glasstec – International Trade Fair

♻️🏆 Last but not least – the CircuClarity winners for the categories “Smart process“ and “Student“. It’s all about…👇 ➡️ Smart process: Graham Coult from Eckersley O'Callaghan founded GlazingRecovery.org. The aim is to promote and develop a network dedicated to the recovery and recycling of glass. The website serves as a central hub, bringing together key players from across the glass industry. The aim is to ensure that used glass is not regarded as waste but as a valuable resource. Jury evaluation: “This platform brings together necessary information on the stakeholders for circularity in glass.“ ➡️ Category Student (two winners): Max Brandenstein and Emanuel Nowak from Technische Universität Darmstadt. 1️⃣ Max Brandenstein investigated the reusability of dismantled IGUs with the aim of determining whether the strength of the glass is maintained despite ageing and mechanical stress. His experiments show: Laser scans can effectively assess surface quality and strength, which facilitates the reuse process. Jury evaluation: “The assessment delivers insights which contribute to the understanding of reusability in glass.” 2️⃣ Emanuel Nowak developed a concept for reinforcing glass plates using additive manufacturing. This makes it possible to extend glass structures into the third dimension using 3D printing, which increases material efficiency. Tests show that the strength of additively manufactured glass is almost comparable to that of conventional flat glass. This could reduce material consumption by up to 70%. Jury evaluation: “The concept helps to reduce material while adding a design quality.“ 👇 Which idea inspires you the most? #glasstec2024 #glasstec2026 #WeAreGlass

The characteristics of glass are diverse and pioneering – but some of them can also pose a threat to the natural world. What do we mean? 🐤 Glass is transparent and reflective. This can often be dangerous in the natural world – for birds – as they do not perceive the window pane as an object. That’s why many exhibitors at glasstec 2024 have addressed the topic of bird protection, including: ➡️ Fusion Bionic GmbH, represented in the Start-Up Zone this year, has redefined bird protection glass: efficient, structured and sustainable. Using Direct Laser Interference Patterning (DLIP) technology, the glass is precisely structured to create a milky glass-like surface that birds can clearly recognize – without compromising visibility or aesthetics. ➡️ HEGLA boraident GmbH & Co KG presented the Birdfriend mobile for the first time, which makes it possible to retrofit letters and windows without removing or replacing them. ➡️ Pilkington Architectural Glass developed the innovative glass solution AviSafe™ to reduce bird collisions. The unique patterned UV enhancement disrupts the reflection on the glass, allowing the bird to see the barrier. See video below. 👇 Bird-friendly glass is a key issue in the industry. And aesthetics and visibility do not have to suffer thanks to many innovations. ➡️ What efforts are your company already making in the area of bird protection? #glasstec2024 #glasstec2026 #WeAreGlass

♻️🏆 Who would like to learn more about the exciting projects of the CircuClarity Award winners? Now in the spotlight: recycling. 👇 ➡️ Category Recycling (shared prize): 1️⃣ Dr. François Guillemot (photo) from Saint-Gobain Glass won with the product innovation ORAÈ glass, which contains 64 per cent recycled material and has a 42 per cent reduced carbon footprint compared to standard glass. Example: The Piraeus Tower in Greece, the first fully recycled glass façade in the Balkans, based on 125 tonnes of recycled glass. Jury evaluation: “The product is based on the innovation on the supply chain and an example of what we should be better at.“ 2️⃣ Dr. Faidra Oikonomopoulou and Dr. Telesilla Bristogianni (photo) from Delft University of Technology convinced with their research on Re3 Glass and the innovative recycling approach. The flexible moulding process enables the processing of different glass compositions and degrees of impurity at reduced temperatures. Jury evaluation: “The team are early adopters and therefore innovators!“ 👉 What about your projects on circular economy? #glasstec2024 #glasstec2026 #WeAreGlass

glasstec provides a stage for a wide range of companies – but, what else is part of glasstec alongside industry, crafts and research? Our trade fair visitors saw it and were able to escape the crowds for a moment: at glass art. 🎨 Many artists displayed their exhibits there and showed how creative works of art can be with the material of the future. Every year we are delighted to collaborate with the artists under the sign of glass. 👇 Take a look at the highlights of glass art. #glasstec2024 #glasstec2026 #WeAreGlass

