Aug. 8, 2019 -  Madico, Inc. has announced the acquisition of its two Canadian distributors, Courage Distributing, Inc. and Window Film Systems and the formation of a new entity, Madico Canada. The company will operate both former Courage distribution locations in Oakville, Ontario, and Richmond, British Columbia, to serve the market.

Aug. 7, 2019 - Salem is excited to announce the U.S. branch of Bovone will open in 2020 close to Salem’s headquarters in NC. The expansion to the US of the Italian company will streamline exchanges between the glass fabrication machinery manufacturer, Bovone and its distributor-partner, Salem. Within the product lifecycle management process, this move will make it easier and faster to integrate data for robotics, prepare and install machinery, and service customers in the entire North American market.

Check out these new products for BIM modelling and managing your business.

July 18, 2019 -  INT Machinery Inc. was established in 2016 by Luca Tosetti and Emin Osun, who between them have over 30 years experience in the industrial equipment industry.

July 17, 2019 - Salem Distributing Company, Inc. has announced its acquisition of HHH Tempering Resources, Inc., a glass industry technical team and fabrication machinery provider.

July 15, 2019 - The Glaston Group has appointed Mr Michael Schmidt as Vice President Sales and Marketing for North America.

July 17, 2019 - Vitro Architectural Glass (formerly PPG Glass) has announced that Nathan McKenna has been appointed as segment marketing manager.

July 11, 2019 - Technoform's global team of associates are celebrating the company's 50th year in business.

June 12, 2019 - GED Integrated Solutions has acquired Elite Manufacturing Solutions. GED prides itself on controlling the complete build of our products from basic parts to final assembly. This total build strategy is a core practice and competitive differentiator. With this acquisition, GED adds machining capacity, manufacturing engineering support and operations leadership expertise. GED’s goal is to continue to reduce lead times for our customers while providing exceptional quality products.

June 3, 2019 - Glaston and Burghard Schneider have together agreed that Mr Schneider will leave the Group on May 27, 2019. Burghard Schneider has been responsible for the Bystronic glass business since 2014 and member of Glaston Group's Executive Management Group (EMG) as of 1 April 2019. Dietmar Walz, former Chief Sales Officer at Bystronic glass, will assume the position as President for the Bystronic glass business and member of the EMG.

May 30, 2019 -  Vitro Architectural Glass (formerly PPG Glass) has announced that Bradley P. Boone has been appointed director, OEM (original equipment manufacturers) segment, for residential glass and specialty glass markets.

Glass dominates the built environment and its quality and consistency can be an esthetic benefit or detriment. Building codes are stepping up the requirements for energy efficiency and for honest accounting of enclosure performance.

What is an insulating glass failure? IGMA defines it as fogged units with or without sealant adhesive loss; cracked glass; damaged coatings; displaced spacer; contaminants inside the unit, loss of inert gas fill and non-flat glass which may result in a visual or thermal issue.

From its beginnings in 1954 cutting mirrors, replacing window screens and broken windows, the company now known as the Prelco Group is a vertically integrated supplier of value-added glass products to architectural, transportation and defense clients.

We are trying to “activate” the Canadian Glass Association with certain issues as our driving force.

July 15, 2019 - This year’s Glass Performance Days (GPD) set a new benchmark of high-quality presentations, information sharing and personal networking for the entire glass industry value chain. Held from June 26–28 in Tampere, Finland, this is the 27th year since the world-class conference was established. According to the founding father and mastermind of the event Jorma Vitkala, “knowledge grows when knowledge is shared.” This is the spirit of GPD that will live on for generations to come.

June 27, 2019 - The Opening Ceremony of the Glass Performance Days 2019 conference (GPD) took place in Tampere, Finland, on June 26. The event got off to a great start with an impressive number of 750 international glass specialists gathered together in the TähtiAreena exhibition and sports center, which combined music and lights, and above all, a place to share knowledge. With the theme of “All eyes on smarter glass,” a truly global lineup of speakers gave their views on the glass business – and the importance of embracing and implementing new technologies.

