Strength and flexibility

Glass Times editor Nathan Bushell considers the persistent attraction of glass.

Following on from my comment last week, where I flagged up a news story that called for glass skyscrapers to be banned, I think it would be fair this week to highlight an area where glass is demonstrating its strength and flexibility.

News that all timber doors tested for fire resistance by the government exceeded the 30-minute minimum burn time also highlighted the role that glass had to play.

Richard Ainsworth, group technical director at Pyroguard, said: “The recent test results announced by the government go a long way to reassuring people of the strong performance of timber fire doors in the UK – from architects and specifiers through to building managers and occupants.
“For Pyroguard, the results of the stringent testing process have also demonstrated the excellent performance of our fire-rated glass which was installed in two of the doors tested. In both cases, the timber fire doors with Pyroguard glass vision panels excelled, passing the required 30-minute standard. That’s something we’re incredibly proud of.”

Actually, the many properties either inherent in modern glass are recognised by consumers, and is driving the continued investment by glass processing companies in the latest machinery that can guarantee speed and accuracy.

TuffX, for example, has taken its investment over the £500,000 mark this year with a new £250,000 Bottero cutting line that promises to boost the company’s cutting output by over a third.

The investment follows a £300,000+ investment in three new machines: a Bovone ELB 12 HD straight line edging machine; a Delta Radius corner grinding machine; and a Schiatti drilling machine.

Demand for its specialist glass products has fuelled a reasonably intense period of growth for TuffX, a company that continues to look for new ways to advance glass technologically.

Despite the limited view some architects and specifiers may have a glass, it will remain a vital component in buildings especially as companies keep innovating.