One of the exciting new projects at this year's glasstec? The CircuClarity Award 🏆♻️ Circularity is an important topic for the (glass) industry. We received many exciting submissions for this year's CircuClarity Award - and the winners were honoured at glasstec 2024. But that's not all: we would of course like to present the exciting projects to you. 🚀 Two of them are: ➡️ Category Reuse: Maarten Rood, Director of GSF Glasgroep BV, with IsoMAX circular insulating glass. Same product, but produced 50% more circular and with only 12.8 kg per m2 of emissions. Jury evaluation: “The product is an impulse for the international industry.” ➡️ Category Climate neutrality: Thomas C. Sauer from EXXOSQEL GmbH is making a contribution to sustainability with the NEXXOL, a caoting that gives lightweight glass strength in design and substance. Jury evaluation: “Increasing the lifespan of the material is a great example to a path towards climate neutrality.” 👉 Stay tuned for more exciting projects. What are you already doing to strengthen circular economy? ♻️ #glasstec2024 #glasstec2026 #WeAreGlass The jury: Prof. Ulrich Knaack Prof. Martien Teich Dr. Miriam Schuster Prof. Mauro Overend Jean-Paul HAUTEKEER Dr. Lisa Rammig Prof. Linda Hildebrand

For all of you who can't get enough: glasstec in Düsseldorf is over, we look forward to Glass Performance Days (GPD) 2025 in Tampere. What is it all about? 👇 glasstec 2024 was the perfect kick-off for a new collaboration in the glass industry! 🌍 This is where the organizers of Glass Performance Days (GPD) and glasstec met to mark the start of a partnership that focuses on knowledge transfer, networking and innovation. GPD is one of the leading conferences in the glass industry. Under the motto ‘GLASS - THE IN/VISIBLE IMPACT’, the upcoming GPD 2025 will once again bring together experts from research, design and production to demonstrate the full potential of glass as a sustainable material. 💡 The aim of the partnership ➡️ is to present technological innovations and the latest research findings to help shape a sustainable future for the glass industry. We look forward to the next one! 💙 🗓️ GPD 2025, 10-12 June 2025 📍 Nokia Arena / Tampere, Finland #glasstec2026 #WeAreGlass Lars Wismer (Director, glasstec) Marius J. Berlemann (COO, Messe Düsseldorf GmbH) Marko Mökkönen (Director Sustainability, Glaston Corporation) Miika Äppelqvist (SVP, Architecture Glass Business Area, Glaston Corporation) Sasu A Koivumaki (COO & deputy CEO, Glaston Corporation) Toni Laaksonen (President & CEO, Glaston Corporation) Petra Cullmann (Executive Director, Messe Düsseldorf GmbH)

Artificial intelligence is a key driver for the future of the glass industry. But how exactly can AI be used in production processes? At glasstec 2024, we spoke to the team of HappyOps: in the heterogeneous world of glass production, with many manufacturers using different machines and closed systems, HappyOps combines software and AI with human experience to collect and analyze end-to-end data and make targeted recommendations to workers at the line. 💡 What makes it special: HappyOps brings the people working in factories and AI together via a human-machine interface. This allows the expertise and knowledge of employees to be directly integrated and to optimize processes and base decisions on data and AI. The aim? ➡️ Reduce complex set-up processes and error rates, ramp up workers faster, increase efficiency, and actively meet the challenges of glass production. Thanks to Christopher Ziegler and Alexander Halemba for the insights. 💡 #glasstec2024 #glasstec2026 #WeAreGlass

What makes glasstec so special? It offers a high potential for innovation – on an impressive scale! Our future show glass technology live gave visitors great insights into futuristic concepts using glass as a versatile material. The objects not only look spectacular, but also demonstrate new solutions for conserving resources in the glass industry. ♻️ 👇 Take a look: Which exhibit inspired you the most? https://lnkd.in/edKZcfAB Great thanks to Prof. Dr. Ulrich Knaack and the university network of the four technical universities Technische Universität Darmstadt, Delft University of Technology, Technische Universität Dresden and Hochschule Bochum - Bochum University of Applied Sciences. 🚀 #glasstec2024 #glasstec2026 #WeAreGlass 📹 zeron / glasstec

What a fantastic glasstec 2024 last week! Thanks to all our exhibitors for the variety of innovation and all the great people who made glasstec so special. 💙 This year's glasstec has surpassed all expectations. Special thanks to our 1,257 exhibitors from 50 countries – and of course our over 32,000 trade visitors from 121 nations – who made this trade fair an unforgettable experience. 🙏 With your commitment and innovative solutions, you are the drivers of sustainability and progress in the glass industry. 🚀 We are already looking forward to welcoming you all back at our next glasstec in two years, when the focus will once again be on the future of glass from 20 to 23 October 2026 in Düsseldorf. Mark your calendar now: https://lnkd.in/es67KPjR 🔮 #glasstec2024 #glasstec2026 #WeAreGlass

Mark your calendar: glasstec 2026! 👇 #WeAreGlass