RESOURCES

Architects and engineers are constantly pushing the limits of what architectural glass and glazing systems can do.

While we don’t know what the future holds, we’d like to draw your attention to seven key trends and their impact on the glass and glazing industry. Some had already caught our attention in 2020, while others are a direct consequence of the changes caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Glass Build America is truly a great event to connect and learn for everything and all in the glass and fenestration industries. This edition was once again a great success and here are a few trends on the commercial side that we came across both on the floor and during the education and demos.

Traditionally, the role of procurement has essentially been to cut down costs. This makes sense in a commoditized market where price is the ultimate differentiating factor. But today’s industry trends have forced manufacturers to provide more advanced glass products.

Supplier consolidation is a great way to reduce costs and improve supply chain effectiveness, but it doesn’t come without risks. Disasters around the world often expose the global supply chain to risks and threats.

Whether launching a new product line, improving an existing product’s performance or reducing manufacturing costs, manufacturers of curtain walls and architectural glass and glazing go to great lengths to create new or improved extrusion designs.

Ask any engineer in the glazing industry their main criteria for selecting suppliers and the answers are likely to be along these lines: “We only work with innovative suppliers. We have to be ahead of industry trends. Product quality matters, and it has to meet the specs.”

In today’s innovative, technologically advanced glazing world, very few single parts can possibly handle all of the relevant applications, particularly when it comes to glazing products. Somewhere down the line, you’ll be forced to compromise. How do you choose between a standard of custom part? What do you need to know to make the best decisions?

Stay current in the commercial space for curtain walls and facades. We have done the trend research for you, so you can dive right in and start heading in the right direction.