Hard Glass Industry retains market leadership with long-term investment in Glaston technology

“Glaston’s strong global track record and our positive experience over the years were key reasons for choosing its solutions again,” says Takashi Shiotani, Production Manager at Hard Glass Industry.

Hard Glass Industry, founded in 1970 and headquartered in Itami, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan, is the domestic market leader in tempered glass doors. The company handles everything from design to frame manufacturing and glass processing.

“This approach allows our customers to rely on a single supplier throughout the whole project,” Takashi explains. As a result, they can offer short lead times, high flexibility and consistent quality even for specialized projects.

TECHNOLOGY SUPPORTING MARKET LEADERSHIP

Quality and reliability are central to Hard Glass Industry’s production philosophy. The company strives to consistently deliver premium products that meet customer expectations and provide peace of mind.

This commitment and the growing demand for more efficient production have led the company to keep investing in new technologies, including Glaston’s equipment, which helps it maintain its strong production performance and market position.

The partnership dates back to the former Tamglass era in the early 2000s. Today, Hard Glass Industry operates an extensive installed base of Glaston machinery, including laminating equipment, multiple tempering furnaces and an autoclave.

HIGH-CAPACITY, HIGH-QUALITY TEMPERING

The company’s tempering capacity has developed over the years. Following its first Glaston tempering furnace purchase in 2004, Hard Glass Industry has invested in three RC Series furnaces delivered in 2018, 2021 and most recently in 2026.

“The RC Series enables excellent flatness and optical performance,” says Takashi. “It also allows us to easily process all types of temperable glass and meet even the highest production demands.”

The latest generation improves heating accuracy and controllability for consistently high-quality glass. In addition, its unique user management feature supports smooth operator handovers and helps protect critical process settings.

IMPROVED QUALITY AND FLEXIBILITY IN LAMINATION

In parallel, the company recently modernized its 2004 laminating line with the ProL-zone upgrade. By replacing outdated heating chambers, the upgrade provided a cost-efficient way to improve performance and extend the line’s lifetime.

“Our existing machine was aging, but we wanted to continue utilizing the parts that were still in good condition,” Takashi explains. “The ProL-zone upgrade allowed us to modernize the line while maintaining the core equipment.”

Based on full convection technology, the modernized line delivers highly uniform heat distribution and precise temperature control, reducing heat loss considerably. At the same time, its nearly recipe-free operation simplifies process control.

“The upgraded laminating line enables us to easily process a wide range of glass types while maintaining consistent quality,” he adds. “Even our customers have noticed improvements – especially in challenging products.”

REDUCED COSTS AND RELIABLE SUPPORT

According to Takashi, the latest investments have also improved the daily work environment for operators and strengthened overall production performance.

“Both energy use and operating costs for all glass types have been reduced, resulting in more efficient production,” he says.

Smooth installation and commissioning are other benefits of working with Glaston.

“The startup processes have always been smooth and on schedule, and the training and support provided by Glaston are clear and well structured,” says Takashi. “We would definitely recommend Glaston machinery with its excellent energy efficiency, high quality and long service life.”