February 15, 2024

ClearShield® Easy-Clean Glass Surface Treatment the Number 1 Choice for Major Singaporean Property Development!

Photo: Waldyrious, CC BY-SA 4.0

Ritec’s ClearShield® ‘non-stick’, easy-clean glass surface treatment is well-known internationally and was specified for a major property development project in Singapore. Locally-based Parmis Pte Ltd, Ritec’s Marketing Partner in the area and distributor of ClearShield® to many countries in Southeast Asia, was heavily involved in this project.

In 2019, leading property developer GuocoLand secured a mixed-use master development in the Beach Road district consisting of a 30-storey office tower, three concept retail clusters and two condominiums named Midtown Bay and Midtown Modern. ClearShield® was selected as the low maintenance glass surface treatment by two different façade contractors, with approximately 39,000m² (420,000 ft²) of glass treated in the factory prior to installation.

ClearShield® is solely manufactured in the UK by Ritec International and has over 40 years of track records in all kinds of environments, such as architectural, marine, residential and decorative glass. A totally unique polymer-based liquid-applied product, it is a key part of the ClearShield Eco-System® developed to renovate, protect and maintain glass. The result is a durable ‘non-stick’, easy-clean glass surface that is low-maintenance and resistant to staining and discolouration. Because the frequency of having to clean ClearShield®-treated glass is reduced, this means access equipment usage, labour and materials for cleaning are also lowered, saving maintenance costs.

Many buildings around the world have award-winning ClearShield® specified because of its proven low maintenance benefits. Additionally, ClearShield® has been awarded Singapore Green Building Council (SGBC) Green Mark certification so helps to promote more sustainable building practices.

For more information about ClearShield®, visit www.ritec.co.uk/the-clearshield-eco-system.

January 30, 2024

ClearShield® the Capital Glass Protection for Grand Millennium Hotel Auckland!

For over 40 years, Ritec’s ClearShield® ‘non-stick’, easy-clean glass surface treatment has been protecting all kinds of glass, maintaining the ‘as-new’ appearance for longer. Therefore it is no surprise many hotels around the world have specified this unique and award-winning technology. Whether it is a façade, balustrade, mirror or shower door, ClearShield® makes these glass surfaces look pristine for longer and easier to clean and keep clean, saving time and money too.

Bath screen glass

One such example is the Grand Millennium Hotel in Auckland. ClearShield New Zealand, Ritec International’s Marketing Partner in the region, was approached by the hotel to discuss renovating and protecting glass bath and shower screens. This would be significantly cheaper, quicker and less disruptive than replacement. Additionally, ClearShield’s ability to resist bacteria (which viruses depend on to replicate) creates a more hygienic environment, helping to reassure guests post-COVID-19 pandemic. Local fully-trained ClearShield® applicators, ClearShield Auckland, were contracted to carry out the job and upgraded over 430 bath and shower screens.

Shower screen glass

For ordinary, unprotected bathroom glass, over time the surface inevitably becomes contaminated with a build-up of mineral deposits, limescale and soap / shampoo staining. This staining can be difficult to remove and left on the surface will impact clarity as well as leave an unsanitary perception. Surely no hotel should tolerate this problem.

Lift glass

Ritec’s ClearShield Eco-System® was the perfect solution. The System consists of three stages: renovation, protection with ClearShield® surface treatment and maintenance. Glass panels were first fully restored using special Ritec products to bring the surface back to its ‘as-new’ appearance. Next came the application of ClearShield® itself to protect the surface. Finally, Ritec’s environmentally-friendly after-care programme prolongs the life of ClearShield®.

Lift surround glass

Other surfaces such as the glass lift, glass surrounding the lift and restaurant glass were also renovated and protected with the ClearShield Eco-System®. The lift glass surround was in particular heavily-stained by water splashing from irrigation sprinklers but was renovated and protected to bring the shine back to the hotel entrance area, making it very welcoming once more.

Restaurant glass

One hotel staff member was particularly impressed with ClearShield Auckland, commenting: “Thank you very much for your hard work. You have done a great job, I definitely will recommend you to my colleagues!”.

So if you need glass surfaces looking as new as the day it was installed, ask for the proven ClearShield Eco-System®, perfect for all hotel glass!

January 16, 2024

ClearShield® ‘Non-Stick’ Protection a Necessity for Luxury Residence!