Attendees at the joint American Architectural Manufacturers Association/Insulating Glass Manufacturers Alliance Summer Conference in Victoria got a dose of adrenaline from the Day 1 keynote speaker, Patrick Moore. Moore, a co-founder of Greenpeace who left the organization over its opposition to plastics and now works with the Vinyl Institute, delivered a provocative talk challenging a swath of environmentalist shibboleths, including dismissal of climate change as an urgent problem.

The Insulating Glass Manufacturers Alliance Emerging Technologies Committee was chaired by David Cooper of Guardian. Co-chair Helen Sanders of Technoform was unable to attend. The committee was meeting at its Summer Conference in Victoria, held this year as a joint event with the American Architectural Manufacturers Association.

Jeff Haberer from Trulite and Paul Bush from Vitro chaired a joint meeting of the Insulating Glass Manufacturers Alliance Technical Services Committee and the American Architectural Manufacturers Association Glass Council at their Summer Conference in Victoria. The room of over 50 delegates heard about progress on PIB migration, expansion of structural standards to address jumbo and thin glass, acoustical ratings, vacuum insulating glass guidelines and more. Bush noted that the IGMA's technical task forces have often done most of the heavy lifting to research and write AAMA standards for some time.

Margaret Webb and Janice Yglesias, executive directors of the Insulating Glass Manufacturers Alliance and the American Architectual Manufacturers Association, respectively, opened the first day of official business at the joint AAMA/IGMA Summer Conference with a report to membership. Most of the discussion addressed progress and plans for the merger of the two association, which members will vote on in July. If approved, the new merged organization will be called the Fenestration Glazing Industry Alliance.

June 12, 2019 - Glass Performance Days (GPD) 2019 promises to be an event that will make history! With over 700 registered participants, the conference, exhibition and workshops in Tampere, Finland, from June 25–28 are breaking records this year with 242 presentations offered by a world-class lineup of 220 speakers.

Ontario Glass and Metal Association members from across Ontario gathered again at Piper's Heath Golf Course in Milton, Ont., May 30 for a fun day of driving, chipping and putting. The weather mostly cooperated with broken grey skies that only sprinkled a light shower of rain for a few minutes. The course had thankfully dried out after the monsoon spring, but it was still cart-paths-only. Lively conversation was the order of the day as always both at the pre-round barbeque and the steak dinner where prizes were handed out to all and sundry.

When the mayor of New York City commemorated Earth Day in April stating that he would “introduce legislation to ban the glass and steel skyscrapers that have contributed so much to global warming,” many in our industry took note.

July 11, 2019 - Despite dire predictions, history and demographics suggest that burgeoning technologies (including automation, artificial intelligence and robotization) will not lead to substantial job losses, finds a new essay series released today by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian public policy think-tank.

In the last edition we took an overview look at the business ethics of adding service fees and the energy surcharge (ESC) on glass products. We questioned why there is such a wide ranging discrepancy between the fees added by the glass producers and the fabricators and why the amount of the charges don’t appear to align with the input costs.

Thanks to our sister publication, Plant magazine, for sharing its Outlook 2019 study of confidence levels among Canadian manufacturers (see page 22). The overall picture is one of cooling activity in the short term demanding a renewed focus on productivity and innovation to control costs. In general, I’d say the overall results match closely what a similar study restricted to glass fabricators would find.

The California Department of General Services announced California will be requesting Environmental Product Declarations from contractors on public works products starting Jan. 1 of this year. Flat glass is one of the building materials listed as a product eligible for an EPD. EPDs are third-party-verified documents quantifying the environmental impact of a product's materials and manufacturing process, including raw material extraction, energy use, chemical emissions and waste. The announcement constitutes the first inclusion of EPDs in official state procurement policy in North America, and will likely be watched closely by environmental regulators in other jurisdictions, including Canada.

In its fall economic statement, the federal government has announced its intention to allow businesses to write off the entire cost of machinery used for manufacturing and processing the same year it is put into use. This is up from the 25-per cent writeoff allowed in the first year presently.

