50 Contract Glaziers-Clear Rise: Contract glaziers’ gross sales reflect healthy economy

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Despite rising interest rates and higher oil prices, the U.S. economy plugs along fairly well. Federal data show 211,000 new jobs were generated in March, and the unemployment rate was 4.7 percent. Construction accounts for about 6.4 percent of U.S. jobs but provided 14.4 percent of last year’s job growth, according to The Christian Science Monitor April 11.

The economic health of contract glazing companies reflects the upward trend: Most U.S. glaziers on this year’s list—36 of the 50 companies—show a hike in 2005 gross sales volume compared to their performance in 2004. Among the 36, General Bronze Corp. of Larchmont, N.Y., reports more than 300 percent growth in sales volume and Sunset Glazing of La Mesa, Calif., shows more than 100 percent growth.

Respondents in the annual 50-glazier survey were asked to base 2005 gross sales on commercial glazing only, and the list summarizes information provided by these company officials.

Some of the largest commercial glaziers chose not to participate, and as a consequence, this is not a complete list of the nation’s 50 largest contract glaziers.

Non-participating companies include the U.S. subsidiaries of Italian Permasteelisa: Permasteelisa USA of Windsor, Conn., and Josef Gartner USA of Chicago and Long Island, N.Y.; Benson Industries of Portland, Ore.; Binswanger Glass of Memphis; Elward Construction Co. of Tempe, Ariz; and Haley-Greer Inc. of Dallas.

As examples of these companies’ sales, consider estimates published by financial analysts: The Windsor office of Permasteelisa USA was estimated to generate sales of $180 million for fiscal 2005; Binswanger reported $476 million, including approximately $92 million from commercial glazing. In addition, observers say Antamex International Inc. of Concorde, Ontario, does a significant amount of nonresidential contract-glazing business in the United States and reported sales of $20 million to $50 million in Canadian dollars.
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