Exhibiting companies have spent the previous year developing new product solutions to address their customers’ top concerns, and these innovations will take center stage at GlassBuild.
Two related leadership priorities can help companies to recruit and retain employees, improve engagement and profitability, and keep workers safe: one, promote diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace; and two, address racism and discriminatory practices on the job.
Finding and keeping skilled labor is the top challenge facing U.S. glazing contractors. In response, a growing number of companies and industry organizations are looking to apprenticeship programs to bridge the skills gap and train the next generation.
It’s not often the North American float glass industry welcomes a new plant, let alone an entirely new company, to the market. Learn more about Canadian Premium Sand's plans to start a float plant outside of Winnipeg, Manitoba.
The primary roadblock in adopting a high-performing glass product is cost. However, the price tag for high-performance systems should be considered alongside the holistic costs of building construction and operations. Sources point to three primary areas to consider when weighing costs.
This part of All that Glass Can Do looks beyond energy and thermal performance to the other wide-ranging capabilities of glass, such as security glass, large sizes, curved assemblies, decorative glasses and more.
An in-depth look at specification and design for glass and glazing, including glasses that achieve the thermal performance of an opaque wall, glasses that can hold up a roof without the need for metal supports, glasses that can generate electricity, stand up to hurricanes, protect against the…
The new president of Oldcastle BuildingEnvelope brings a mix of technical acumen and business expertise to North America’s largest glass and metals company.
New design trends in the decorative glass market call for larger sizes, custom designs, vibrant colors, new inks, multi-functional products and more. Successful glass fabricators keep a close watch on emerging trends, track relevant changes in codes and standards, and implement factory best…
The National Glass Association held its winter NGA Glass Conference Feb. 9. At the top of the agenda for the virtual meeting: new energy and environmental codes and regulations that will impact the glass industry, driving product trends and asking more from companies.
The pandemic disrupted commercial construction in 2020. What will 2021 hold for industry companies as the market and the overall economy continue to recover? Check out the topline takeaways from the commercial construction outlook from Glass Magazine’s Annual Forecast.
How can glass companies prepare for 2021? I asked some of Glass Magazine’s expert contributors to weigh in, and they offered insights on everything from legal and contract best practices to labor concerns.
We are now in the glass age, declared several United Nations representatives during the worldwide presentation of the UN Year of Glass 2022, held last week. Find out the top reasons why glass should be recognized through a United Nations Declaration.
The Glass Magazine Awards program recognizes the best and brightest innovations in glass industry products and projects. This year’s special recognition program highlights how the industry innovated in response to the demands and dangers created by the COVID-19 pandemic.
2020 has challenged glass companies across all segments of the industry, but it hasn’t stopped the pace of innovation and evolution across the industry. This six-part series presents Glass Magazine’s complete Industry Trends report.
2020 has challenged glass companies across all segments of the industry, but it hasn’t stopped the pace of innovation and evolution across the industry. This six-part series presents Glass Magazine’s complete Industry Trends report.
2020 has challenged glass companies across all segments of the industry, but it hasn’t stopped the pace of innovation and evolution across the industry. This six-part series presents Glass Magazine’s complete Industry Trends report.
COVID-19 has turned 2020 plans upside down for us all. It has asked us to adapt and change; to find new ways of connecting, working, collaborating, problem solving. Now it’s forcing us to pivot once more when it comes to our industry’s gathering place.
Legal questions surrounding COVID-19 range from questions over company responsibilities and liabilities, to what constitutes reasonable health and safety concerns from employees. Learn top considerations from the American Subcontractors Association Attorneys' Council.
Fire-rated glass and glazing has evolved. Manufacturers increasingly provide fire-rated glass and glazing solutions that are larger, more complex and better able to meet added performance requirements for thermal efficiency, daylighting, impact safety and more.
The economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic has hit many glass companies hard. During an NGA webinar, April 22 at 1 p.m. ET, financial expert Marco Terry will help owners navigate financing options to help businesses today, tomorrow and once the crisis has passed.
In this time of COVID-19 and worksite closures, it is more important than ever for glazing contractors to understand contractual obligations. The National Glass Association announced a new resource that provides the questions contractors need to ask about existing contracts.
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has led to a seismic shift in the way glass and glazing industry companies do business. The crisis has created sudden financial uncertainties, worker safety challenges, questions over how to continue operations and more. Here is a quick look at the news we’re watching…
The added stress tolls on companies and individuals throughout the uncertainty of an ongoing pandemic are vast and varied. Bill Sullivan of Brin Glass recognizes that practicing self-rescue first before helping others is critical in coping with the added stress impacts on his business and at home.
Alan Kinder, architectural design manager at Guardian Glass, makes the case that now, more than ever, companies must deliver positive impact and bring value to customers.
High-performance building is no longer optional. Building codes require it. Owners and occupants increasingly demand it. And our global sustainability depends on it.
NSG Pilkington's Rossford, Ohio, plant includes two float glass lines, running 24/7. The long and rich history of the Rossford plant, traces the advancements of glassmaking in the U.S. Its current operations demonstrate the industry’s advancements over the decades.
SageGlass CEO Alan McLenaghan provided an update on the company’s status and operations during the ongoing COVID-19 crisis and offered insights on the industry’s strength and collaboration.
During a video conference with staff, Giroux Glass CEO Nataline Lomedico asked employees to communicate, collaborate and prepare for what comes next, after COVID-19.