Igloos made with electrically heated glass prevent condensation, ice, snow build-up and convection, offering an unobstructed view of nature and a unique opportunity to enjoy the starry sky and northern lights in comfort and peace.

Recent advances in fibreglass reinforced plastics (also known as FRP, fibreglass composite or simply fibreglass) and the pultrusion process that manufacture them have only recently opened the door to exciting new uses for this material in a variety of applications.

Oct. 23, 2018 - Finnglass offers a first-hand experience on the benefits of electrically heated glass at glasstech fair 2018. The company has made a cold wall simulator which allows to compare electrically heated glass with double and triple glazing. It demonstrates how electrically heated glass prevents convection and cold wall effect, hence giving a pleasant and comfortable indoor environment while saving money and energy.

Oct. 18, 2018 - On Tuesday October 2, 2018, Vitrum Glass Group celebrated the grand opening of their new Calgary manufacturing facility in Rocky View County, Alberta, located just 10 minutes North of Calgary’s international airport. The new 65,000 square foot facility currently employs 35 employees who manage and fabricate local orders for shower doors, railings, monolithic glass products, and tempered glass.

Oct. 9, 2018 - Energy efficiency is hard to see, but we feel its benefits in our homes, neighbourhoods, environment, economy and wallets. Federal investments in innovative energy-efficient projects drive economic growth, contribute to our clean energy future and create new, middle-class jobs for Canadians.

In the last edition we found that starting benchmark values used by glass manufacturers to calculate energy surcharges were far lower than what the actual costs were at the beginning of the surcharge program in 2002, meaning that surcharges can be vastly overstated and will likely run into eternity.

People work better when they own their jobs.

July 3, 2019 - Business investment—key to raising living standards for Canadians—has declined in two-thirds of the non-government sectors that comprise the Canadian economy in recent years, finds a new study released by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian public policy think-tank.

June 28, 2019 - The Canadian Grand Prix (also known as the Montreal Grand Prix) has been held every year since 1961, and has been part of the Formula One World Championship since 1967. It’s been run at Parc Jean Drapeau’s Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve since 1978 and is a smashing success each year, drawing hundreds of thousands of racing fans and generating millions for Montreal’s economy. It is reputed to be the largest annual sporting event in Canada. The facility’s paddocks building, the epicenter of the event, is a multi-purpose structure housing team garages, spectator loges and terraces, media and administrative rooms, and even a control tower to help manage the race.

The  Springdale Library combines influence from both modern visual elements and nature to create a marriage between movement, light and form which can be found around every turn of this truly unique building.

From the glazing company to the architects to the construction firm, the same word was used in describing the rebuild of a popular B.C. spiritual and yoga retreat: renewal.

Like any older hotel that’s aiming to thrive in today’s market, the Fairmont Queen Elizabeth in Montreal has again undergone renovations.

Snohetta had one goal in mind for the new Calgary Central Library: create a strong visual identity for the Central Library that reflected its civic importance, one that referenced the ideas of community, togetherness and unity.

The new four-storey, multi-purpose student centre at York, Canada’s third-largest university, is designed to meet the changing needs of the institution’s diverse community, as well as for easily accessibility to the 55,000 undergraduate and graduate students.

May 10, 2019 - Canadian municipalities issued $8.1 billion worth of building permits in March, up 2.1% from February. The increase was attributable to higher construction intentions in Western Canada.

May 1, 2019 - The American Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA) has released the "AAMA 2018/2019 U.S. Industry Statistical Review and Forecast." This report delivers timely information on window, door and skylight market trends and product relationships. Historic data for 2010 through 2018 and forecast data for 2019 through 2021 are also included in the report. Forecasts are based on projections of construction activity as of March 2019.

I’m sick and tired of being gouged.  Administration fees, facility fees, set up fees, convenience charges, baggage fees, event service fees…call them what you will, they’re all just a means of digging into your pocket in an underhanded and unethical way. 

