At a press conference at glasstec in Dusseldorf for Glass Performance Days(GPD)yesterday,Guardian president Scott Thomsen and Viracon president Kelly Schuller,gave previews of their coming presentations at the Tampere,Finland event,which will be held June 13-15 next year.
The glass manufacturer's top executive pointed out that with the surplus of glass worldwide,executives have to know how to sustain their companies in this environment.He explained that despite an industry that reduced its capacity by 80 float lines in the last year,there is still global overcapacity."The glass industry needs to step up and put more emphasis on value in the chain,"he said."You can't just be an order taker.You have to create demand for your product.If you produce glass and you want to introduce new products each year,then all segments of the value chain have to be able to understand and use these products."
He explained,"Everyone in the channel has to get increased profit.Research and development expenditures in the industry have gone up significantly but profits through the channel have not.As an industry,we have not maximized our R&D investment."
Thomsen said the will speak about of the future and the introduction of vacuum glass which would have an R-value of 12.The equivalent IG unit now would have an R-value of 3,he said."The value of this product will be that we can use thick glass,and this allows us to compete with brick and other buildings materials,which is what glass has to do,"he explained.
He added that Guardian wants to replace its products every two to four years,and said that a manufacturer can't just make clear glass and stay in business in today's market.
Viracon's Schuller echoed what Thomsen about having to develop the market."The all-glass facade is under threat from codes,"he said.
