The investment also includes the optimisation of the third of Rheinwerk’s four casting lines for recycled alloys, additional storage capacity for 6,500 tonnes of used beverage can scrap, and facilities for receiving and sampling incoming scrap.

Located within the 300-metre-long halls of the former aluminium smelter, the new furnace represents another step in transforming the site into a centre for the circular aluminium economy. The furnace is also hydrogen-ready, allowing for potential integration with a hydrogen supply network in the future.

“Europe needs more circular economy and fewer raw material losses,” said Einar Glomnes, CEO of Speira, highlighting the importance of retaining aluminium within the production cycle.

Aluminium recycling requires approximately 95% less energy than primary aluminium production, making it an important route to reducing energy consumption and dependence on primary raw materials.

Demand for recycled aluminium in beverage cans has been a key driver of Speira’s capacity expansion. The new facilities will enable the company to process more scrap into recycled aluminium products, supporting circular material flows and the competitiveness of European industry.

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Located in Hall 10, Booth G48, INAL® will welcome industry professionals, partners and visitors to explore its advanced glass systems and architectural solutions developed to address the evolving requirements of modern architecture and construction.

The exhibition will provide an opportunity for visitors to connect with the INAL® team, exchange technical and industry insights, and discuss potential applications for future projects. The company is positioning innovation and engineering excellence at the centre of its approach to glass applications, highlighting the role of advanced systems in responding to contemporary architectural demands.

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The defining feature of the extension is its external steel diagrid, a network of intersecting diagonal members that form a distinctive triangular pattern across the façade. By combining structural support and lateral bracing within the same system, the design reduces the need for conventional framing and uses approximately 20% less steel than a comparable traditional structure. Around 85% of the structural steel is recycled.

Glass is integral to both the tower’s appearance and its technical performance. Covering approximately 26,400 square metres, the façade incorporates around 3,200 customised glass units in 625 different sizes and shapes. Developed to accommodate the tower’s faceted geometry, the glazing creates a precise contrast with the exposed, stainless-steel-clad diagonals. The result is an angular, crystalline silhouette that distinguishes the tower from the surrounding Manhattan skyline.

The relationship between old and new is equally evident inside. The original building’s floor plate has been transformed into a soaring, multi-storey atrium, bringing together escalators, elevators, meeting areas and staff amenities. Its signature Icefall installation, composed of thousands of glass panels, introduces a striking water feature into the central space.

Environmental performance informed the design from the outset. High-performance glazing helps manage solar heat gain while admitting natural light, complementing efficient building systems, radiant heating and cooling, and rainwater collection and reuse. Hearst Tower achieved LEED Gold certification in 2006 and LEED Platinum certification for existing-building operations and maintenance in 2012.

By integrating bespoke glazing, structural efficiency and the adaptive reuse of historic architecture, Hearst Tower demonstrates how contemporary façade engineering can give an established urban landmark a new architectural identity.

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The new intelligent production line builds on NorthGlass’s 31 years of experience in high-end glass manufacturing. By combining traditional cast glass techniques with modern industrial processes, the company aims to expand the material’s applications beyond small-scale artistic installations into architectural façades.

According to NorthGlass President Gao Li, cast glass offers distinctive colours and textures that create new possibilities for architectural design. The company has also developed strengthening treatments intended to address a key technical challenge: cracking and breakage caused by repeated heating and cooling cycles over time.

Vice President Gao Qi highlighted cast glass as one of three strategic areas in NorthGlass’s glass processing business, alongside ultra-large glass and bent tempered glass. He also noted the company’s strong competitiveness during the new facility’s trial production phase.

With the second kiln entering mass production, NorthGlass plans to further refine its cast glass products and develop solutions for contemporary architecture. The investment represents a step towards the industrialisation of cast glass, potentially giving architects and designers greater flexibility in incorporating textured, decorative glass into building façades and other architectural applications.

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The event is expected to bring together more than 250 exhibitors, presenting solutions for the glass, façade and fenestration industries. Alongside the exhibition, the programme will address technical developments, digital construction and sustainable building performance.

