Chongqing's ATG stands as exclusive glass supplier for C919 aircrafts

The Chongqing Municipal People's Government recently inked a strategic cooperation agreement with Commercial Aircraft Cooperation of China (COMAC), the primary manufacturer of China's homegrown large aircraft, the C919. 

In the limelight stands Chongqing Aureavia Hi-Tech Glass Co (ATG), recognized as the exclusive supplier of windshield glass panels that are crucial to the C919 aircraft.

ATG embarked on an extensive journey of experimentation, investing hundreds of millions of yuan and enduring immense challenges to become the exclusive supplier of windshield glass panels for the C919.

ATG committed to developing the technology from scratch, commencing its efforts in 2016 with an annual investment exceeding 100 million yuan ($13.82 million). Their dedication culminated in a breakthrough in 2022, successfully producing high-performance aviation glass panels.

However, the journey was riddled with obstacles. Transitioning from laboratory success to production line viability posed a significant challenge. Conducting experiments directly on the production line risked substantial financial loss, as the glass production line could become inoperable if the experiment failed. Manufacturing high-performance aviation glass, with sizes exceeding two meters, necessitated the utilization of a real glass production line, which, once activated, must operate continuously for at least five years to avoid rendering the furnace obsolete.

Despite the potential financial risk, ATG's Chairman, Bai Yibo, remained resolute. "Even if I fail, I have paved the way for future endeavors," emphasized Bai. Their efforts bore fruit in 2020 with the launch of their flagship product, the "Kunlun" glass, garnering recognition after being adopted by Huawei for their Mate60 Pro smartphones. Bai remained unwaveringly focused on this aviation glass project, allocating profits from smartphone glass sales to subsidize the experimentation costs for aviation glass.

In December 2022, with the successful delivery of the world's first C919 aircraft, ATG earned commendations from the Civil Aircraft Materials Industry Development Alliance for enhancing China's domestic material industry capabilities and contributing to the transformation towards high-end equipment manufacturing.

Today, ATG not only serves as the exclusive supplier of C919 glass windshields, but also spearheads the formulation of two national glass-related standards, earning recognition as a national high-tech enterprise. With over 350 patent applications, including 282 invention patents, ATG continues to invest substantially into its future research and development, maintaining an annual R&D investment of 100 million yuan.

ATG is actively driving the consolidation of upstream and downstream enterprises, leading efforts for the establishment of an aviation windshield industrial cluster in Chongqing's Liangjiang New Area.

The company also plans to collaborate with Chongqing University to establish an industry-academia-research collaboration platform, furthering its pursuit of groundbreaking technologies and solidifying its position as a competitive high-tech enterprise.