The renovation is designed to expand the Ramensky plant’s capabilities, including production of low-iron float glass in lengths of up to 18 metres, a format Larta Glass says has not previously been manufactured in Russia. The furnace originally began operation in 2006 and has produced approximately 115,000 kilometres of glass ribbon over nearly two decades.

The performance transformed the furnace chamber into an immersive theatre using lighting, sound and live music around the theme of the Phoenix, representing fire, renewal and a new production cycle. The programme featured the famous chorus from Alexander Borodin’s opera Prince Igor, performed by Russian dramatic soprano Ksenia Muslanova, Honored Artist of the Udmurt Republic.

Larta Glass developed the production in only one month, working within the narrow period between completion of the furnace construction and its scheduled heating. According to Marketing Director Maxim Koldyshev, the concept was intended to turn the industrial facility into an experience for customers and partners while addressing significant technical and safety requirements.

The event also incorporated pieces of erklez, solid glass removed before the cold repair, as symbolic objects connecting the furnace’s previous production campaign with its next phase.

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Representatives from four European Commission Directorates-General took part in the visit, engaging directly with industry representatives on the realities of manufacturing flat glass in Europe. Discussions focused on the conditions required for European producers to maintain production while transitioning towards lower-carbon manufacturing.

Davide Cappellino, Chair of Glass for Europe, highlighted the difficult operating environment currently facing European flat glass manufacturers. The sector is dealing with high energy costs, weak demand, increasing international competition and substantial investment requirements, while simultaneously being expected to reduce the carbon intensity of production.

Energy was a central issue during the discussions. Flat glass furnaces operate continuously and require significant quantities of energy, making energy costs and availability critical factors for European production. Cappellino also stressed that decarbonisation requires major technological investments and appropriate market and policy conditions to support their deployment.

The meeting also addressed opportunities arising from upcoming European policy initiatives. The proposed Industrial Accelerator Act could support stronger markets for European-made high-performance glazing products, while the Circular Economy Act could help improve material circularity and contribute to emissions reduction across the sector.

The visit concluded with Glass for Europe thanking the AGC Glass Europe Moustier team for hosting the European Commission delegation and facilitating the industry-policy exchange.

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The project addresses a growing waste challenge: global PV waste is projected to exceed 210 million tonnes by 2050, while glass represents approximately 70–95% of a solar panel’s total weight. Recovering this glass at high quality could significantly reduce demand for virgin raw materials and lower the environmental impact of glass production.

Within PHOTORAMA, Maltha contributed to the quality assessment of recovered PV glass, cullet production and industrial trials. Advanced delamination processes separate glass, metals and polymers while maintaining the quality of the recovered materials.

A key milestone was the successful incorporation of 75 tonnes of recycled solar panel glass into new flat glass production at an industrial manufacturing facility. The project also investigated direct reuse of recovered glass in new photovoltaic modules, with testing indicating performance comparable to modules manufactured with virgin glass.

Remaining challenges include antimony (Sb) contamination, technology scaling, regulatory requirements and market acceptance. Nevertheless, the results demonstrate the potential for PV glass to become a high-value secondary raw material within a circular solar industry.

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The architectural concept is based on a relatively simple but carefully controlled principle: the floor plates rotate around a central core from level to level. Instead of producing a conventional stack of identical slabs, the rotation generates projecting volumes and recessed areas that gradually twist around the towers. This creates the characteristic pointed profile and gives individual apartments different orientations and perspectives toward Copenhagen. BIG describes the approach as an exercise in economical construction, using repetition of skewed floor slabs to combine construction efficiency with architectural variation.

The resulting envelope is particularly notable for its approximately 500 pointed balconies. These elements are integral to the project’s architectural expression and form a continuous visual rhythm around the towers. According to HSHansen, the project uses prefabricated façade elements, an approach suited to high-rise construction where working space at ground level is restricted. HSHansen was responsible for the façade closure, while LM Byg A/S constructed the raw structures.

The development was commissioned by Catella Group and Høpfner Projects, with MOE A/S serving as engineer and Arpe & Kjeldsholm A/S as client consultant. BIG led the architectural design.

Construction involved a broader network of specialist companies. Project documentation identifies HSHansen for aluminium/glass façade work, LM Byg for concrete and structural works, HB Trapper for steel/stair-related works, and Artelia for engineering and specialist consultancy. Other documented participants include Geopartner for surveying, GK Danmark for ventilation, El-Team Fyn for electrical works, Scantron for security systems, Green Box for bathroom cabins, Reform Projects for interiors and Frøslev for façade-related timber elements.

