Riou Glass carries out the largest heated glass project in France for La Chocolaterie (29)

Objective: to maintain a constant temperature and humidity, to avoid any condensation and to offer a real setting for the company's employees and visitors alike.

This is the largest project ever carried out in France in terms of heated glazing. "The installation for La Chocolaterie of 250 m² of CalorGlass heated glazing was a real challenge and a source of great pride for everyone involved throughout the project" affirm Estelle Chollet, general manager and Manuel Dariosecq, manager of VITRUM Glass, integrator partner by RIOU Glass. Olivier Bordais, founding president of La Chocolaterie, which specializes in high-end chocolate delights, wanted his new factory to be a real showcase, both for its employees and for its visitors. Located in Saint-Thonan (29), the 3.000 m² site of La Chocolaterie thus houses the storage of cocoa beans produced in particular by the Brazilian farm of Olivier Bordais, a laboratory, roasting, manufacturing, sale to the public, offices, and a restaurant. At the heart of the building has been installed a tropical greenhouse where cocoa trees grow, which everyone can see thanks to the CalorGlass technology developed by RIOU Glass. “Cocoa plants need a constant temperature, at 26°C, and an appropriate level of humidity,” explains Olivier Bordais. But, we also wanted there to be no condensation on the glazing so that our employees, customers and visitors could see our plants at all times”. 250 m² of radiant-heated glazing from RIOU Glass was installed in a few days by VITRUM Glass, meeting all the criteria formulated by La Chocolaterie.

Constant temperature and humidity, in complete transparency

“Two temperature sensors per side of the glazing allow the temperature to be adjusted in real time, detail Estelle Chollet and Manuel Dariosecq. There is no convection, no air flow that could damage the cocoa plants. The temperature of the glass surface gives the temperature of the room, in a homogeneous way, without drying the air and without forming droplets on the windows”. CalorGlass, combined with the control system designed by VITRUM Glass, also saves energy since the adjustments are made automatically, depending on the desired temperature. Heated glazing is produced in the RIOU Glass AIV factory located in Fougères (35), on an automated assembly line which is entirely dedicated to it. For the La Chocolaterie site, in addition to the identification of each glass, intended to reduce installation time, RIOU Glass has invested in new handling and logistics solutions. “We are thus in a position to respond to other major projects, comments Jamila Azaouzi, director of business development at RIOU Glass. This exceptional project carried out for La Chocolaterie echoed our DNA as an innovative and ambitious company, at the origin of the CalorGlass technology developed in 2014”. For Olivier Bordais, seduced by the RIOU Glass and VITRUM Glass teams, the project is an investment and not a cost, since it allows La Chocolaterie to "highlight all of our know-how, ranging from chocolate farm, and to create exceptional working conditions".