Fenergic invests in new Glaston TPS® IG line and RC Series tempering furnace

The Fenergic Group specializes in high-quality windows for multiplexes, high-rise buildings and multi-family homes. “We knew we needed to increase the speed of our line, improve the quality of our end product and add the next level of glazing because that’s where our market is going. But our whole adventure took off when we visited glasstec in Dusseldorf in the autumn of 2022,” says Véronique Bouladier, Public Relations & Marketing Coordinator at Fenergic in Quebec, Canada.

Fenergic has been a wellknown name in window and door manufacturing since Léo Beauchesne founded the company in 1953 in Warwick, Canada, 135 km from Quebec City. In 1984, his son Pierre took over the company and doubled production capacity.

Given Quebec’s harsh winters, new construction regulations are enforcing the shift to triple-glazed windows to reduce heat loss in the cold season and maintain a comfortable temperature throughout the year. Triple glazing not only lowers energy consumption, it also provides superior sound insulation for more serene interior spaces.

NOT YOUR GRANDFATHER’S TPS 

“Until recently, we were still producing about 50% of our glass by hand. That’s really time consuming, and the final thickness was never consistent. But we knew that the market was shifting to triple glazing,” says Véronique, Pierre’s wife, who joined the company in 2007. “At glasstec 2022, we were shopping for something else – but then saw the Glaston TPS® line. It was exactly what we needed,” she continues.

Based on early experience with a thermoplastic gasket (TPG) system used for doors and windows in the ’80s, Fenergic felt that they’d gone that road before unsuccessfully. The Glaston team explained why their earlier solution had failed, summing up, “This is not your grandfather’s TPS.”

“That did it – we were convinced!” Véronique says.

SIX MONTHS TO LINE EVERYTHING UP

“When we came home, we had so many questions. How can we ensure our return on investment? Where will we put the line? How can we merge it with what we already do?” she says. “But our business partners, banks and market studies all aligned – making the investment clear.”

About six months after the glasstec visit, Fenergic made the final decision. They ordered both the TPS® IG line from Glaston Germany and the RC Series tempering line from Glaston Finland. Luckily, Fenergic owned enough land to construct a new building to house the new equipment.

DELIVERY DAY IN GERMANY

In fall 2023, Fenergic took a team of operators to Germany to test-run their new IG line. Véronique says that it was very comforting to get everyone together, actually touch the new line, run the tests and make sure it was exactly what they needed.

“Our guys got to play with the buttons, and they were so excited and surprised – it was just like Christmas,” she says. “And we ran through the simplest things to some of the worst-case scenarios a client could ever need.”

“We have really good people who have been with us for decades. They’re really good at what they do. But they’re aging, and hiring has been a challenge everywhere in our business,” Véronique says. “The work is hard on your body. But the new technology allows us to triple our speed with the same staff.”

UP AND RUNNING SIX MONTHS EARLIER THAN PLANNED

Tempering was something completely new for Fenergic. “We saw the RC Series line being put together at our facility, and we participated in all the tests that were run on the tempering line,” she says.

The IG line was installed first, followed by training for the operators. After the fourth day of running smoothly, none of the operators wanted to go back to work on the old line.

“We actually were up and running six months earlier than we thought because operating the line was so simple,” Véronique says.

SEND IN THE ORDERS!

Today, the operators have a lot more free time to work on other projects. “We’ve reorganized the way they work, and the same five guys can operate everything at once. Now, they’re telling us to send in the orders. ‘We’re ready!’”

It’s easy to see the difference, Véronique says. The line is producing three times faster, but the operators are no longer as physically strained as they were.

Earlier, the company supplied about 10% tempered glass. Now they are looking at producing 60% tempered glass. Triple glazing accounted for about 10% before, too. Now it’s rising to 50–60%, and the goal is to reach over 80%.

Véronique is currently busy planning customer and media visits. She’s excited about the promising business outlook. “Now, we do everything in house.”