#8: What’s new from Bystronic and Get Ready – Registration is Almost Here!

GlassBuild America may seem like a long way off, but time flies and before you know it, the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta will be packed with the best that the glass, window, and door industry has to offer.  In just a few days, registration will open and we’ll also have some contests along the way so you can register and win!  Stay tuned to all of the GlassBuild America outlets - www.GlassBuildAmerica.com, our Twitter feed @GlassBuild, and of course here on the Road for the latest on industry’s premier event!   Registration information can be found online now.

Interview Spotlight:  Bystronic

One company that always makes a splash at GlassBuild America is Bystronic.  2013 will be no different as they’ll be showing off new technology and equipment.  We got a sneak preview  when we caught up with Bystronic President, North American Region, Scott Knisely and he gave us some interesting info and video! 

Road: Congratulations on the launch of your newest piece of equipment the speed’line. How long does a major undertaking like this take from concept to completion? 

Scott Knisely: Actually the speed’line was not developed in one step. The first component, the sealing robot speed’sealer, was introduced at glasstec show 2010. The new assembly and gas fill press speed’assembler was then introduced with the speed’line at glasstec 2012. For both machines, the development phase started one year in advance. The research phase, where we have evaluated the new technologies of the machines, started even earlier. We introduced the speed’line with a double tps’applicator for warm edge insulating glass (IG) units with Thermo plastic Spacers (TPS^®) – the processing of other spacer systems like Super Spacer^® or box spacers is possible as well. 

Road: We have your YouTube video below and it’s a great one to watch, but if you can would you mind telling us about the three best attributes that speed’line offers? 

SK: The speed’line offers significant advantages for customers. It is designed to manufacture triple IG units in the same time it takes other lines to produce double units. Three work steps are decisive with regard to the quick production of triple IG units: The application of the spacers, the gas-filling of the spaces between the lites and the sealing of the units. In the speed’line, all three processes are perfectly designed for the production of triple units and enable the quickest cycle times.

The new assembly robot speed’assembler gas-fills both airspaces of triple IG units synchronously. This unique technology saves more than 10 seconds cycle time per unit. In the tandem mode even two units are able to be processed in parallel.

The sealing robot speed’sealer includes modern dynamic mixing system instead of the static mixers, which are common practice. The big advantage of the dynamic mixer is the very high sealing volume which is provided with a low material pressure. The corresponding mixing result is extraordinary good. Furthermore with the fully automated material exchange system, it is possible to change the complete dosing system in two minutes without the interaction from the operator.

Road: We are once again thrilled and honored to have Bystronic glass at GlassBuild America. Aside from more detail on speed’line, what else can attendees expect to see at your booth this fall in Atlanta? 

SK: As everyone in the industry is aware, Bystronic glass has partnered with Hegla in order to complement each other’s portfolios and services. This year, like last year in Las Vegas, Bystronic glass and Hegla will share a joint booth. Keeping with the spirit of innovation, Bystronic glass and Hegla will unveil a completely new cutting machine designed and developed by Hegla in Germany. In addition, we will also display our best in class handling devices designed to improve efficiency in the factory and significantly improve on operator safety. Furthermore the customers will get an overview about the latest machinery for the manufacturing of insulating glass and laminated glass, for the pre-processing of automotive glass and our service activities.

Road: We’re now through one quarter in 2013. How do you see the economic landscape in the glass, window and door industry for the rest of this year and beyond?

SK: All indications and feedback from customers we speak with generally point to an increase in demand across the board, but still see a significant amount of unused capacity in certain market regions. In addition, there seems to be a push towards more automation with a strong focus on improving overall process efficiency and safety. We, like our industry partners, continue to be optimistic that this increase in demand and focus on process improvements will carry forward into the next 2 years.

#7: Honors for GlassBuild America and Guardian Shows Off New Products

GlassBuild America has received a huge honor in the trade show world as we were named #184 to the 2012 Trade Show News Network Top 250 U.S. Trade Show list.  Everyone in the glass, window and door industry knows that GlassBuild America is the place to be and we are proud that an independent group like TSNN agrees!  GlassBuild America has been on this list since 2003 and we are thrilled to continue that tradition in 2012.  

Video Spotlight:  Guardian Industries Shows Off New Products 

During GlassBuild America 2012, we stopped by the Guardian Industries booth and got the lowdown on some exciting new products.  Take a look:

#6 – Make Your Hotel Reservations Today for GlassBuild America 2013!

It’s that time — housing for GlassBuild America is officially open! With more hotel choices than ever and some of Atlanta’s greatest convention properties included, there is a perfect hotel choice for everyone. Why stay in an official GlassBuild America hotel?  Get complimentary transportation to and from the Georgia World Congress Center; the hotels are right in the middle of the GlassBuild America action; and get the best negotiated rates for GlassBuild America attendees.   For details on the hotels within GlassBuild America’s official room block, click here.

