MANY of us find it difficult to go without the fan or air conditioner that keeps us cool in the heat.

However, this also means that we can't escape the high electricity bills, since we also use other appliances.

Looking at this daily heat situation that we face, local IT expert Jeffrey Chong did his own research and concluded that the answer lies in the windows, doors, and maybe even exterior walls, specifically, the kind of glass used.

This has led him to establish Chiefway Malaysia, a smart glass and smart film manufacturer.

HOW IT STARTED

The smart glass company may be new, but Chong's journey in the tech world goes back 20 years. Before devoting his work to Chiefway Malaysia and Rev Interactive, he served as sales and marketing manager for Digitek Computer. He then moved to Intresource Technology as country manager. He was later the sales director at SiliconCore Technology, an LED screen manufacturer in the United States.

He founded Rev Interactive in 2012, a professional audiovisual, interactive solution provider for commercial sectors, and Chiefway Optronics in 2018, a smart glass and smart film manufacturer in Malaysia.

WHAT SMART GLASS DOES

According to Chong, it is not simply a fancy alternative to regular glass. People always ask: wouldn't it be a costly upgrade that serves no real purpose besides enhanced interior design? This is among the questions that Chong has heard and he hopes to address the misconceptions.

When the level of transparency in smart glass is altered, it limits the amount of light that gets in, thus reducing glare.
When the level of transparency in smart glass is altered, it limits the amount of light that gets in, thus reducing glare.

"The technology will enable office buildings and homes to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, maximise a building's energy savings, have total privacy control and acoustic sound insulation," he said.

Besides that, smart glass offers thermal insulation, up to 99.9 per cent UV-blocking and more than 80 per cent infrared control. It also acts as a multi-function interactive display.

BEYOND AESTHETIC APPEAL

Chong said the technology was the start of a next wave of businesses' transformational journey in overcoming numerous challenges.

For example, it will allow temperature regulation.

"When the level of transparency in smart glass is altered, it limits the amount of light that gets in and this reduces glare. As a result, it also controls the amount of heat that passes through," he said.

Smart glass ensures that the interior is always at an optimum temperature. "The biggest advantage of using smart glass to regulate the temperature inside a building is that it significantly reduces air conditioning costs," he said.

Jeffrey Chong
Jeffrey Chong

If the weather is very hot outside, the glass can be set to a more transparent mode so that the heat inside can escape freely.

HAPPIER WORKPLACE

A sustainable building that has been fitted with smart glass is also an ideal office setup.

"The employees in buildings with daylighting systems will become more productive. As a result, there may be fewer people taking sick days since most employees perceive the office to be more comfortable and with better air flow," said Chong.

He claimed that using natural light could save up to 75 per cent on energy that would have been used to light up the space and also reduce cooling costs.

CHALLENGES

Educating the market on the benefits of a new technology is one of the biggest obstacles for Chong.

The Chiefway team.
The Chiefway team.

"The introduction of the smart glass technology to the market is a challenge, besides getting skilled manpower, topped by increase in material and logistic costs," he said.

However, despite the challenges, in just over five years, Chiefway has gone from being a homegrown enterprise to being the leading smart glass manufacturer in Malaysia and Southeast Asia.

Chong and his team have provided and installed smart glass for an extensive portfolio of clients, spanning governmental bodies, multinational corporations, educational institutions, as well as household Malaysian brands.

MOVING FORWARD

In April this year, Chiefway opened its new manufacturing plant in Shah Alam, featuring high-tech manufacturing devices and patented tools to help develop its smart glass formulation. The plant can produce 2,000 sheets of smart glass every month, allowing the company to meet 70 per cent of the local demand for smart glass.

Smart glass panels.
Smart glass panels.

Business-wise, the smart glass market is estimated to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 17.5 per cent over the next nine years, leading to a market value of US$18.3 billion by 2031.

Chong said the local and regional smart glass markets are largely dominated by China and other North Asian countries.

"However, this new plant is an important first step in establishing Malaysia in the market, enabling smart glass to be developed and manufactured locally," he added.