The structural solution was also technically demanding. ABC Consulting Engineers, working with Spangenberg & Madsen, describes the development as a concrete-element construction founded on a substantial piled base slab. ABC was involved in reviewing the engineering design and developing solutions for the foundation works and, importantly, a façade bracket connecting the floor slab, façade and characteristic balconies. This connection was developed with constructability and economy in mind.

Inside, the compact apartments are complemented by extensive communal facilities. BIG lists an outdoor kitchen and barbecue area, laundry room, café, indoor and outdoor fitness areas and a party room, while the two towers also contain shared terraces and access to the elevated green landscape.

The project is therefore significant not simply because of its unusual silhouette, but because its architectural identity emerges from the coordination of structure, prefabricated construction, façade engineering, apartment planning and communal infrastructure. Kaktus Towers demonstrate how a repeated structural system can be manipulated to create variation at the scale of both the individual dwelling and the Copenhagen skyline.

The project subsequently received recognition from the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH), including the 2024 Best Tall Building Under 100 Metres award and the overall Best Tall Building in Europe category award.

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The transaction, agreed with Fengari Holdings Coöperatief U.A., controlled by entities affiliated with KPS Capital Partners, LP, represents a major step in Grupa Kęty’s strategy to strengthen its international position in the aluminium sector.

METRA Group operates across Europe and North America

METRA Group includes METRA – Metallurgica Trafilati Alluminio S.p.A., based in Rodengo-Saiano, Italy. The group operates nine production plants across Italy, the United States and Canada, employing nearly 1,400 people.

Its aluminium extrusion capacity is approximately 145,000 tonnes per year, with around 35% of this capacity located in Europe. METRA produces aluminium profiles for sectors including railway and architecture, while also providing higher-value processing services such as painting, anodising, machining and welding.

METRA Group’s 2026 sales are estimated at approximately €600 million, while EBITDA, excluding one-off events and transaction costs, is estimated at around €90 million.

Expanding Grupa Kęty’s international footprint

According to Grupa Kęty, the acquisition supports its long-term strategy of developing an internationally operating organisation with a strong presence in European construction and industrial markets.

The transaction would also expand the group’s position in North America, which accounts for more than 45% of METRA Group’s income. The companies expect the combination to strengthen Grupa Kęty’s European market position, provide access to specialist expertise in higher-margin segments such as railway products, and expand distribution opportunities in Italy.

The deal is also expected to create opportunities for technology, purchasing and cross-selling synergies, while increasing geographical diversification.

Roman Przybylski, CEO of Grupa Kęty S.A., highlighted METRA’s development since KPS Capital Partners acquired the company in July 2021, noting the group’s strengthened position as an international aluminium extrusion supplier and its engineering and manufacturing capabilities.

Transaction valued at €645 million

The acquisition is based on an enterprise valuation of €645 million, subject to adjustments for bank debt and other debt items as of 31 March 2026. Depending on the transaction closing date, the purchase price for the shares may reach approximately €450 million.

Completion remains subject to customary conditions, including the required antitrust and regulatory approvals. Grupa Kęty plans to finance the transaction through a combination of bank financing and its own funds. On 14 September 2026, the company entered into a term-loan agreement of up to PLN 2 billion with Bank Polska Kasa Opieki S.A.

Grupa Kęty is being advised by Rothschild & Co as transaction adviser, KPMG Advisory sp. z o.o. sp.k. as financial and tax adviser, and White & Case M. Studniarek i Wspólnicy – Kancelaria Prawna sp.k. as legal adviser.

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The company filed its voluntary bankruptcy petition on September 1, 2026, in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Alabama. Court records estimate the company’s assets at between $0 and $50,000, while liabilities are estimated at between $1 million and $10 million. The filing lists 173 unsecured creditors and reports no available funds for unsecured creditors after administrative expenses.

Window Depot of the Gulf Coast supplied replacement vinyl windows, entry doors, patio sliders and hurricane-impact glass systems. According to local reports, more than 100 customers alleged that they had paid thousands of dollars for projects that were not completed. By July, reported losses involving Window Depot and affiliated company All Weather Roofing and Construction had approached $1 million.

The Mobile City Council revoked All Weather Roofing’s business license in July, while local authorities said the companies could not legally operate in the city. Police were also investigating more than 100 complaints.

Separately, Window Depot USA terminated the Mobile operation’s authorization to use its name and branding amid the investigation.

The bankruptcy filing lists ProVia as the company’s largest creditor, with a claim of approximately $378,341.

