Nautilus Marine Service
Housings
VITROVEX® by NAUTILUS MARINE SERVICE GmbH
Founded in 1985, Nautilus Marine Service GmbH is a German-based manufacturer specializing in deep-sea pressure housings made from borosilicate glass, marketed under the VITROVEX® brand. With exports to over 30 countries and a strong global distributor network, Nautilus is a trusted partner to the world’s leading oceanographic research institutions and subsea operators.
VITROVEX® products are designed for long-term performance, sustainability, and adaptability, providing reliable solutions for both pressure housing and flotation applications in demanding underwater environments.
Product Range & Customization
Nautilus offers flotation and instrument housings in a variety of shapes:
- Spherical
- Cylindrical
- Capsular
Size ranges from approximately 2 inches to 20 inches in outer diameter. Depending on wall thickness and diameter, housings can withstand pressures up to 1200 bar.
To meet specific research and integration needs, housings can incorporate:
- Titanium or plastic components
- Flanges and alternate sealing techniques
- Interfaces for bulkheads, feed-throughs, transponders, and other third-party items
Each glass housing is manufactured to strict tolerances and can be integrated into new or existing instrument setups.
In-House Pressure Testing
Nautilus operates its own computer-controlled pressure test facility (700mm inner diameter, 1400mm length), capable of testing housings up to 1300 bar. Products are typically acquired in small quantities following detailed consultation to meet custom requirements, making Nautilus’ personal service and flexibility a key differentiator.
VITROVEX® Benefits at a Glance
VITROVEX® glass housings combine mechanical performance, cost-efficiency, and environmental sustainability. Advantages include:
- Immense strength-to-weight ratio
- Highly resistant to breakage due to low thermal expansion
- Corrosion-resistant, non-polluting, and environmentally safe
- Transparent with smooth, pore-free surfaces
- Sealing faces honed to precise flatness and finish
- Non-magnetic and electrically non-conductive
- Hemispheres are interchangeable and individually replaceable
- Available with LPDE (low-density polyethylene) protective shells, rope, thimbles, and shackles (EDDYGRIP mounting system)
- Each hemisphere is marked with a serial number and production date
Glass: A Material With a Legacy
The name “glass” comes from the Old Germanic word for amber —”glasa”—meaning “shining” or “shimmering”. Interestingly, while both amber and glass are solid liquids, glass continues to intrigue scientists with its unique nature. Glass may be described as:
- An inorganic solid—usually transparent, brittle, and impervious to natural elements
- A non-crystalline structure, often referred to as an amorphous solid
- A frozen, supercooled liquid with infinite viscosity
- A chemical mixture of basic and acidic oxides
Natural glass appears in forms like:
- Obsidian (volcanic)
- Tektites and dialectic glass (meteorite impacts)
- Fulgurites (lightning strikes)
- Even lunar glass formed on the moon, most likely formed by meteorite impacts
The Origins of Glassmaking
The art of glassmaking may date back to 7000 BCE, with Egyptians, Babylonians, and Assyrians all contributing to early techniques. One recipe reads, “Take 60 parts sand, 180 parts seaweed ash, and 5 parts chalkstone — and you’ll get a glass.” This inscription was discovered on a clay tablet in King Assurbanipal’s library in Nineveh, circa 650 BCE.
Glass is not a single compound but a mixture, primarily based on silicon dioxide (SiO2) with additives like:
- Sodium Carbonate (NaCO3)
- Potassium Carbonate (K2CO3)
- Manganese oxide and other metal oxides
Glass types generally fall into three categories:
- Soda-lime glass
- Borosilicate glass
- Lead glass (crystal)
About Borosilicate Glass
VITROVEX® housings are made of borosilicate glass, which offers:
- Low sensitivity to temperature changes
- High resistance to chemical agents
- Excellent optical and mechanical properties
Commonly used in laboratories, households, and fire protection, borosilicate glass stands out for its durability and thermal shock resistance.
The Making of VITROVEX® Housings
- Raw materials (SiO₂, B₂O₃, Na₂O/K₂O, Al₂O₃) and cullet are melted at approximately 1600ºC in electric furnaces operating continuously.
- Refining and standing allow gases to escape and the temperature to stabilize.
- A cooled hydraulic stamp forms the viscous glass into hemispheres within minutes.
- Annealing reduces internal stress. Cooling takes between 30 and 100 minutes, depending on size and wall thickness. For large optical lenses over 1m in diameter, annealing may take over a year to prevent distortion. Similar cooling would be needed for large glass spheres designed for human occupancy.
- Final refinements include polishing, etching, or engraving, depending on customer specifications.
Technical and Trade Details
- Product Code: VITROVEX®
- Glass Type: Borosilicate
- Shapes: Spherical, Cylindrical, Capsular
- Diameter Range: ~2″ to 20″
- Pressure Rating: Up to 1200 bar
- Testing Capability: Up to 1300 bar
- Customs Tariff Number: 9015 9000 (as of March 25th, 2019)
Trusted Around the World
Nautilus Marine Service is recognized in Germany as a trusted specialist in marine safety and oceanographic instrumentation, and internationally as a provider of extremely pressure-resistant glass housings. With over 90% of production exported, Nautilus works through regional distributors to serve commercial, institutional, and governmental clients across the marine technology sector.
In 2015, Nautilus was awarded the Compass International Award by the Marine Technology Society, honoring its innovation and product excellence.
VITROVEX glass products are used in more than 30 countries (green)
