There’s a strong sense this week that 2026 has picked up where last year left off with the industry continuing to navigate relentless cost pressures and very little breathing space.
That’s reflected in a comment piece from Mark High, company director of Ecoglass, who lays bare the cumulative strain facing IGU manufacturers. He likens the current climate to a game of “whack a mole”, where you solve one issue and several more immediately appear.
At the centre of his concerns is the ongoing surge in silver prices, an essential component in Low-E coatings. Yet with prices having risen dramatically in recent times, the cost of producing compliant, energy-efficient glass has climbed sharply. There is no easy substitute, no simple engineering workaround and explaining that reality to cost-conscious customers is becoming increasingly difficult, according to Mark.
Alongside raw materials comes the ever-present issue of energy prices. With tempering, processing and production all energy-intensive, glass manufacturers remain particularly exposed to the UK’s high industrial energy pricing. Recent warnings reported in the national press suggest many manufacturers are cutting back on investment due to energy costs, and that pressure is being felt throughout our own supply chain.
Mark makes the point that none of this is caused by a single factor. It is the collision of silver surcharges, rising electricity bills, float glass price increases and growing operational complexity. But overlay that with ambitious targets such as Net Zero and the Future Homes Standard, and a contradiction presents itself.
The industry is being encouraged to produce ever more energy-efficient products, yet the cost environment is making those very products harder to sustain.
If the issues he raises resonate with you, we’d genuinely like to hear from you. Are you feeling the same pressures? How are you responding? Drop me an email and let’s continue the conversation.
There is, however, some welcome positivity elsewhere in this week’s newsletter. Fabricator Joedan is celebrating its 40th anniversary with a £3m investment as it targets ambitious growth, while UA Glass has taken its long-term machinery spend to nearly £1million, strengthening its partnership with Flat Glass Solutions.
Proof, perhaps, that even in challenging times, confidence and commitment to the future of our industry remain very much alive.
Is there a silver lining for the glass industry?
There’s a strong sense this week that 2026 has picked up where last year left off with the industry continuing to navigate relentless cost pressures and very little breathing space.
That’s reflected in a comment piece from Mark High, company director of Ecoglass, who lays bare the cumulative strain facing IGU manufacturers. He likens the current climate to a game of “whack a mole”, where you solve one issue and several more immediately appear.
At the centre of his concerns is the ongoing surge in silver prices, an essential component in Low-E coatings. Yet with prices having risen dramatically in recent times, the cost of producing compliant, energy-efficient glass has climbed sharply. There is no easy substitute, no simple engineering workaround and explaining that reality to cost-conscious customers is becoming increasingly difficult, according to Mark.
Alongside raw materials comes the ever-present issue of energy prices. With tempering, processing and production all energy-intensive, glass manufacturers remain particularly exposed to the UK’s high industrial energy pricing. Recent warnings reported in the national press suggest many manufacturers are cutting back on investment due to energy costs, and that pressure is being felt throughout our own supply chain.
Mark makes the point that none of this is caused by a single factor. It is the collision of silver surcharges, rising electricity bills, float glass price increases and growing operational complexity. But overlay that with ambitious targets such as Net Zero and the Future Homes Standard, and a contradiction presents itself.
The industry is being encouraged to produce ever more energy-efficient products, yet the cost environment is making those very products harder to sustain.
If the issues he raises resonate with you, we’d genuinely like to hear from you. Are you feeling the same pressures? How are you responding? Drop me an email and let’s continue the conversation.
There is, however, some welcome positivity elsewhere in this week’s newsletter. Fabricator Joedan is celebrating its 40th anniversary with a £3m investment as it targets ambitious growth, while UA Glass has taken its long-term machinery spend to nearly £1million, strengthening its partnership with Flat Glass Solutions.
Proof, perhaps, that even in challenging times, confidence and commitment to the future of our industry remain very much alive.
Luke Wood
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