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The company said the decision followed a combination of rising costs, ongoing repairs and operational challenges. KOG had maintained a distinctive manufacturing process based on hand-mixed and hand-produced glass, with hundreds of documented colour recipes, textures and densities developed throughout its history.

The closure affects manufacturing and factory tours, while the company’s Op Shop remains open. KOG’s website confirms that customers can continue to purchase existing glass products and access selected classes and restoration services, although hot-glass activities are no longer being offered.

KOG’s legacy extends beyond its longevity. Its early history is closely connected with Louis Comfort Tiffany, who purchased more than 10,000 pounds of glass from the company in 1893. The company says its glass has also been used in projects and institutions including the Vatican, Frank Lloyd Wright’s Dana House and the White House.

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The initiative was launched during the international workshop “Towards a Close the Glass Loop Action Plan for Bulgaria”, co-organised by Close the Glass Loop, ECOBULPACK Bulgaria and BA Glass Bulgaria. More than 50 experts and decision-makers from across the glass packaging value chain attended the event.

Representatives from Extended Producer Responsibility organisations, glass manufacturers and recyclers, waste management companies, municipalities, brands and fillers discussed key challenges affecting Bulgaria’s glass recycling system. Priorities identified during the workshop included expanding and optimising separate collection, strengthening cooperation between municipalities and EPR organisations, improving monitoring and data collection, and increasing public participation.

Participants also examined opportunities to increase glass collection from the hospitality sector and discussed the implications of new European packaging legislation. European experiences and best practices were shared as potential models for improving Bulgaria’s collection and recycling infrastructure.

The Sofia workshop marked the establishment of Close the Glass Loop Bulgaria, which will now work towards developing a national Close the Glass Loop Action Plan. The plan is expected to define priorities and concrete measures for improving glass collection and recycling performance.

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The headquarters presents two contrasting façades. The railway-facing elevation is conceived as a solid stone “rock”, containing service cores and technical functions that provide protection from noise, dust and solar exposure. In contrast, the city-facing façade is highly transparent, creating the appearance of a “glass palace” with white glossy wings that provide external solar shading.

The glazing system supplied by Pilkington Nederland B.V. combines several insulating glass configurations. The façade incorporates Pilkington Insulight Therm units with Pilkington Optitherm S1 and Optitherm S3 low-emissivity glass, combined with Pilkington Optilam laminated safety glass. Curved glass is also used at the building corners, adding to the fluidity of the transparent elevation.

A large central atrium forms the spatial heart of the headquarters, drawing natural daylight deep into the building and creating a visual connection between the interior and exterior. The extensive glazing supports open-plan, flexible office areas while reinforcing Rabobank’s objective of creating an accessible and welcoming environment.

Sustainability was integral to the design, with the building achieving BREEAM Excellent certification. Intelligent external blinds regulate solar gain while also serving as maintenance balconies for façade cleaning. Combined with daylight-oriented planning and energy-efficient glazing, these measures contribute to occupant comfort and reduced environmental impact.

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The expansion was first announced in 2025, with Guardian Glass planning to introduce the new coating capability during 2026. In February 2026, Egypt’s General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI) said the project would expand Guardian Glass Egypt’s coating capacity and enable production of Low-E glass for the Egyptian and African markets. At that stage, the investment was reported at approximately $20 million. The final investment figure presented at the September inauguration was approximately $25 million.

The new line uses Vacuum Coater technology based on magnetron sputter coating, a process in which multiple extremely thin functional layers are deposited onto finished float glass inside a vacuum chamber. Guardian Glass states that sputter coatings can be engineered as complex multilayer systems to increase visible-light transmission while reducing heat transfer. Depending on the performance specification, coating systems can contain multiple layers, including silver-based functional layers.

Production at the Egyptian facility includes Guardian SunGuard Solar Control glass, designed to reduce solar heat gain while maintaining natural daylight, and Guardian ClimaGuard Low-E glass, which improves thermal insulation and can reduce cooling and heating requirements in buildings. The products are intended for residential and commercial applications, including façades and windows.

The expansion also strengthens Egypt’s role as an export base. Around 80% of the new line’s production is expected to be directed toward Gulf and international markets, while the facility will continue serving domestic demand. Earlier project plans identified Africa, the Middle East and Eastern Europe as key export markets.

The project is expected to create approximately 30 specialised engineering and operational positions, alongside hundreds of indirect employment opportunities. Employees are also receiving training on the new technology, including overseas technical training. Guardian Glass currently employs approximately 207 people at its Egyptian operation, where it has operated since 2003.

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