The top 10 most-clicked news stories of 2011

2011 was, to say the least, a year of change for the glass industry. From International Aluminum Group's bankruptcy to the creation of Trulite, the year was full of breaking news announcements. Below are the top 10 most-clicked news stories on GlassMagazine.com from 2011. Now, we're just left to wonder what 2012 has in store for the glass world. (And with last week's news that Grey Mountain has purchased Binswanger and Global Security Glazing, I'm thinking it could hold just as much excitement as 2011). 

1. International Architectural Group, parent of US Aluminum, files for Chapter 7
   International Architectural Group LLC, Monterey Park, Calif., filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. The company, formerly International Aluminum Corp., was parent of United States Aluminum, International Extrusion, and Raco Interior Products, all based in Waxahachie, Texas, and International Window Corp., Hayward, Calif.
2. US Aluminum customers, employees grapple with Chapter 7 filing
   International Architectural Group LLC's bankruptcy filing surprised many in the industry, at least with its abruptness. Several employees of United States Aluminum, a Waxahachie, Texas, subsidiary of the company, reported learning the news the night before, and some, the day of.
3. Glass problems force design change at Freedom Tower podium
   Glass Magazine confirmed with two reliable off-the-record sources that New York City's Freedom Tower podium is going through a redesign due to problems fabricating the glazing systems. The podium was designed to be a signature element of the tower, also known as One World Trade Center, located at Ground Zero. The original podium design featured a 185-foot wall of more than 2,000 pieces of prismatic glass and welded aluminum screens.
4. C.R. Laurence acquires U.S. Aluminum
   Officials from C.R. Laurence Co. announced the acquisition of U.S. Aluminum Co., formerly part of the International Aluminum Group, which filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy May 11. Tom Harris, executive vice president of U.S. Aluminum, was appointed president of the new CRL company.
5. Vitro America sale final; US execs denied bonuses
   Mexico's Vitro SAB completed the sale of U.S. subsidiaries, including Vitro America and Super Sky Products, to Sun Capital affiliate American Glass Enterprises on June 17.
6. Industry has mixed reaction to Sun Capital's pending Vitro America acquisition
   In 18 months, Sun Capital Partners, Boca Raton, Fla., became a major player in the glass industry, purchasing Arch Aluminum & Glass, Tamarac, Fla., in February 2010, acquiring United Glass Corp., Louisville, Ky., in Apri 2011, and outbidding Grey Mountain Partners for Vitro America, Memphis, in June 2011 via its American Glass Enterprises subsidiary.
7. Jeld-Wen alleges price fixing among four glass manufacturers
   Jeld-Wen, Klamath Falls, Ore., filed a complaint, March 28, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon Medford Division, alleging that AGC Flat Glass North America, Alpharetta, Ga.; Guardian Industries, Auburn Hills, Mich.; Pilkington North America, Toledo, Ohio; and PPG Industries, Pittsburgh, "contracted, conspired or combined to fix, raise, maintain or stabilize prices of, and allocate business for, flat glass they sold in the United States during the claim period," January 1, 2002, through at least December 31, 2006. Consequently, Jeld-Wen had to pay "inflated prices" for approximately $100 million in glass products that it bought directly from the defendants during the claim period, the complaint stated.
8. Trulite to move corporate headquarters; confirms locations
   Trulite Glass & Aluminum Solutions officials confirmed the company would move its corporate office to Deerfield Beach, Fla. As of October 2011, the company will have a total of 28 locations
9. 'We got caught in the crossfire;' Vitro America CEO talks bankruptcy, sale
   On April 6, Vitro SAB subsidiaries Vitro America, Super Sky International, Super Sky Products and VVP Finance Corp. filed for relief under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. Officials also announced they had entered into an agreement to sell substantially all of the assets of Vitro America and Super Sky to an affiliate of Grey Mountain Partners, a private equity firm in Boulder, Colo.
10. U.S. Aluminum is back in business, says CRL president
    Q&A with Lloyd Talbert, president of C.R. Laurence 

Devlin is senior editor for Glass Magazine. Write her at kdevlin@glass.org.