Key conference topics include Designing Future Tropical Cities, Media Glass in Architecture, BIM, Digital Construction and PropTech, and Sustainable Buildings and Façade Performance. Sessions on smart cities and digital transformation will also examine the technologies shaping the built environment.

A dedicated Green Building Index (GBI) workshop, titled Glass, OTTV and High-Performance Building Envelopes, will focus on glass selection, Overall Thermal Transfer Value (OTTV) and building-envelope performance. The session offers two Continuing Professional Development (CPD) points.

The programme also features dedicated networking sessions with Guardian Glass, VERITAS Design Group and Yorki from Nam Heng Glass, providing opportunities for industry professionals to exchange knowledge and establish business connections.

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During the conference, Kathy Krafka Harkema, FGIA’s U.S. Codes and Advocacy Director, and Amy Roberts, Canadian Codes and Advocacy Director, presented updates on evolving regulations, trade policies and energy-efficiency programmes. Their presentations reflected rapidly changing political and economic conditions, requiring frequent revisions to incorporate the latest developments.

FGIA members identified several important takeaways. Lisa Bergeron of JELD-WEN emphasised that although Canada and the United States may navigate current trade challenges, damage to the bilateral relationship could have long-term consequences. She also stressed the importance of industry collaboration and active participation in advocacy efforts.

Paul Bush of Vitro Architectural Glass highlighted the anticipated draft of Canada’s ENERGY STAR Version 6 specification, which was expected by the end of September 2026.

Meanwhile, Meghan Chamberlin of Lippert Components pointed to the rapid revisions of the U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule, which had progressed from Revision 6 in March to Revision 17 by the September conference. She also noted that a transition plan transferring the ENERGY STAR programme from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to the Department of Energy (DOE) had been finalised.

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The architectural concept consists of ten concrete volumes, each rotated 90 degrees relative to the one below. Rather than forming a conventional enclosed tower, the arrangement creates a spiralling public boulevard around the exhibition spaces. Visitors ascend past the museum galleries, encountering changing views of Antwerp, its harbour and the Scheldt before reaching the rooftop panorama.

The project was developed with the City of Antwerp and AG VESPA. Bureau Bouwtechniek worked alongside the architects on architectural coordination and façade engineering, while ABT België provided structural engineering. The project had a reported construction budget of approximately €34 million and a gross floor area of 17,000 m² in Bureau Bouwtechniek’s project documentation.

The most technically distinctive feature is the undulating glass enclosure surrounding the public boulevard. The glass walls reach up to 11 metres high. Project documentation describes individual glass sheets approximately 5.5 metres tall and 1.8 metres wide, curved into an S-shaped profile with a wave depth of around 60 centimetres. This geometry gives the panels stiffness while maintaining a largely uninterrupted transparent surface.

The structural solution had to account for more than the weight of the glass. Because the concrete volumes are stacked independently, they can move relative to one another under changing loads. The glass connections at the top and bottom were therefore designed to accommodate this movement. At the corners, adjacent panels support one another, while a horizontal steel tube acts as a wind brace at mid-height. Suspended from the upper concrete volume by chains, the tube transfers horizontal wind loads without introducing conventional framing that would interrupt the façade’s transparency.

Sunglass supplied the curved glass, while ABT contributed structural and glass engineering expertise. Bureau Bouwtechniek coordinated the architectural execution and façade engineering, including investigations into wind loading, movement, material selection, maintenance and the future replacement of glazing.

Behind the floating appearance, the building relies on a substantial structural system. Its central core consists of cast-in-place concrete with 35-centimetre-thick walls. Cantilevered, storey-high steel trusses extend from the core to support the exhibition volumes and follow the building’s spiral geometry. Because concentrated forces from these trusses exceeded the concrete core’s local load-bearing capacity, steel bearing plates were embedded in the concrete to transfer the loads. The heavy structure also required piled foundations, with post-injection used to limit settlement.