All glass aspects of a new luxurious private residence in Raipur in Chhattisgarh, Central India have been upgraded to ClearShield Eco-Glass® thanks to Roshnak Systems.

Roshnak Systems is the exclusive Marketing Partner in India for UK-based Ritec International. With over 40 years of track records, Ritec is the market leader for ‘non-stick’, easy-clean glass surface technology with its pioneering polymer-based protective treatment, ClearShield®. Roshnak Systems have partnered with Ritec for almost 15 years, becoming the nation’s go-to experts when it comes to glass surface renovation, protection and maintenance.

During the lavish property’s design phase, Roshnak’s client went with a very modern and sophisticated look, meaning extensive use of glass was a given. Consequently, Roshnak Systems were contacted directly by the client as they specified ClearShield® as the preferred choice to protect the glass surface.

Soon after, Roshnak’s experienced and knowledgeable On-Site Team went to work. They protected 5,000 square feet (465m²) of glass encompassing windows, balustrades, doors and partitions all within the stipulated time, upgrading the once-ordinary glass to higher performance ClearShield Eco-Glass®.

ClearShield Eco-Glass® resists dirt, moisture, staining and discolouration. Cleaning typically takes half the time compared to ordinary unprotected glass and uses less effort and water without the need for harsh abrasives or methods. ClearShield Eco-Glass® also looks pristine for longer, befitting the beautiful appearance of the rest of property. To top it off, Roshnak also offered complimentary after-care to maintain the sparkle of ClearShield Eco-Glass® for many years to come.

The client was absolutely delighted with the work carried out by Roshnak’s On-Site Team. Raunak Bhagwat, Roshnak’s Managing Director, commented: “Customer satisfaction always remains at the centre of everything we do. This project encapsulates that, with the client congratulating our team as they were so happy with our service and end product. They now have complete peace of mind when it comes to glass maintenance thanks to low-maintenance ClearShield.”

For more information about Roshnak Systems, visit www.roshnaksystems.com.

December 14, 2023

Sun Princess’s Glass Simply Shines Thanks to the ClearShield Eco-System®!

Ritec Marine Services (RMS) are back doing what they do best – renovating and protecting glass on a cruise liner with the Ritec ClearShield Eco-System®. The latest beneficiary to have the award-winning treatment is Princess Cruises’ Sphere-class cruise ship Sun Princess currently in construction. This first of two Sphere-class ships will be the largest ever built for Princess Cruises and the company’s first to be powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG).

Manufacture of the glass dome, atrium and balustrading was the responsibility of Seele, a world leading innovative façades manufacturer. Meanwhile, Ritec Marine Services (the specialist arm of Dutch-based Ritec Services, a subsidiary of Ritec International in the UK) were commissioned to treat these glass elements with the ClearShield Eco-System® in situ at Fincantieri’s shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy. This meant removing anything adhering to the surface such as paint splatter, silicone and protective foil. Then comes the application of Ritec ClearShield® glass surface treatment to protect from future contamination found in the marine environment such as salt spray. With the application of the System complete, the once-ordinary glass became superior ClearShield Eco-Glass®, renowned for its ‘non-stick’, easy-clean properties.

Apart from reducing time, manpower and water to clean, ClearShield Eco-Glass® means it looks like new for longer as it resists anything the harsh marine environment throws at it. This in turn means greater views and a better sense of comfort for passengers onboard. And with over 40 years of track records in the marine industry alone, Ritec ClearShield® has become the standard of glass surface protection specified by most of the world’s premier cruise lines.

Some 2,500m² (27,000ft²) of glass was treated by RMS via rope access and cherry pickers. Thanks to the experienced On-Site Application Team and the ClearShield Eco-System®, the glass will be shining onboard the Sun Princess when she makes her maiden voyage early next year.

For more information about Ritec Marine Services, visit www.ritecmarineservices.com.

December 6, 2023

From Ships Big to Small, Ritec Marine Services Treat Them All!

Ritec Marine Services (RMS), the specialist marine glass renovation and protection arm of Dutch-based Ritec Services, proves no job is too big or small with their latest project.

RMS are renowned for applying the Ritec ClearShield Eco-System®, for the renovation, ‘non-stick’ protection and maintenance of glass, on cruise liners. For these large-scale projects, thousands of square metres of glass are treated to protect the surface from the harsh marine environment. But here we look towards the other end of the scale after the System was used on Mette Maria, a trailing suction hopper dredger (TSHD).

