Data & Benchmarking

Leading glaziers achieve healthy sales, but costs continue to stymie growth for some.

Leading fabricators withstand the fallout from inflation and a changing economic landscape.

As Top 50 Glaziers’ sales climb, companies struggle against worsening investment conditions.

Fabricators speed up to supply an uncertain but busy market.

Float producers overcome short-term hurdles as they plan for longer-term industry change.

Glazier sales stabilize as market instability remains.

Leading fabricator sales rebound, but supply chain conditions remain rocky.

Leading glass and metal companies innovate products and services in the face of an unpredictable economy and supply chain.

North American float glass manufacturers explore partnerships with solar panel producers and stay ahead of the curve with low-carbon products.

There is little agreement among economists about what 2024 will hold. They are split over whether the overall economy will enter recession. They are split over labor market expectations. Over interest rate projections. Over the future of inflation. Construction economists are similarly split…

Highlights from the latest construction forecasts show that U.S. economic recovery slowly continues, shadowed by inflation and labor challenges, and geopolitical risk.

At Glass Magazine and its publisher, the National Glass Association, we regularly track a series of economic and industry trend data to better understand what’s on the horizon for glass companies. We look at macro-economic data points, including unemployment and GDP, right along with construction…

Each time an index comes out, I run through it and give you all some quick thoughts. Well now comes the latest Construction Backlog Report and that one, unfortunately, is connecting to my pessimism pretty well. This report has fallen three months in a row and is under water.

Commerical and institutional planning increase following three months of decline.

Total construction starts increased 4 percent in January to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $923.4 billion, according to Dodge Construction Network. Nonresidential building starts increased 4 percent.

Primary glass market faces continued supply challenges, while manufacturers push for better performance, improved efficiency.

Last year's report found Top 50 Glaziers toward the start of the pandemic, confronting new impacts on labor and the economy. A year on, short-term changes have become long-term adaptations, as businesses continually adjust to life and work with COVID-19. 

The challenging 2020 is over, but many hurdles remain in 2021. The Top Glass Fabricators report provides an important look at the state of glass fabrication in North America, identifying sales trends, market demands and headwinds the segment is facing.

Glass manufacturers adapt business strategies, development amid global uncertainty. World of Glass updates for global float glass locations.

The float glass industry confronted manufacturing and supply chain issues along with the rest of the world of glass.

Demand for design services in December increased for the third month in a row, according to a new report from the American Institute of Architects.

The global float glass industry continues to see a shift in market leaders, expansions and investments in emerging regions, and trends toward efficiency and sustainability in production and processes. In its 2020 World of Glass Annual Report, Glass Magazine identifies key updates in the market…

The glass-making process starts with raw materials heated to 2,900 degrees Fahrenheit to produce molten glass. Pictured, the molten glass floats on a molten tin bath to become a flat ribbon. Photo courtesy of Guardian Industries.   The global float glass industry…

Business conditions showed signs of improvement at architecture firms in October, as the Architectural Billings Index score rebounded to 52.0, following flat or declining billings for most of the year so far.