The exterior is clad in deep-red Indian sandstone from Agra, selected for its tactile, unpolished surface. Its contrast with the curved glazing reinforces the difference between the enclosed museum galleries and the open public route. The façade also incorporates 3,185 aluminium hands, a reference to Antwerp’s traditional hand symbol and the legend of Brabo and the giant Antigoon. Matching medallions line the boulevard’s interior surface, with texts by Tom Lanoye and designs by Tom Hautekiet.

Completed in 2010 and opened in 2011, the MAS forms part of the transformation of Het Eilandje from a historic port district into a mixed urban destination. Its seven exhibition halls explore Antwerp, its river, trade and maritime history, while the public boulevard makes the building accessible as an architectural experience beyond the museum galleries. In 2012, the project won the Belgian Steel Construction Award in the non-residential category and was nominated for the Glass Award.

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The technology maintains the laminate’s trailing edge at the same temperature as its centre, allowing trapped air to escape more effectively. According to Glaston, the upgrade can increase production yield, enable faster processing speeds and eliminate changeover times through automatic operation.

A customer case shared by Glaston illustrates the potential impact. The processor produced approximately 5,280 m² of double SentryGlas® laminates annually, but manufacturing these products required reducing the furnace temperature from 190°C to 165°C for each production run. Output was limited to 12 laminates per hour, with an 80% yield.

Following the implementation of Convection Control, the reported yield increased to 95%, while production capacity rose from 12 to 18 pieces per hour. Changeover times were eliminated, allowing the processor to maintain a more flexible production schedule.

Glaston estimates the improvement generates €73,800 in annual savings, calculated from direct raw material and manpower costs alone. The figure does not include any additional potential benefits from improved scheduling or delivery performance.

The company is presenting the technology as part of its preparations for glasstec 2026, taking place in Düsseldorf from 20–23 October. Its exhibition will also feature a glass laminate manufactured by Flachglas Group in Wernberg, described by Glaston as the world’s first glass laminating up to 100 mm thick in a single run without a recipe.

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One of the featured innovations is the Motorised Venturi Mixer, which can be integrated with an Electronic Air/Gas Regulation System to maintain a consistent combustion ratio under changing operating conditions. It can also regulate airflow for glass cooling applications.

The company will also introduce its Radar Glass Level Machine, designed for installation in existing working ends and forehearths. Its measurement range extends from 300 to 5,000 mm, with accuracy of up to 0.05 mm and a sampling rate of 100 Hz, supporting precise, real-time furnace control.

In response to the industry’s decarbonisation priorities, Glass Service will present its patented Refractory-Embedded Electric Forehearth. The system uses electrical energy for heating and eliminates direct combustion emissions, while its embedded heating elements are designed to prevent contamination of the glass melt.

Completing the presentation, the X-Y Stirrer Mechanism homogenises glass in the forehearth, helping reduce defects such as cords and cat scratches. Its dual-axis electric drive and maintenance-friendly design support safe servicing and reliable operation.

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The new panels offer A2 reaction-to-fire performance for façade applications where fully fire-resistant spandrel glazing is not required. The solution is designed to help architects, façade consultants and contractors meet fire safety requirements while maintaining design flexibility and compatibility with existing façade systems.

Manufactured in the UK, the panels are available as single gel-filled laminates or as double-glazed units (DGUs) in a shadow-box configuration, creating a deeper visual effect behind the external glazing. Standard colour options include white, anthracite grey and black, with additional RAL colours available on request. Low-emissivity (Low-E) glass can also be incorporated to support thermal performance requirements.

A key benefit is the ability to retain existing framing systems used in non-fire-rated façade areas while upgrading spandrel sections to achieve the required A2 reaction-to-fire performance. This approach can simplify façade integration and potentially reduce project costs. The panels are intended to align with UK fire safety guidance, including Approved Document B.

The launch complements Pyroguard’s existing fire-rated double-glazed units, which can incorporate opaque spandrel glass within glazed constructions and provide fire classifications ranging from EW30 to EI120, depending on the system specification.

Andy Lake, Sales Director UK & Ireland at Pyroguard, said the addition responds to growing demand for comprehensive, compliant façade solutions from trusted suppliers.

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