composed of 129 individual panels approximately 1.15m x 2.35m (3’ 9” x 7’ 8.5”), runs about 150m (492ft) alongside the railroad between Bergen Central Station and the Ulriken tunnel. Originally the railroad infrastructure management company specified ‘self-cleaning’ glass for the side facing the railroad. However, the glass manufacturer did not believe this was suitable for this type of application so ClearShield® ‘non-stick’, easy-clean glass protection was given the green light instead.
With decades of glass renovation, protection and maintenance experience, Stein Solli OverflateXperten, Ritec's official Marketing Partner in Norway, carried out the application of the ClearShield Eco-System® in-house prior to installation (although glass can be treated on-site if required). Glass protected with this award-winning System is upgraded to higher-performance ClearShield Eco-Glass®. This special type of glass resists both organic and inorganic contamination, whereas ‘self-cleaning’ glass is not able to break down inorganic contamination such as brake dust from trains and pollution. Additionally, unlike ‘self-cleaning’ glass, ClearShield Eco-Glass® is not reliant on sunlight or rainwater to perform; its surface is always easier to maintain and reduces the frequency of cleaning, saving time and money. ClearShield Eco-Glass® also looks cleaner for longer as there is less build-up of dirt.