By Mike Butterick, marketing director, Saint-Gobain Glass.
For the UK window and door industry, innovation has always been driven by a balance of performance, appearance and value. Today, that balance matters more than ever. Homeowners, developers and specifiers expect lower U-values, better energy ratings and products that enhance living spaces without compromising aesthetics.
Against this backdrop, the launch of Planitherm Neo represents a significant moment for Saint-Gobain Glass and for the fabricators and installers who rely on our products to stand out in a competitive market.
Planitherm Neo is the first major new product to be developed since Saint-Gobain Glass invested in a new furnace in 2021 and opened our post-consumer cullet processing plant in 2023 at our manufacturing base at Eggborough.
These investments signalled long-term confidence in the UK market, and it underpins our ability to design, develop and manufacture advanced glazing solutions specifically for the needs of the UK door and window industry. Planitherm Neo is a direct result of that commitment, pushing boundaries in thermal performance while retaining the visual qualities that customers increasingly demand.
One of the clearest trends shaping the market is the move towards lower U-value windows and doors. Fabricators and installers are under pressure to meet current and future Building Regulations while maintaining commercial viability.
Planitherm Neo responds with an effective solution that delivers a centre pane U-value of 1.0 W/m²K in a double-glazed unit* and as low as 0.5 W/m²K in a triple-glazed unit**. Crucially compared to other products in the Planitherm range, this improved insulation is achieved alongside higher G-values, at 54% in double-glazing and 44% in triple-glazing, supporting strong Window Energy Rating bands without compromise.
What sets Planitherm Neo apart is that this performance does not come at the expense of appearance. Aesthetics matter, particularly as glazing areas increase, and triple-glazing becomes more common.
The advanced surface coating delivers a more neutral colour, lower reflection and high light transmission. The result is glass that looks right in both traditional and contemporary settings, helping windows and doors blend seamlessly into the building fabric rather than drawing unwanted attention to themselves.
Quality and durability are equally important. Planitherm Neo has been developed as a single stock product suitable for both double-glazing and triple-glazing, in annealed or toughened form. After toughening to BS EN 12150, the coating retains the same technical and aesthetic characteristics. For processors, this simplifies stockholding and production planning.
For fabricators and installers, it means confidence that the finished unit will perform and look as intended throughout its service life.
This focus on reliability extends to sustainability. Up to 40% of the glass used in Planitherm Neo comes from reclaimed, recycled and remanufactured glass, enabled through our Glass Forever circular economy programme.
Working with more than 100 partners, this initiative facilitates the collection and recycling of large quantities of pre-consumer and post-consumer glass, transforming old glazing into new products with no impact on quality, performance or appearance.
By embracing circular economy principles, Saint-Gobain ensures that glass remains infinitely recyclable, reducing waste and resource consumption. This is also supported by published Life Cycle Assessment data and Environmental Product Declarations. As the industry moves towards lower carbon solutions – particularly social housing and commercial sectors – this transparency is essential.
For fabricators and installers, Planitherm Neo is more than a technical upgrade. It is an opportunity to differentiate. Too often, glass is treated as a commodity, yet it plays a defining role in how a building feels and performs. By selling the value of advanced glazing, from comfortable living and working spaces to reduced reliance on heating and cooling, we can move the conversation away from price alone.
Planitherm Neo has been designed, developed and manufactured in the UK for the UK market. It reflects our confidence in the sector and our belief that innovation, quality and aesthetics must progress together.
As energy efficiency standards rise and customer expectations evolve, those who recognise and communicate the benefits that glass delivers will be best placed to succeed.
*DGU configuration 4mm-16mm-4mm with 90% argon gas
**TGU configuration 4mm-16mm-4mm-16mm-4mm with argon gas
