AGC's technology behind the functions and design of the Allianz-Arena
The Allianz-Arena is a football stadium in Munich, a city in Germany, known best for football. Walls surrounding the arena are shaped in a fluffy, soft configuration. This unique design was achieved by our fluoropolymer technology.
Film for incorporating natural light that is essential for natural turf
One of the points when designing a football stadium like the Allianz-Arena is its impact on natural turf. Sunlight is essential for the growth of natural turf in any football stadium. Because Munich in Germany is located at a high latitude, the sun slants through the arena. Because of this, ingenuity was needed so that the walls and roof would not block natural light. A material that could protect spectators from the elements, but still allow the easy penetration of sunlight to natural turf, was sought, and AGC's "ETFE Film" solved the difficult problem. Our "ETFE Film" is a highly functional material that can be described as the crystallization of the AGC Group's fluoropolymer technology. It looks and feels like a slightly thick, clear file folder for storing documents, but amazing functions are stored there. One of the functions that is most important is its light transmission (the rate of light penetrating a material). It is necessary to invite sunlight as much as possible so that the natural turf will not wither. The light transmission of this "ETFE Film" is surprisingly more than 90%. One can guess how much the film allows the penetration of sunlight, because the light transmission of ordinary glass is in the 80% range. Moreover, our "ETFE Film" is lighter than glass, and highly resistant to soil. Because of this, it is easy to use as a construction material, and also easy to maintain.
Unique design supported by the characteristics of the film
It can be said that the strikingly impressive form of the arena was designed and achieved owing to AGC's "ETFE Film". It is nearly impossible to form free curved surfaces with glass, but curved surfaces can be formed easily with "ETFE Film", which is like a thin plastic sheet. Our "ETFE Film" also plays a role in creating the atmosphere for the whole arena. When there is a game with a German football team whose home stadium is the Allianz-Arena, wall surfaces that are white at ordinary times are changed to pure red, or blue to match the respective team colors. This can be done by projecting a red light or a blue light from behind the translucent "ETFE Film". An unreal atmosphere can be generated by adjusting and diffusing lights skillfully with the use of its high light transmission.
AGC's comprehensive strength to produce 200,000 square meters of film
In this way, the Allianz-Arena has the world's leading-edge design and functions, but it was not decided initially to use AGC's "ETFE Film". We won over our competitors due to our 30-year efforts for projects in, and expertise in fluoropolymer technology being recognized as a brand. Approximately 200,000 square meters of "ETFE Film" was used for the Allianz-Arena. Only the AGC Group could produce that much of the material from start to finish. Both the functions and design of the Allianz-Arena were achieved by our comprehensive technological strength that had been accumulated, including developmental technology, manufacturing technology, and evaluation technology. In other words, it can be said that the Allianz-Arena would not have been constructed without AGC's technical strength.
