Industry

Demand for Glaston’s glass processing machines will be driven in the long term by greater use of glass, growth in demand for technologically demanding glass applications, increasing environmental awareness as well as tightening of energy-consumption and safety regulations.

Use of energy and safety glass increasing rapidly

Glass demand will be driven largely by increasingly widespread use of glass, particularly in public construction and architecture, in which case development of new and renovation construction will also drive demand for Glaston’s machines. Demand for technologically demanding glass applications is growing, and bigger sizes, bendability and thinness are being required of architectural glass.

In addition, increasing environmental awareness and tighter regulations means that energy-saving targets are growing, which impacts on demand for energy glass. Various safety regulations in construction are also contributing to growing use of energy and laminated glass. The main areas of use for safety glass are construction, the automotive industry, and the furnishing and appliance industry. 

Solar energy glass demand is growing strongly

Demand for glass used in solar energy glass applications, and therefore demand for glass processing machines serving the solar energy segment, is expected to offer significant growth potential for Glaston in the future. Greater use of solar energy is being supported by growing environmental awareness, the effort to reduce dependence on non-renewable energy sources, and by cost factors.

Demand for solar energy is also being increased by various restrictions on emissions. In addition, the price level of solar energy relative to non-renewable energy sources will play an important role in spreading solar energy use and, in this, the development of technology used in the production of solar energy will also be important.

Most significant growth potential is in the architectural segment

Greater use of glass, growth in the relative proportion of safety glass, and increasingly widespread use of solar energy are having a positive impact on demand for Glaston’s machines. Demand for glass processing machines varies both between business areas and geographically.

Safety glass use is expected to grow in future by several per cent per year. From Glaston’s perspective, the most growth potential is in architectural glass, and the company expects demand for the processing machines that serve this segment to continue to grow in the coming years.