#5: New Excitement at the Show and A Spotlight on AGC Glass Company North America

Plans are coming together and the show is taking shape.   And this year, there are many new and exciting features to share from more demonstrations on the trade show floor to a bigger Innovative Product Pavilion with more exhibitors and more new products than ever before!  Be sure to visit the updated GlassBuild America website – it is full of all the information you need to make your plans to attend.

Interview Spotlight

This week, we catch up with long time GlassBuild exhibitor AGC Glass Company North America and their Manager of Corporate Marketing Communications, Alice Dickerson.

Road: Recently, you had exciting news: the launch of two new product families in Energy Select™ and Comfort Select™. What is the story behind them?

Alice Dickerson, AGC:  Energy Select is our new low-e glass for commercial applications and Comfort Select is our new low-e glass for residential applications. These new coated glass products are based on AGC global technology, which strengthens our capacity as well as our ability to stay ahead of the ever-changing energy code requirements. Additionally, we chose to brand these products in a way that makes it easier for architects, fabricators and other customers to identify the best product based on application and energy code requirements.

Road: We’re pretty early into 2013.  From a business standpoint, how is it going for your company so far and what do you project for the rest of the year?

AD: In spite of the tough economic conditions, we have taken a number of steps to grow our business which has resulted in improvements in how we do business; some related to customer service and some related to production, hence our decision last year to implement FeneVision.

In January, we re-started our G1 float line at the Greenland float glass plant, which was evidence of the strong commitment our company has made to our architectural business as announced just last year. On February 1, we announced the launch of our new Energy Select™ and Comfort Select™ low-e glass product offering so we are very focused on making this a smooth transition for our customers. And, of course, you’ve heard about the new Atlanta manufacturing facility. This 226,000 square foot operation is just the beginning of our efforts to streamline production, expand our fabrication capabilities and implement a customer service organization that will ultimately become the model for other AGC locations.

Road: We are thrilled to have AGC North America back at GlassBuild America again this year. What can attendees expect to see in your exhibit?

AD: We had such good attendance at GlassBuild America in Las Vegas last year, but this year with the show being in Atlanta, it will be even more exciting—for a number of reasons. Our new Atlanta Manufacturing Facility will be operational mid-summer so the timing is perfect for GlassBuild to be held here. In addition, this will be an excellent opportunity to continue promoting Energy Select™ and Comfort Select™, our Pyrosafe fire-rated products, and our Krystal Interiors decorative glass. The demand for decorative glass continues to grow and we have some new additions to our Krystal Interiors offering that we plan to launch later in the year—just in time for the show!

Krystal Images from AGC Glass Company North America used as wall art.

Thank you to this month’s sponsor:

#4: Speak Up for Education and Learn about one of the Hottest Technologies in our Industry Today.

As the old saying goes, knowledge is power and at past GlassBuild America events, we’ve given you the opportunity to gain clout, thanks to strong educational events. This year will be no different as we are excited about the line up already in the works.  But unlike past years, before we set our schedule, we’d love to hear from you.  What educational topics do you want hear about?  Is it about codes? Technology? Marketing? Lead Generation? Advocacy? Legal?  You name it and we’ll look into it.  Just e-mail us here at attend@GlassBuildAmerica.com and we’ll make it a part of the discussion as finalize what is offered at the show! 

Exhibitor Spotlight Video- Dip Tech 

This week, we visit Dip Tech’s latest exhibit and they show us some of their newest technologies in decorative design.  

GlassBuild on Twitter

Don’t forget - every day we’re focusing on a different GlassBuild exhibitor on our Twitter feed.  So keep up with that and everything happening at the show by following us at @GlassBuild.

Thank you to this month’s sponsor: 

#3: The Foundation of the Show Floor is Built and Learn what SAGE sees for the year ahead!

ALERT:

The GlassBuild hotel reservation process will begin in April and will be announced.  Any representative contacting you via phone or email about making reservations for Atlanta, is NOT affiliated with the show or the official room block.

We are hard at work BUILDing the foundation of GlassBuild America.  We already have a great group of industry leaders joining us on the show floor.  Want to see who is already BUILDing their booth in Atlanta?  Click here for the list of all the exhibitors on the show floor and you can even see where their booth is on the floor on the interactive online floor plan – it changes daily so be sure to visit often!

Follow GlassBuild on Twitter to stay in the loop!

