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Gentex on cloud nine with Boeing contract
12/30/2005
By Joel J. Smith / The Detroit News /
ZEELAND — After years of developing automatically dimming rearview mirrors for cars, Gentex Corp. is taking to the air, thanks to part of a $50 million contract to provide electronic dimming windows for the new state-of-the-art Boeing 787 Dreamliner jet.
The Western Michigan firm will work with PPG Aerospace, a Huntsville, Ala.-based aircraft window maker, to develop and produce the electronically controlled dimming windows for the aircraft. The plane has 100 windows.
The long range, 221-seat jet is expected to reach the commercial market in 2008. Northwest Airlines, Detroit Metropolitan Airport's largest carrier, has ordered 18 of the aircraft at a value of $2.2 billion.
Boeing now has 185 orders for the new 787.
“This is a start for Gentex, in a new industry, and offers us the ability to leverage some of the research and development dollars we have invested over the years in the development of this unique variably dimming technology,” said Garth Deur, Gentex's executive vice president.
Northwest is scheduled to be the first U.S. carrier to receive the Dreamliner in August 2008
Gentex, which develops and makes self-dimming rearview mirrors used in many automobiles, is using its patented electrochromic technology and expertise in windows and control systems It ships auto mirrors worldwide.
Passengers sitting adjacent to any window will be able to adjust the amount of light entering the window with an electronic switch with five different variable settings, from clear to dark.
PPG will provide expertise in the window aviation market.
John Murphy, an automotive analyst with Merrill Lynch, said that more than half of the $50 million in revenue will go to Gentex.
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