Some products need elaborate advertising campaigns to prove their worth, but a Chinese glass manufacturer may have found its most convincing advertisement in the middle of protests in France.
A video of protesters repeatedly trying to smash a shop window without managing to break through has gone viral, giving the company an opportunity to show off the strength of its glass.
The short clip showed several masked protesters kicking the glass panel and throwing objects at it, including a brick, a metal pole and a chair, and despite their repeated attempts to break through, the window held firm, although some cracks appeared on its surface.
According to several reports, including The Daily Mail, the manufacturer has been identified as Hengxinfeng Special-Glass Co. Ltd, and the Chinese company has reportedly shared the viral footage to highlight the strength and durability of its glass products.
Based in China's Henan province, Hengxinfeng specialises in the research, manufacturing and marketing of special-purpose glass, with a product range that includes explosion-resistant composite glass, smash-resistant glass designed to withstand hammer blows, and bulletproof glass.
According to the company's website, its products are intended for use in several high-security settings, including banks, military facilities, diplomatic establishments, jewellery stores and museums, and the company also identifies itself as a state-recognised high-tech enterprise and a member of the Chinese Security and Safeguard Association.
While the footage has been associated with a Louis Vuitton outlet in Paris in some reports, the shop's identity and the source of the glass panel remain unconfirmed.
The demonstrations in France, which began last month with student protests over teacher shortages and poor school facilities in the northern suburbs of Paris, have grown into a broader movement against the rising cost of living, public spending cuts and deteriorating living standards.
