MATPOL's Growth Story Powered by HEGLA Automation

The story of MATPOL is a path from a modest 90s workshop to becoming a leader in Polish glass processing. The success of the Sagan family business relies on a deliberate strategy, clear division of roles, and bold investments. Today, thanks to an advanced technological partnership with HEGLA, the company operates one of the most modern production lines in Europe.

It is often said that “you get along best with your family in photographs.” This stereotype has long fueled the belief that a family business is bound to end in conflict sooner or later. Perhaps there are studies that attempt to confirm this. But it is enough to look at the Polish glass processing market to see a very different picture. This story has unfolded differently. Over the past thirty years, many family-run companies have emerged— where responsibility was not a burden, but a value passed down from generation to generation. Where roles were shaped not by chance or by surname, but by competence, commitment, and vision. One of the most distinctive examples of this path is MATPOL.

To understand where this success came from, we need to go back to the early 1990s. It was a turning point—a time of change and new opportunities. It was then that Roman Sagan, initially with his brother and shortly thereafter on his own, recognized something many had not yet seen— the growing market demand for construction glass products. In 1994, Roman Sagan founded MATPOL. In the same year, his son Mateusz was born. A coincidence? Or perhaps a symbolic beginning of a new chapter—for both the family and the company? Today, this overlap seems almost self-evident.

As in many entrepreneurial stories of the 1990s, everything started modestly. A small workshop, the first machines, and a great deal of manual work. The market had to be learned step by step—understood and steadily approached while building a position within it. Initially, MATPOL focused on broadly defined glass processing. Soon, the offer expanded to include manual glazing of old windows using glazing putty—a solution typical of the time and now a symbol of the industry’s beginnings. The company, however, quickly moved forward. With the arrival of the 21st century, a clear shift toward industrial production of insulating glass units began. This direction gained importance year by year, becoming the dominant area of activity by 2004.

From the very beginning, development followed its own rhythm—calm, deliberate, and consistent. No sudden moves, no random decisions. Alongside insulating glass units, glass processing remained an important part of the business, and the portfolio was systematically expanded. The company diversified its offering both toward commercial glazing and glass components for window joinery. Each step was a logical continuation of the previous one. In 2022, the production plant underwent a major transformation, relocating to a new, significantly larger facility—marking another important stage of development and strengthening the company’s technological foundation.

Today, MATPOL operates in this very place—a modern facility in Skawina, near Kraków. The relocation was not merely a change of address. It was a clear signal of entering a new phase— more organized and technologically advanced. The production and office spaces form a coherent, well-designed whole, where technology serves the logic of the process, not the other way around. This was the moment when our paths crossed. In 2022, the first HEGLA solutions were implemented at MATPOL. However, this was not an investment for the short term. From the outset, the approach was broader. The goal was to build a system that could be developed in stages, flexibly adapting to growing needs. This is how the concept of an automatic glass storage system and new cutting lines was born—designed not only for current production, but above all with the future in mind. Currently, the delivered portal storage system supplies three cutting lines, creating a cohesive and efficient logistics setup. Importantly, the potential for further product range expansion was already considered at the design stage. When the time came, the system was complemented with automatic KPL shuttle racks. The result? More types of glass can now be stored within the same warehouse space—without compromising ergonomics or material accessibility.

A key element of the entire configuration is the ProLam 60 line. With its six-meter bridge width, it enables the automatic cutting of laminated glass in formats that are still rare in Europe. This solution not only increases production capabilities but also significantly expands the company’s offering. The line is additionally equipped with an automatic ReMaster cullet storage system. This system ensures full control over material inventory— offcuts are always recorded, accessible, and ready for reuse. The entire process runs automatically, without requiring additional production space or disrupting workflow.

The system is complemented by the proven OPTIMAX table for monolithic glass—a solution that has become a benchmark in its class over the years. It is a technology designed for stable, long-term operation—robust, reliable, and ready for intensive use. Importantly, its full potential has not yet been exhausted. In the future, the line can be expanded with an automatic breaking system and a ReMaster cullet storage system, further increasing automation and material utilization.

As the company’s growth accelerated once again, the decision was natural: another investment in advanced laminated glass technology. Today, MATPOL operates one of the best-configured lines of this type in Europe—AdvaLam + ProLam with LSR laser technology, an accumulator, and a cullet storage system. This is a fully automated solution that significantly increases efficiency while reducing the number of operators required. The absence of an operator on the AdvaLam bridge and the use of LSR technology on the ProLam bridge result in a stable, repeatable process. Less manual intervention means greater precision, higher efficiency, and production predictability— key parameters for executing demanding projects. At the head of the company stands Szymon Sagan, one of the founder’s four sons. Together with his brothers, he is shaping a new chapter in MATPOL’s history. Responsibility within the company has been clearly and competently divided—each of them manages the area in which they have the greatest expertise and experience. The company’s development requires courage, consistency, as well as continuous trust and partnership.

Today, MATPOL is more than just a modern machinery park. It is a company where history, technology, and people form a coherent, welldesigned system. An enterprise that not only responds to market changes but is capable of anticipating them—without losing its foundations. It is an example of a company that builds the strength of the Polish glass processing industry— and we are proud to be part of this story.