Learn about the companies who are a part of North America’s largest trade show for the glass, window and door industry.  Each and every day, we’ll be tweeting out another GlassBuild exhibitor who will be on our floor in Atlanta.  See where they are and check out their website.  Click here to follow GlassBuild on Twitter and be sure to mention us in your own tweets about the show with #GlassBuild.

Exhibitor Spotlight: 

As a part of our 2013 series of seeing what some of our exhibitors think about the year upon us, this week we hear from Derek Malmquist, Vice President of Marketing for SAGE Electrochromatics, Inc.

SAGE Predictions for 2013

2013 will be far from “unlucky” – we predict good things for SAGE and the industry in the coming year!  First, we are very excited to be officially opening the largest electrochromic glass manufacturing plant in the world in 2013.  The facility is 320,000 square-feet and is equipped with the most advanced technology to manufacture dynamic glass worldwide.  This initiative has been an excellent job creator and we believe it will continue to add new opportunities throughout 2013.

SAGE’s new facility is the largest electrochromic glass manufacturing plant in the world.

We see the market for electrochromic glass expanding rapidly in 2013 and through the rest of the decade.  Andrew Grove, former CEO and co-founder of Intel, has talked about strategic inflection points – that time when an industry or product “changes the way we think and act.”    We believe that time is now for adoption of smart technologies such as dynamic glass – technologies that can have a dramatic impact on the environment, energy savings, and quality of life for building occupants.  Enhancements such as larger glass sizes and the ability to zone within a single pane of glass position the industry very well for broader, mainstream adoption.

We believe that initiatives such as eco-labeling on glass and glazing products will become more prevalent in 2013. The reason: As more home- and building-owners become eco-conscious about the materials used in their buildings, architects are increasingly inquiring about eco-labels for the products they spec into their projects. Further, factors such as the embodied energy, carbon footprint or life cycle analysis (LCAs) of glass and glazing products will become increasingly important – if not mandatory – in the near term as sustainable design becomes both a consumer- and regulatory-driven priority. The glazing industry will feel increased market pull to provide such product information in 2013 as more requests are made of them.  In the future manufacturers may not be able to sell a product without lifecycle information.

Finally, we are optimistic (cautiously) about growth of the commercial and residential construction industry in 2013.   Based on our own experience, there are more positive signs than negative and the leading indicators are now pointing in the right direction for recovery (setting aside that thorny detail of the fiscal cliff…).  As Winston Churchill once said: “I am an optimist. It does not seem too much use being anything else.”

To learn more about SAGE, visit them on their website at www.SAGEGlass.com and see them on the floor at GlassBuild America in booth #2300.

#2: New Web Look and BUILDing Expectations of 2013 with Glassopolis

The show is only 226 days away and we here on The Road to GlassBuild are busy BUILDing a great show experience for attendees, exhibitors, and the entire glass industry.

First, we brought you the new look and plan for The Road – and there are so many more exciting things to come on The Road this year and we are looking forward to sharing all our plans with you as the year rolls on.

And now, we are proud to show you the 2013 edition of www.GlassBuildAmerica.com- a new look and new features so that you experience the show year-round.

BUILD your “must see” exhibitor list on the Interactive Floor Plan – it is updated each time a new exhibitor confirms their place on the show floor so visit that page often!  BUILD your network of colleagues and industry friends by tweeting along with us using #GlassBuild starting NOW and through the show.  Start BUILDing your itinerary for the show dates NOW with education and show times already posted on the website.

GlassBuild America Show Management is working hard behind the scenes BUILDing the foundation of this year’s show.  Now, you can share in that excitement with the new 2013 show website.

Interview Spotlight with Glassopolis

Rob Botman, General Manager, of Glassopolis, a specialty glass distributor, spoke with us recently about his BUILDing expectations for 2013 and why GlassBuild America is an integral part of the marketing plan at Glassopolis.

Road: What’s on the horizon for 2013?

RB: Well, we launched a new product at GlassBuild last year called FIRESWISS from Glas Trosch. It’s a top-selling fire-rated glass widely used across Europe but it’s new to the US market. We spent last year getting the product approved for use in the US and Canada and building a new plant to fabricate it here. We will be continuing the drive behind this new product. It has significant market share in Europe and will find its place in the market over here.

Road: What marketing plans do you have for the year?

RB: Well, we will be back at GlassBuild in Atlanta. We love the show. For a growing company like ours, it’s always helpful to see our customers and meet new ones at the show. It reinforces our brand and gives us an opportunity for some additional customer interaction.  It goes back to our focus on glass contractors and fabricators. We service the market well and we want to be present where our customers are. And it looks like the economy is picking up so we want to be front and center with our customers.

Be sure to BUILD time in your schedule to visit Glassopolis at www.glassopolis.com and see them on the floor at GlassBuild America in booth #67.