Patent: SEGULA Technologies makes it possible to 3D-print glass at room temperature. Using the sol-gel process, a soft chemistry approach, the industrial engineering leader SEGULA Technologies has filed a patent application for a new process to produce a hybrid glass with remarkable properties, without the need for melting or sintering, and which is suitable for 3D printing. This innovation makes it possible to create a wide range of bespoke hybrid glasses (from 'cold glass' to 'mineral plastic'), combining the optical properties of glass with the shaping flexibility of polymers, while overcoming their conventional limitations. Developed by SEGULA Technologies' Research and Innovation teams in Lyon (France) in collaboration with the Multimaterials and Interfaces Laboratory (LMI), this technology offers immediate solutions to a wide range of sectors, including aerospace, optics, the automotive industry and design. The engineering group SEGULA Technologies has just developed a new process for manufacturing a hybrid, versatile form of glass with fully customisable properties. Based on sol-gel chemistry (short for 'solution-gelation'), which gives materials high mechanical strength, the innovation consists of a new drying process in a liquid medium[1] enabling the additive manufacturing of all kinds of hybrid glass components at room temperature or low temperatures (100-150°C), without the need for melting or traditional sintering at temperatures exceeding 1,000°C[2]. Unprecedented modularity in physicochemical performance. A genuine technological breakthrough, this process enables the production - via both moulding and additive manufacturing, and without high tooling costs - of complex parts with geometries that were previously impossible to achieve. The resulting parts possess unique properties that are fully customisable in terms of density, porosity, elasticity and optical transmittance. Consequently, this process makes it possible to control the variability of the material's mechanical, optical and chemical characteristics within a single part; for example, a 'sandwich'-type structure combining flexibility and rigidity within a single assembly, without any joints or interfaces. Developed in collaboration with the Multimaterials and Interfaces Laboratory (LMI) on the LyonTech-la Doua campus in Villeurbanne, the process has a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) ranging from 3 to 6 depending on its field of application, with demonstrations of representative functional prototypes, and is the subject of a patent (FR No. 2505395). Mathieu Orzalesi, Regional R&D Manager at SEGULA Technologies, explains: "We describe the material produced using our new process as glass because it is structurally made from silica precursors, just like the conventional glass we use in everyday life. However, it offers all the versatility of plastic, particularly its malleability and elasticity, without its major drawbacks such as thermal instability or poor resistance to solvents. It is for all these reasons that this new glass represents a particularly innovative and high-performance mineral alternative for industry. To our knowledge, no one has ever created such a versatile material; it is a real feat of which we are particularly proud!" Practical applications, from the automotive to the aerospace sectors This innovative process enables the creation of a unique range of bespoke materials that address the key challenges of safety, sustainability and weight reduction in cutting-edge industries such as the automotive, aerospace, rail, energy and biotechnology sectors. Some examples: Hybrid glass for smart components: this new material can be shaped and encapsulated at room temperature, enabling the manufacture of complex optical lenses and the direct integration of smart sensors. Technical coatings for surface durability (glass, metals, etc.): as a mineral alternative to polymers, they enable the creation of transparent materials that are resistant to UV light, solvents and acids, and are suited to the extreme environments encountered in transport. Mineral cellular foams for electrical and thermal insulation: capable of withstanding temperatures of up to 300 °C, they could be used to insulate electric vehicle batteries, thereby eliminating the risks of thermal deformation, wear and toxicity associated with traditional polyurethane foams. The process also opens up new possibilities in technical design and architecture, particularly for the creation of transparent objects with complex geometries, produced using 3D printing or moulding. With this major innovation, SEGULA reaffirms its role as a provider of bespoke solutions for its industrial clients. Press contact: [email protected] - +33 (0)6 20 9 65 30 About SEGULA Technologies SEGULA Technologies is a global engineering group, serving the competitiveness of all major industrial sectors: automotive, aerospace, energy, rail, naval, life sciences and telecommunications. With a presence in more than 30 countries and 140 offices worldwide, the Group is committed to build close relationships with its clients thanks to the skills of its 15,000 employees. As a leading engineer who places innovation at the heart of its strategy, SEGULA Technologies carries out large-scale projects, from research to industrialisation and production. Follow SEGULA Technologies on LinkedIn

News 25.09.2026 Diamond Award 2025: SEGULA Technologies once again honoured by Bombardier. At the official ceremony for Bombardier's Supplier Recognition Programme, held in Montreal on 21 September 2026, SEGULA Technologies was presented, for the second year running, with the prestigious 2025 Diamond Award in the Indirect Goods and Services category. Recognition of operational excellence and innovation. Each year, Bombardier's supplier recognition program honors strategic partners in its global supply chain who have demonstrated a high level of performance. In 2025, out of several hundred global suppliers, only 33 were honored with the Diamond Award for their direct contribution to the quality, reliability, and added value they bring to the manufacturer's operations. A strategic partnership strengthened over time. This new distinction confirms SEGULA Technologies' position as a leading engineering and services partner for the aerospace sector. It also reflects its commitment to working alongside industry players to address their major industrial challenges, particularly those related to ramp-up and performance. Pride in a collective commitment. This award is, above all, the result of the passion and dedication of the SEGULA Technologies teams who collaborate daily with Bombardier around the world. It reflects the group's unwavering commitment to delivering impeccable service and designing customized solutions tailored to the aerospace industry's most stringent requirements.