Perlini (Isoclima Group): "Durability, weight, and radiation"
These are the main technological developments according to the company's chief commercial & marketing officer who explains how glass is moving from an element with limits to one that enhances design.
The Group Isoclima develops and manufactures transparent solutions for various sectors, from yachting to aerospace, from high-performance automobiles to civilian and military armored vehicles, from the railway industry to security architecture. It has an industrial presence in Italy, Croatia, and the United States, with five production sites and a turnover expected to exceed €150 million in 2025. SUPER YACHT 24 interviewed Giancarlo Perlini, Group Chief Commercial & Marketing Officer, to learn more about the industry's dynamics, developments, and prospects.
Isoclima operates in various sectors: what are the advantages of this positioning?
We operate in demanding fields such as yachting, civil and military security, aerospace, railways, high-performance vehicles, and security architecture. This allows us to develop a continuous and unique blend of expertise in materials, technologies, and processes: one of our key differentiating factors, enabling solid and diversified growth.
What are the main developments you are working on today?
"Across all sectors, we're seeing a steady growth in complexity and performance expectations. The guiding principles are clear: weight reduction, durability, and solar radiation control, increasingly through smart and adaptive solutions. We're also strengthening our industrial capacity, combining high specialization and scalability, a key element for managing both highly customized projects and more structured production."
You talked about heat: how is it handled on board superyachts?
Controlling solar radiation is crucial today. Advanced interlayers represent a key technology for filtering radiation. These are complemented by dynamic solutions such as electrochromic glass, which actively modulate light transmission, improving onboard comfort and helping reduce indirect emissions. We are also developing next-generation technologies based on advanced coatings with electrically activated components, which allow for greater design freedom on large surfaces and complex geometries, overcoming the limitations of traditional layering.
How are the demands of shipowners, designers and shipyards evolving?
The evolution is rapid and structural. The arrival of new generations of ultra-high net worth individuals is transforming the way we experience yachts, increasingly conceived as living spaces as well as navigational spaces. There is a growing demand for large glass surfaces, even semi-submerged or submerged ones, greater brightness, and a more seamless continuity between interior and exterior. The challenge is clear: maximize light while reducing heat. Comfort and quality of experience are becoming central, and glass is taking on an increasingly crucial role.
Is the technological limit near?
"If we had reached the limit, there would be no reason to exist. So I would say the opposite. Glass is evolving from a constraining element, which in the past required structures and posed design limitations, to a structural and enabling element, capable of enhancing the onboard experience, style, and design. Solutions like VisionPlus, for example, allow the glass to be visually integrated with the hull while maintaining transparency, meeting the designers' needs without compromise."
Any other developments you are looking at?
We're pushing forward with large formats, complex curvatures, and high performance. At our Borgo Veneto site, we have the world's largest chemical tempering furnace, which allows us to produce glass up to 10 meters in width with unique structural characteristics. We're therefore able to create continuous structural glass surfaces without vertical mullions, with almost imperceptible transitions between panels. We're also continuing to develop experiential solutions, such as semi-submerged and submerged applications, which open up new ways to experience the sea. Among the most advanced solutions, I would undoubtedly mention Secure Solar Shield, which reduces solar radiation by over 50%, improving onboard comfort and contributing to energy efficiency. This solution was awarded the Blue Wake label at the last Monaco Yacht Show.
What are the main risks to glass in the marine environment?
"The main challenge is long-term durability in a harsh environment. This is an area in which Isoclima has built a distinctive competitive advantage, overcoming this challenge from the outset. We have developed an integrated approach that combines controlled process conditions, advanced cleanrooms, proprietary adhesion promoter technologies, and advanced edge sealing systems."
How much does refitting weigh on your business?
It's important to distinguish between light refits and structured refits. We see growing potential especially in the latter, driven by the desire to enhance existing assets through more in-depth interventions. It's an area where we're present and growing.
What are your main markets?
"The domestic market is a fundamental pillar, and we are capable of accounting for over 50% of the global market. At the same time, exports are highly attractive, especially for more complex projects. We collaborate with leading international shipyards, who recognize the value of our solutions in terms of quality, reliability, and co-engineering capabilities."
Does the market reward technical quality or price competition more?
"In the super and megayacht segment, technical quality, durability, and the ability to develop collaboratively from the initial stages undoubtedly prevail. Price remains an important variable, but it is secondary to the overall value of the solution. In the more mass-produced segments, however, the price lever takes on greater weight."
How do you integrate sustainability into your products and processes?
Sustainability has always been an integral part of our approach, particularly in reducing direct and indirect emissions. In recent years, we have further structured this commitment through a broader, more complex, and measurable ESG strategy, with strengthened group governance that includes a dedicated management team and ambassadors across various functions and geographies.
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