Nonporous by nature the glass also has impeccable food qualities

One billion glasses balloons, put end to end, would largely cover the circumference of the Earth. This sales record that has just signed Arc International made turn the head without even drinking a SIP of wine. Invented 50 years ago, to Arques, in the Pas-de-Calais, the stronghold of the leader in the arts of the table, the first glass manufactured walk to automatically reflects the philosophy of innovation of the French House, whose Foundation dates back to 1825. From the beginning, "we are faithful our role, which aims to make accessible to the many beautiful things", said Patrick Gournay, Chairman of the Board of Arc International. Over time, "our added value is built on the ability to industrialize processes which were previously purely manual, so extremely expensive", he added.

Ten years after the glass ball, the Group gave the cover in 1968 with the first glass on foot in Crystal (containing 24 lead), he also managed to produce automatic, marketed under the brand crystal of Arques. Crafted, is the difference in quality with a mouth blown piece, perceptible If the sharp eye of an expert not mistake a second, the common

consumers that we see that of the fire.

Too expensive Crystal

Is that, over the past 40 years, glass in Crystal of Arques was its effect on hundreds of thousands of holiday tables, as in elapsed 2 billion copies worldwide. But today it is counteract some stones, such as Ruby or Amethyst flattering colours, it was more difficult to do recipe. Too expensive to glass, which has again delivered only 10 of its secrets. Determined to break them, Arc International has set today for priority "to try to evolve the canopy material, which is not very versatile, to expand its scope to the greatest number"

"possible" products,"said

Patrick Gournay.

One of the first illustrations of this new approach took the form of glass ball Open Up, a concentrate of innovation already replaced a number of crystal wine tasting glasses. Fruit of a new process, the Kwarx, developed two years ago, this glass reflects the same qualities of brightness and transparency as the Crystal, with the non-negligible advantage withstand 2,000 passages in the dishwasher without tarnish a whitish veil, with proper chemical treatment. Not unbreakable strictly speaking, he nevertheless underwent a special heat treatment which gives it superior mechanical strength of 50 of a standard glass. The secret "It is the result of a series of technical improvements throughout the production line, work of pulp of glass to the issuance of the drop in the level of the machine, passing through the addition of a few ingredients such as rare earth," explains Jean-Marie Bonningues, Director of the R & D of Arc International. Another particular sign: its near-perfect discoloration gives it a total neutrality. Not a nuance greenish or bluish as on most of the conventional lenses which influence the taste in the eyes of the taster by slightly altering the original color of the wine. Icing on the cake: its very original form promotes the oxidation of the young wines

to better enhance their bouquet

(read box).

Food qualities

Early next year, Arc International will be this time on the table of restaurateurs and consumers, France and elsewhere, a flat plate to the original design. Its very clean line, a round shape that has a decentralized square well, notes, mine, a technological challenge. Because it took getting off of symmetry, which was hitherto unattainable industrial way with glass at a competitive cost. "This asymmetry is a technical break from a centrifugal method, culminating a close work with the design," said Jean-Marie Bonningues. "The idea is to make a housewife to be able to take ownership of it to let its culinary creativity, as a great leader, with a larger wing," explains Franck Collin, responsible for design at Arc International. A common point with his ancestor in Arcopal Apart from the same feedstock: opal glass, this base, known as "Daily leader", looks rather like two drops of water to the porcelain. With two advantages of size. Its production requires three times less energy than a similar exhibit in ceramics. Non-porous by nature, the glass also has impeccable food qualities. "Our objective is clearly to use all the benefits of glass in terms of hygiene and environmental balance sheet, giving him the same aesthetic qualities and the same diversity of form as the porcelain", concludes Patrick Gournay. First in a long series, this new base will deliver the opal glass to the taste of the day.