The job of TSHDs is to scoop up and remove sediment from the bottom of waterways such as canals. Canal dredging is an important part of waterway maintenance as sediment and other debris inevitably builds up, making them shallower, creating a problem for marine vessels. Additionally, the build-up can damage flora and fauna, water quality and land drainage.

RMS were commissioned by Het Anker Shipwindows to renovate and protect glass onboard Mette Maria. The glass was badly stained by saltwater and run-off from the aluminium frames over the years but the specialist renovation process removed all the existing contamination, bringing the glass back to new. The next stage was the application of Ritec ClearShield®, a unique liquid glass surface protective treatment, upgrading the surface to durable ‘non-stick’, easy-clean ClearShield Eco-Glass®. This means in the future, there will be significantly less build-up of dirt and other contaminants found in the marine environment. Maintenance is made simpler too, requiring less time, effort and water to clean.

Although just 19m² of glass was treated, this was surely one of the smaller applications carried out by RMS. However, it was still important the job was undertaken to uphold the clarity of the glass; if glass is severely contaminated, crew may have difficulty seeing out which could affect operational safety. Indeed, crew of Mette Maria were quick to praise the difference that the ClearShield Eco-System® made in terms of visual clarity and ease of maintenance.

So this project goes to show, no matter how much glass is onboard a marine vessel, Ritec’s ClearShield Eco-System® will always be beneficial!

For more information about Ritec Services, visit www.ritecservices.com.

November 14, 2023

Ritecoat™ ‘Non-Stick’ Protection Comes to America Tower!

Completed in 2000, the stylish and distinctive America Tower in the Dutch municipality of Oosterhout is a multi-tenant office situated in the Hoesvestein Business Park. It was designed by Hooper Architects, based literally across the car park from America Tower. Ritec Services, located just 13km (8 miles) up the road, were called upon to restore the faded green powdercoated window frames with the proven Ritecoat System™ to bring them back to their former ‘as-new’ appearance.

Ritec Services (RS) is a subsidiary of Ritec International, developers of durable and protective ‘non-stick’, easy-clean surface technologies. RS have immense on-site experience when it comes to renovating and protecting surfaces such as glass and metals, and in this case, powder coated framework.

With the Ritecoat System™, RS first used special renovation products to remove the existing staining that had occurred over the years. The next step was to seal and protect the surface with liquid-applied, Ritecoat R630™. Not only did the Ritecoat System™ restore the original lustrous appearance of the surfaces, they are now easier to clean and keep clean thanks to the ‘non-stick’, low-maintenance Ritecoat R630™ coating. This saves time, money and hassle as the frequency of having to use access equipment for maintenance purposes is reduced. The newly-treated framework also enhances the overall image of the Tower’s appearance.

In total, 190m² (2,045 ft²) of framework was renovated and protected with the Ritecoat System™. This was a truly cost-effective solution as the alternative would be to replace the existing framework which would not only be more expensive and time-consuming but also disruptive.

For more information about Ritec Services, visit www.ritecservices.nl.

November 9, 2023

Insta Interior Designer Chooses ClearShield® for Rooflight Protection!

What does a homeowner do when they want rooflights to be easier to clean? They contact Ritec International of course, developers of the ClearShield Eco-System® that upgrades ordinary glass to ‘non-stick’, easy-clean glass.

One such homeowner is Val. But he is no ordinary homeowner. Val is an interior designer who has blended modern and contemporary design into a classic London Victorian house renovation, while highlighting and restoring the Victorian period features. Val is also behind the popular no5_thehouse Instagram account that currently attracts nearly 32,500 followers. He provides inspiration and incorporates innovative concepts in his South London home, fusing his ideas with seemingly effortless style and practicality.

Not surprising for an interior designer, Val meticulously researches any kind of requirements for his ongoing home improvement project. So thinking that his rooflights could benefit from some kind of easy-clean treatment, it was no surprise that Ritec – the pioneers of ‘non-stick’ glass surface treatments with over 40 years of experience – were the go-to experts.

Ritec’s On-Site Team treated Val’s rooflights with the ClearShield Eco-System®. The first phase was to remove any existing contaminants using specialist products. The next phase was to apply award-winning Ritec ClearShield®, a durable polymer-based protective glass surface treatment.