The Canadian Standards Asspciation is updating A440.6 Installation of High Exposure Fenestration Products and has released a draft of the standard for public review. The section is mostly directed at Part 5 commercial construction, but low-rise Part 9 buildings could be affected as well when they have windows and doors exposed to high levels of wind and rain, especially on hills and cliffs. A440.6 sets forth characteristics of effective and durable installation methods, in both new and existing buildings, of fenestration products within the scope of AAMA/WDMA/CSA 101/I.S.2/A440 that are intended for installation in high exterior exposure conditions.

Aug. 2, 2019 - The American Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA) has developed a new manual providing guidelines for the design of curtain walls. Publication of AAMA CWM-19, the "Curtain Wall Manual," marks the culmination of efforts by volunteers from AAMA Curtain Wall/Storefront Council member companies to update and enhance the former AAMA MCWM1-89, the "Metal Curtain Wall Manual." It also incorporates content from several other related AAMA publications for ease of access.

July 31, 2019 - On July 31, 2019, the Architectural Glass and Metal Technician Certification Program (AGMT) certified 177 professional glaziers. These glaziers range from all over North America and are the first group to become officially recognized as AGMT Certified.

June 25, 2019 - Principal engineer Robert Jutras (UL/CLEB) hosted a seminar called, "The Canadian CSA A500 Building Guards Standard, Explained" during the 2019 Joint American Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA) and Insulating Glass Manufacturers Association (IGMA) Summer Conferences in Victoria, British Columbia, (June 17-20).

June 13, 2019 - The Insulating Glass Certification Council (IGCC) recently completed their 2019 annual meeting in Tampa Florida. In recognition of his many years of dedicated service to the organization, Public Interest Board member Mr. Dennis Johnson of Raths, Raths & Johnson, Inc. Willowbrook, IL was elected President of the organization.

June 12, 2019 - The American Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA) has released an updated specification establishing minimum performance requirements for liquid-applied flashing used to provide water-resistive seals around exterior wall openings in buildings that includes fenestration products, such as windows and doors, as well as other through-wall penetrations. AAMA 714-19, "Voluntary Specification for Liquid Applied Flashing Used to Create a Water-Resistive Seal around Exterior Wall Openings in Buildings," was last updated in 2015.

New York City mayor Bill de Blasio made quite a stir in late April when he seemed to announce New York would “ban” glass and steel skyscapers. Here’s his actual quote: “We’re going to introduce legislation to ban the glass and steel skyscrapers that have contributed so much to global warming. They have no place in our city or on our earth any more.”

May 1, 2019 - As of April 2019, the NRC is offering free access to the downloadable and electronic formats of the National Building Code, the National Fire Code, the National Plumbing Code, and the National Energy Code for Buildings, as well as the provincial codes published by the National Research Council of Canada (NRC). Paper copies of the Codes, along with other supporting documents including the Guides, are available at a reduced cost.

April 26, 2019 - The National Glass Association (NGA), with the Insulating Glass Manufacturer’s Alliance (IGMA), have announced the publication of a new jointly-produced resource for the glazing and glass products industry. The guidelines, developed by members representing both organizations, discuss the function of Polyisobutylene (PIB) Primary Sealant in insulating glass units (IGUs) with specific focus on the performance and aesthetic attributes of PIB.

Mar. 22, 2019 - The Insulating Glass Certification Council (IGCC) has launched its newly revamped website at www.igcc.com. This online home for IGCC provides in-depth information and resources to the fenestration industry.

Mar. 11, 2019 - After finishing a very productive meeting in 2018 with participation from certified licensee fabricators, suppliers, laboratories, and public interest individuals, the Insulating Glass Certification Council (IGCC) will be introducing several certification and guideline changes in 2019. These changes will include:

Mar. 7, 2019 -  Robert Jutras (UL/CLEB) hosted a seminar on the differences between how Canada and the United States evaluate field performance of windows and curtain walls in large buildings during the American Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA) 82nd Annual Conference in Palm Springs (Feb. 25-28). Jutras, who is Canadian, focused more on the Canadian codes and practices for the benefit of a mostly American audience at the conference.