Tim Finley of TFin Building Solutions says glass companies should use the unexpected downtime during the coronavirus pandemic to train workers, preview processes, reach out to customers and more.
My Shower Door’s Keith Daubmann says his company is investing in its brand and its people during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The company continues to pay its workers and is focused on training.
New requirements for better performing, more sustainable and thermally efficient glass and glazing products represent an important opportunity for the industry, said Apogee CEO Joe Puishys during his keynote address at the 2020 Building Envelope Contractors Conference.
Glass installers who are working in customers’ homes during the coronavirus outbreak have an opportunity to bring a sense of calm through professionalism and quality workmanship, says Chris Phillips of Showcase Shower Door.
When the phones stop ringing due to coronavirus, what can companies do to pivot and diversify? Dustin Anderson of Anderson Glass in Waco, Texas, offers a glazier perspective on finding new business during the crisis.
Dustin Anderson of Anderson Glass in Waco, Texas, offers a glazier perspective on the business impacts of the current coronavirus health and economic crisis. Anderson will be posting regular videos discussing the impact of coronavirus on business and sharing ideas about how companies can best…
The glass industry has faced growing scrutiny in recent years over bird deaths caused by collisions with glass façades. Most in our industry know that those collisions could have been prevented through bird-friendly design and product solutions. Word of these solutions has yet to reach the…
The U.S. economy is slowing but is unlikely to go into recession. Details on threats to the construction economy, regional winners & losers and building trends.
Glass Magazine rings in the New Year with a relaunch of its website, GlassMagazine.com. The new website offers essential glass industry content and news in a more organized, accessible and mobile-friendly format. It is designed to better connect readers with the information they need to meet…
What will 2020 have in store for the overall economy and for construction? And, what potential threats should glass industry companies watch for as they make investment and hiring decisions, bid projects and more in the year ahead?
This December issue of Glass Magazine closes out an amazing decade in the industry—one that has witnessed a redefining of what’s possible with glass. What will the next 10 years bring? What are the long- and short-term trends, challenges and opportunities for architectural glass? How can industry…
The future of the glass industry is smart—smarter glass for smarter buildings in smarter cities, according to presenters and organizers at the 2019 Glass Performance Days, June 25-28 in Tampere, Finland. “Smart cities, smart buildings and smart glazing are our future,” said Jorma Vitkala, chair of…
Last week, the glass industry witnessed some jarring headlines coming out of New York City: "NYC’s ‘Green New Deal’ to ban glass, steel skyscrapers"; "De Blasio vows to ban glass and steel skyscrapers in NYC"; "NYC mayor wants to ban new glass skyscrapers to cut emissions".
The news came out of…
Growing up, my dad was the king of do-it-yourself fixes. He used to say that, provided with enough duct tape and a hanger, he could create a quick, temporary repair for almost anything that went amiss around the house. Those handy DIY fixes, however, are not for the glass plant.
Last week at the…
What’s driving future glass trends? Transparency, performance and technology, according to Lisa Rammig, senior associate for Eckersley O’Callaghan. Rammig spoke Jan. 23 during the 2019 National Glass Association Annual Conference in Naples, Florida. To meet next-generation demands, players from…
Many economists are pointing to a potential slowdown in the U.S. economy after nearly a decade of sustained growth. “We see some headwinds coming,” said economist Connor Lokar during his forecast presentation at the Glazing Executives Forum at GlassBuild America in September. So, how can glass…
Are architects turning their backs on skyscrapers? This was the question posed in a recent CNN piece that interrogated the sustainability and energy performance of glass. The article, through interviews with several architects and other building industry officials, seemed to posit that glass…
Sources: MyGlassClass.com from the National Glass Association; the Occupational Safety and Health Administration; Glass Safety Awareness Council, Insulating Glass Manufacturers Alliance; Vitro Architectural Glass.
Glass plants can be dangerous places to work. They combine the hazards of any…
In the CMD iSqFt webinar, “Construction 2016: How Sustainable is the Construction Economic Recovery?” several leading construction economists addressed the challenges of the labor shortage in construction and manufacturing. To combat the shortage of skilled labor, economists noted opportunities in…
CRL CEO Don Friese (left) and President Lloyd Talbert. Photo by Lizz Mullis
The story of C.R. Laurence Co. is one of growth and acquisitions, of innovation and solutions. It is a story of people, strong leaders and dedicated employees who worked to grow the company into a respected glass and…
Technological advances are changing the float glass industry. Market demands for higher performance glasses along with pressures to reduce the environmental impact of production have led to notable advancements in technology for both float products and processes.
Regarding the first, the push for…
Six months ago, the state of Florida enacted new energy codes, mandating that new building and renovation projects in commercial and residential applications meet requirements outlined in the 2012 International Energy Conservation Code, IECC. The updates to the energy codes led to disagreement,…
The glass-making process starts with raw materials heated to 2,900 degrees Fahrenheit to produce molten glass. Pictured, the molten glass floats on a molten tin bath to become a flat ribbon. Photo courtesy of Guardian Industries.
The global float glass industry has undergone a dramatic…
UPDATE (July 21, 2014):
In January 2009, I wrote this blog in response to a flood of emails I had received regarding a fake shipping scam targeted at small and mid-sized businesses that can cost companies upwards of $10,000, in addition to lost product and time.
In the more than four years…
The slower construction market has created a challenging bidding environment increasingly defined by fierce competition and pressure to compete on price. Glazing subcontractors have been forced to perform a complicated balancing act of maintaining survivable profit margins while remaining…