Unlike other glass surface treatments, ClearShield® is, uniquely, not a coating so will never peel, flake or discolour. Because it cross-links with itself and the glass surface, ClearShield® becomes part of the glass itself, making it highly durable. With the treatment complete, the once-ordinary unprotected surface is now upgraded to higher performance ClearShield Eco-Glass® that offers many benefits:

  • The durable treatment resists staining and discolouration
  • It is easier to clean and keep clean, requiring less time and effort without the need for harsh abrasives or methods
  • The frequency of cleaning is reduced
  • It helps to maximise light transmission so less artificial lighting is required
  • Finally, the glass looks like new for longer, making for a happier homeowner!

Val commented: “This is such an incredible product! It’s been raining so much and the rooflights still look clean. I really wish I had known about this product back when I installed the glass. Your team have done a brilliant job and it was such a quick process. I’ll be suggesting Ritec ClearShield to clients in the future. Thank you!”

Apart from using Ritec’s On-Site Application Team or an approved applicator, homeowners can experience the same easy-clean benefits for all kinds of glass in and around the home. Thanks to Ritec’s range of Clear-Vision® DIY products, homeowners can protect their own windows, shower glass, vehicle glass, mirrors, glass furniture and even ceramic tiles, making them so much easier to clean and look sparkling for longer. For more info, visit www.clearshield.biz.

November 8, 2023

Ritec Fulfils ISO Quality and Environmental Standards Once Again

Ritec International is delighted to announce yet another successful ISO audit carried out by Alcumus ISOQAR Ltd. This is the 15th year Ritec has held ISO 9001 (Quality Management System), and the 11th year with ISO 14001 (Environmental Management System).

Ian Thomas, Alcumus ISOQAR’s Lead Auditor, stated: “The audit team concludes that the organisation has established and maintained its management system in conformance with the requirements of the standards and demonstrated to the audit team that the management system is effective in its ability to systematically achieve the requirements for products and or services within the scope of its activities and in accordance with its policy and objectives. The audit team concludes that the audit objectives have been fulfilled.”

Martin Burkett, Ritec’s General Manager, said: “Needless to say, these ISO standards are not implemented by any one person, but rely on everyone within the team to play their part. Thanks to them and our long-standing consultant Wayne Saul (MCQI, CQP) of CQMS, not only do we meet these standards but improve year on year.

“I think this is a great testament to everyone within the team, proving that not only do we at Ritec care, but even if the odd issue arises, we know what to do to fix the situation and improve.”

October 10, 2023

Ritec ClearShield® ‘Exceeded All Expectations’ in Oil Tanker Application!

There is perhaps no better example of ClearShield® ‘non-stick’, easy-clean protection than when it is applied onto marine glass. The difference really shows as our latest on-site project demonstrates!

Last week an applicator from Ritec’s On-Site Team travelled to Portsmouth to carry out work on Navig8 Precision, a crude oil tanker. Working in conjunction with Refine Inc, a newly approved ClearShield® applicator, together they renovated and protected the glass using the ClearShield Eco-System®.

The System firstly restores glass back to its original brand-new appearance using specialist renovation products. Secondly, the application of award-winning Ritec ClearShield® durable ‘non-stick’ glass surface treatment protects the glass from the harsh marine environment, upgrading it to higher performance ClearShield Eco-Glass®.

Just days later, the feedback from the ship’s team could not be more positive:

“Dear Sir,

I wanted to take a moment to express my utmost satisfaction and appreciation for the recent application on the bridge window.

The results have been truly remarkable, significantly enhancing visibility both during the day and night. The decision to undertake this maintenance task was undoubtedly a wise one, and the outcome has exceeded all expectations.

The bridge window now appears crystal clear, allowing for unobstructed views of the surroundings. This improvement has greatly contributed to the overall safety and efficiency of our operations.”

So there you have it, the upgrade to ClearShield Eco-Glass® truly has many benefits for marine glass. Navig8 Precision is just the latest in a long list of marine vessels to benefit from the ClearShield Eco-System®. With over 40 years of track records, it is precisely why it is specified by many cruise line, ferry and other commercial marine operators.

Visit www.ritec.co.uk/marine-vessels to find out more.