glasstec 2022 Opens with New Technologies and Innovations

The global glass industry has returned to Düsseldorf, Germany, for glasstec 2022 following a four-year hiatus. The trade fair, typically held every other year, has been on hold since 2018 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Companies from around the world have flocked to the nine massive halls of Messe Düsseldorf. Guests are treated to a show floor that is filled with innovative equipment, machinery, tools, supplies and impressive displays of glass and facade innovations.

While morning show traffic started slowly in some halls, it picked up quickly as visitors found their way through the expansive convention center.

Edgetech, a subsidiary of Quanex Building Products, took its place in Hall 17 where it displayed a new product called T-Spacer SG, which is designed for structural glazing applications. Charlotte Hawkes, IG International’s head of marketing, explained that the company is heavily involved in commercial glazing throughout Europe, and this new spacer is ideal for those applications. Because of the flexible nature of its Super Spacer products, Hawkes said that architects can push the boundaries of what’s possible in design.

Guardian Glass featured a variety of tools and resources to educate and make it easier for customers to select the right glass for their needs. These resources include its online training center, which offers webinars and presentations, as well as a program that helps consumers choose types of glass that best suit their needs, ranging from energy performance to security. Another new feature in the booth was the SunGuard Viewing Area, which allows visitors to see how different types of low-E glass look in different lighting conditions.

Companies also featured materials that help ensure the overall performance of the facade. Sika, for example, displayed what it calls the next generation of its SikaMembran, a technology for facade waterproofing. Anton Ettlin, Sika market field manager, facade and fenestration, said this membrane, which is only 0.3 mm thick, is thinner, stronger and more sustainable than previous versions.

“It has less material, so that means a lower carbon footprint,” Ettlin said.

glasstec 2022 takes place through Friday, Sept. 23. Stay tuned to USGNN for more news and reports from Düsseldorf, and visit us in Hall 13, Stand E70.