GLASS. AUTOMATED. – Glaston Glasstec 2026 in review

Glaston’s motto for this year’s Glasstec presence was GLASS. AUTOMATED. It answered the demand for high-performance glass as processors face mounting pressure to increase output, reduce costs, and manage an ever-wider product mix. Here are a few highlights from the show.

TPS^® PRO: the fastest-growing spacer category is now easier to enter than ever

Glaston introduced the 5th generation of TPS^® technology at glasstec. Highlights of the new TPS^® PRO include the master-master drum pump and the patented follower plate, which enable uninterrupted production with up to 35% higher output. The new generation also brings automatic thickness adjustment and the market’s shortest corner-bevel joint.

TPS^® PRO handles double, triple and quadruple IGUs across spacer widths of 6–27 mm, and multilayer applications up to 30 mm.

Automation continues with the Glaston MUNTIN’MASTER and Cobot, now the only fully automated solution for positioning muntin bars in TPS^® IGUs. With the optional cobot extension for automatic bar feeding, it eliminates the last manual touchpoint and supports both EU and US specifications.

Automation across the full factory

The first fully automated tempering process in production in Finland

Glaston presented the first fully automated tempering process, now successfully in production at Best Glass Oy’s factory in Finland. The company automated its tempering process and now runs the line on Glaston Autopilot, combined with Glaston AutoLoad, which provides intelligent batch planning, ERP connectivity and automated execution.

“This investment raises capacity, improves tempering quality, and significantly cuts energy use and CO2 emissions per square meter of glass,” Petri Halonen, CEO of Best Glass Oy, summarizes after the upgrade project.

Watch the video

Laminating: bullet-resistant glass at 90 mm manufactured in a single run without a recipe

The automation highlight in laminating at the exhibition was bullet-resistant laminated safety glass measuring 2500 × 2000 mm and 90 mm thick, made by Flachglas Wernberg on the Glaston ProL furnace with the patented hardware-and-software technology Glaston Convection Control. The technology fully automates the processing of complex laminates, including multilayer SentryGlas^®, at the same capacity and yields as standard PVB laminates.

“We simply press a button and no longer worry about the settings. We’re getting consistent and flawless quality at the end of the line. We have also saved 80% on heat costs with our new line. This currently results in an average of 0.02 kWh/kg glass – an absolute peak value,” states Julian Lobinger, Technical Project Manager at Flachglas Wernberg GmbH, after the ProL technology upgrades.

Glaston’s laminating lineup covers everything from high-throughput standard laminates to the most demanding multilayer builds. Glaston ProL SPEED is the world’s fastest mixed-production laminating line. In brief:

• MIXED PRODUCTION – Any mix, no changeovers. Run different products back-to-back. The easiest production flow, with no changeover times.
• THICK GLASS up to 80 mm as standard, up to 100 mm possible. The whole stack in a single run: the easiest way to make bullet-resistant glass.
• SENTRYGLAS^® – Double SentryGlas^® runs as easily as double PVB, with our patented solution.

New Glaston Select series for tempering and insulating glass processing: right fit, reliable choice

The new Glaston Select series, launched at glasstec, is built for customers who want dependable production, the capabilities they need and a sensible investment, backed by Glaston support throughout the lifecycle. Select offers a proven Glaston configuration that is straightforward to choose, operate and support.

Glaston Select Tempering

Glaston Select Tempering is based on Glaston Bora circulated air convection technology. In brief:

• Efficient operation. Low energy use and operational costs.
• Dependable quality. Supports consistent, high-quality glass production.
• Production flexibility. Handles various glass types and sizes for diverse markets.
• Sensible investment. Reliable performance with fast payback.
• Straightforward operation. Advanced controls and automation simplify operation and reduce errors.

Glaston Select IG

Glaston Select IG is based on Glaston Comfort IG technology. In brief:

• Simple to run, built to last. Proven process capability for standard to moderate-volume IGU production.
• A complete core IG process. From washing and inspection to frame positioning, assembly, gas filling, pressing and automatic sealing.
• Production flexibility. Options for triple IGUs and shaped, stepped units to match production requirements.
• Sensible investment. Reliable performance with fast payback.
• Straightforward operation. Advanced controls and automation simplify operation and reduce errors.
• Visit: select.glaston.net

Upgrades: optimizing our customers’ real production

Glaston machine lifecycles are typically 20–40 years, and we believe in a lifetime partnership with our customers. We design all new features with upgrades in mind, and over the years, we have upgraded machinery that is over 40 years old.

The reasons for upgrading are practical. Older machines consume more energy, deliver lower yields, and rely on experienced, hard-to-find personnel and increasingly scarce components. After upgrading, customers typically find EUR 30,000–60,000 in annual savings they didn’t know existed. Upgrading is also a sustainability choice, as it avoids wasting resources, both ours and our customers’.

Customers describe the results of their upgrades like this:

• “We can now fully utilize the furnace bed, achieving perfect quality and reducing production time by 25%.”
• “Training a new operator now takes days instead of months.”
• “Autopilot has made our process more consistent and the quality more uniform.”
• “Energy savings with the new oven have been phenomenal. With our old line, we were running at 350 amps, whereas we’re now down to 44 amps with our new one.”

Visit: Glaston Upgrades

Looking ahead

Glasstec 2026 confirmed what our customers tell us every day: the right solution fits real production. Automation pays off when you build it into the line, whether in a new machine, a Select configuration chosen for dependable everyday output, or an upgrade to equipment already on the floor. Glaston will continue to develop solutions that help glass processors optimize processes, use less energy, rely less on scarce expertise, and grow.