The conflict has increased uncertainty around energy supply in the Middle East, particularly around the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic shipping route through which around 20 percent of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas shipments pass. Any disruption to this corridor can quickly influence global energy prices and market stability.

Energy markets have already reacted with increased volatility. European natural gas prices traded on the Dutch TTF hub, the benchmark for gas prices in Europe, have surged sharply in recent months. Prices have risen from around €25 per megawatt hour in late 2025 to nearly €65 per megawatt hour in early March 2026, representing an increase of more than 150 percent. The rise reflects growing concerns about supply disruptions and tighter competition for global LNG shipments.

Glass manufacturing is one of the most energy-intensive industrial processes. Float glass furnaces must operate continuously at temperatures above 1,500–1,600°C to melt raw materials such as silica sand, soda ash and limestone.

To maintain these temperatures, most glass furnaces rely heavily on natural gas, making the industry particularly sensitive to fluctuations in energy prices. In many European glass plants, energy can account for 20 to 35 percent of total production costs, and this share can increase significantly during periods of high gas prices.

When energy costs rise, manufacturers face higher operating expenses for furnace operation, raw material melting and thermal processing. As a result, producers may adjust glass prices or optimise production in order to manage the increased costs.

Higher energy prices can eventually influence the broader construction supply chain. If gas prices continue to rise, glass manufacturers may face pressure to increase prices for products such as float glass, coated architectural glass and insulated glass units.

The post Energy Price Volatility Raises Concerns for Global Glass Manufacturing appeared first on GlassBalkan.

Founded in 1992, VAK Insulating and Design Glass has developed into one of Slovakia’s established suppliers of functional and design glass solutions for building envelopes, façades, and interior applications. Operating with a team of around 20 employees, the company manufactures approximately 37,000 square metres of insulating glass annually, with production largely focused on triple glazing systems. Beyond insulating glass units, VAK also produces glass partition walls and customised interior glass solutions, allowing it to serve both architectural and interior design markets with a broad, practical portfolio.

According to Managing Director Marek Vanco, the partnership represents a significant opportunity for growth and technical development. By joining SANCO’s network, VAK gains access to shared expertise, certified test documentation, and joint marketing initiatives that support visibility and competitiveness within the European market. The company’s operating philosophy continues to emphasise close collaboration with small and medium-sized businesses, as well as private clients, offering complete service from initial planning through to final implementation.

Antonio Gioello, Head of SANCO Consulting, described the collaboration as a valuable addition to the group, highlighting VAK’s long-standing experience, strong quality standards, and customer-focused approach. VAK becomes the third Slovak partner within the SANCO network, further consolidating the alliance’s regional footprint.

With more than 60 active members across 14 countries, SANCO remains Europe’s largest alliance of insulating glass manufacturers, supported by Swiss licensor Glas Trösch Group. Its partners collectively deliver energy-efficient glazing systems for windows, façades, and advanced interior glass applications, strengthening innovation and performance across the European glass industry.

The post SANCO Expands in Slovakia as VAK Insulating and Design Glass Joins the Network appeared first on GlassBalkan.

The building’s architectural design was led by Foster + Partners, with Buro Happold acting as façade consultant, supporting the performance, constructability, and integration of the building envelope at extreme height.

At the core of the façade execution stands Scheldebouw, part of the Permasteelisa Group, responsible for the delivery and installation of the unitised curtain wall system for Varso Tower. The façade is realised as a panelised, unitised system incorporating triple-glazed insulating glass units, a key requirement for thermal performance, acoustic control, and energy efficiency at scale. Publicly available project data attributes approximately 49,400 m² of unitised façade panels to the tower alone, underlining the logistical and engineering complexity of the envelope works.

Within the insulating glass units, SWISSPACER ULTIMATE warm-edge spacers were used, a confirmed component of the glazing build-up for the Varso project. The glass manufacturing scope for the project package is linked to Saint-Gobain Glassolutions, referenced in technical coordination and glazing documentation related to Varso Place.

Beyond transparent elements, Varso Tower integrates a substantial volume of opaque façade panels. These were supplied by Escofet, which manufactured 2,426 UHPC (Ultra-High-Performance Concrete) panels, covering approximately 12,400 m² of façade surface. The use of UHPC allowed for high durability, precision geometry, and visual consistency within the tower’s envelope composition.

Metal façade elements form another critical layer of the building skin. Outokumpu supplied stainless steel materials for Varso Tower, with Kasso Mühendislik responsible for fabrication and Scheldebouw coordinating façade integration. Documented stainless steel grades and finishes were selected to meet durability, aesthetic, and environmental performance criteria at high elevation.

Varso Tower stands today not only as a skyline landmark for Warsaw, but as a reference project for large-scale, high-performance façade delivery in Europe, demonstrating the coordination required between developers, designers, façade specialists, glass manufacturers, and material suppliers at the highest level of execution.

The post Varso Tower, Warsaw: A 310-Metre Benchmark in High-Performance Façade Engineering appeared first on GlassBalkan.

The challenge lay in ensuring the integrity of the IGU while simultaneously confirming crucial quality parameters. Traditional, invasive testing methods were unsuitable as they would compromise the seal and render the unit unusable. A solution was needed that offered speed, accuracy, and non-destructiveness, capable of handling the complexities of modern IGU constructions, including those incorporating coatings and laminates.

To address this critical need, Pilkington Poland strategically invested in the Sparklike Laser Portable. This innovative, non-invasive device is specifically designed to measure the insulating gas concentration within double and triple glazed units. Its capabilities extend to analyzing IGUs with various configurations, including those featuring coatings and laminates, a significant advantage in today’s advanced glazing market. The accuracy of the Sparklike Laser Portable has been rigorously validated by the testing facility ift Rosenheim, confirming its reliability when compared to the established standard of gas chromatography.

A key differentiator for Pilkington Poland is the Sparklike Laser Portable’s ability to perform gas content verification without breaking the IGU’s seal or compromising its structural integrity. This capability is in stark contrast to invasive testing methods, which inherently damage the unit. The device’s proficiency in handling the intricate glass structures prevalent in Pilkington Poland’s production further underscored its suitability.

The implementation of the Sparklike Laser Portable at the Pilkington Poland production line has yielded tangible benefits:

• Enhanced Quality Control: The ability to perform fast and accurate gas concentration measurements directly on the production line significantly reinforces Pilkington Poland’s commitment to maintaining high product quality standards.
• Improved Response Time: Should a deviation in gas concentration be detected, the device facilitates immediate verification, enabling rapid decision-making and corrective actions, minimizing potential issues.
• Increased Confidence in Compliance: Verifying gas content non-invasively provides Pilkington Poland with greater confidence that their products meet specified requirements, reducing the risk of underfilled IGUs reaching their customers.
• Smooth Implementation: The onboarding process was notably smooth. Training provided by Sparklike’s local partner, Polver, was quick and effective, and the device’s intuitive interface made it simple for the production team to integrate it into their workflow.

In conclusion, the integration of the Sparklike Laser Portable has significantly strengthened Pilkington Poland’s production quality control processes. For manufacturers working with advanced IGUs, the capacity to non-invasively measure gas content – even in complex units featuring coatings or laminates – is not merely a convenience but a critical factor that distinguishes assumed quality from demonstrably proven performance.

To learn more about how Sparklike devices can optimize your quality assurance processes, we encourage you to get in touch with your nearest distributor.

The post Pilkington Poland Elevates IGU Quality Control with Sparklike Laser Portable appeared first on GlassBalkan.