South Gate, CA, SEPTEMBER 5, 2012 - It is estimated that up to one billion birds are killed each year in North America due to collisions with glass on buildings — an issue NPR's ''Morning Edition'' covered in a two-part series this August.
As part of its ongoing effort to offer more environmentally-conscious products, Glasswerks Inc. — a leader in commercial and architectural glass fabrication — announces a partnership with German glass manufacturer Arnold Glas to be the exclusive North American fabricator of ORNILUX Bird Protection Glass.
THE PROBLEM: Reflective and transparent characteristics of glass create a dangerous situation for birds. Rather than a barrier, they see sky and landscape reflected by or on the other side of a window. To prevent these collisions, glass must be made visible to birds.
THE SOLUTION: ORNILUX has a patterned, UV reflective coating making it a visible barrier for birds while remaining virtually transparent to the human eye. It is the only clear glass solution for reducing bird collisions, and Glasswerks is the only glass fabricator in North America offering this bird-friendly glazing solution.
''Second only to habitat destruction, researchers believe that glass kills more birds than any other human-related factor,'' says Ed Rosengrant, Vice President of Sales and Marketing. ''So it was important to us to bring this glass to our customers as quickly as possible.''
In 2011 ORNILUX Bird Protection Glass was awarded Glass Magazine's Crystal Achievement Award for Most Innovative Energy Efficient Glass Product. And in 2010, ORNILUX was selected as one of BuildingGreen's Top-10 Green Building Products of the year.
''Since its introduction to North America in 2010, it has been our goal to make ORNILUX more available to our customers here. Our partnership with Glasswerks is a critical step,''says Lisa Welch, Market Development at Arnold Glas N.A. ''Advocacy efforts of organizations like American Bird Conservancy, Audubon, and FLAP have encouraged many cities to tackle this issue through implementation of bird-friendly design guidelines and regulations. Additionally, recognition by USGBC has been achieved with LEED Pilot Credit 55: Bird Collision Deterrence.''
ORNILUX multi-functional glass solutions are available exclusively in North America from Glasswerks as laminated glass or double-glazed low-e insulated units, offering energy efficiency and bird strike protection.
For more information on ORNILUX Bird Protection Glass from Glasswerks, visit www.glasswerks.com, www.ornilux.com, or call (888) 789-7810.
About Glasswerks Inc.
Glasswerks Inc. is a leading commercial and architectural glass fabricator headquartered in South Gate, California. Glasswerks Inc. produces architectural glazing products, glass furniture, mirrors and decorative glass; specializing in the production and fabrication of laminated, tempered, insulated, bullet-resistant, hurricane-resistant, and high performance low-e glass products. Born out of the
competitive construction landscape of Los Angeles in 1979, Glasswerks Inc. operates from eight U.S. facilities located in Southern California, Texas, Ohio, Pennsylvania and North Carolina. Catalina Tempering and Avalon Glass & Mirror are subsidiaries of Glasswerks Inc. Visit www.glasswerks.com for more information.
About ARNOLD GLAS
Arnold Glas, headquartered in Remshalden, Germany, has been known for innovation in the glass industry in Europe since 1959. It is one of Germany's largest and most innovative glass producers with 11 production locations, its own coating facilities and float works. Arnold Glas is a full-line supplier for architectural and decorative glass. Visit www.arnold-glas.de for more information.
