An almost derelict 19th century railway building next to Romsey Station is perhaps an unlikely place to house a new business that offers a 21st century solution to the growing problem of vehicle window safety and security.
Businessman Gordon Attwood has brought SupaGlass to Hampshire to help protect passengers in an accident and to thwart car thieves. Together with his business partner, Pentagon technical expert Alex Kent, he has launched Pentagon Hampshire, part of the Pentagon Glass-Tech UK network.
SupaGlass is a super-strong, super thick membrane which, when bonded to the inside of vehicle glass, is designed to withstand the impact of a smash and grab attack for up to 90 seconds - long enough to cause the thug to abandon a break-in or to give the motorist time to drive away. In an accident, it is designed to hold broken window fragments in place, helping to prevent injury and allowing the window to be safely pushed out.
Gordon and Alex scoured the area for suitable premises before discovering the 1850s railway building.
"We are in premises that represented innovation in transport in the 19th century - the railways - and are now bringing innovation to road transport by contributing to vehicle safety and reduction in crime, in the 21st," says Gordon.
Years of dust was removed from the building and seven huge beams holding up the roof were cleaned and painted black.
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