The line is highly automated, with minimal personnel requirements, thanks to TPS® technology for insulating glass unit manufacturing.

Learn more about the line HERE.

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At the core of the new line is the UNIT’ASSEMBLER, an automatic assembly, gas filling and pressing robot designed to manufacture complex insulating glass units with high precision and efficiency. The system enables the production of four-sided stepped insulating glass units with maximum dimensions of 3,300 × 7,000 millimetres, making it suitable for large-format façade glazing applications commonly used in contemporary architecture.

One of the key technological highlights is the ability to produce IG units with a bottom edge of the fourth step ranging from 0 to 200 millimetres, a capability that provides greater design flexibility for curtain wall systems and stepped façade structures. The system also supports a maximum glass weight of 400 kilograms per metre, enabling the handling of large and heavy glass panes required in modern building envelopes.

Prior to delivery, representatives from MATPOL visited Glaston’s facility in Neuhausen-Hamberg, Germany, to conduct a comprehensive factory acceptance test of the equipment. The tests confirmed the performance and reliability of the new line, with MATPOL representatives expressing strong confidence in the expanded production possibilities it will bring.

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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.

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The updated document, IGMA TM-1300-26 – Design Considerations for Multiple-Cavity Insulating Glass Units, provides guidance on the key technical and quality considerations that must be taken into account when designing, fabricating, and using IGUs with more than one sealed cavity. The document replaces the previous edition last updated in 2013.

As energy regulations tighten and performance expectations rise across residential and commercial construction, multiple-cavity IGUs are increasingly specified to achieve improved thermal insulation and overall system efficiency. While adding cavities can significantly enhance performance, it also introduces additional complexity in terms of design, manufacturing control, and long-term durability.

IGMA TM-1300-26 addresses these challenges by outlining recommended practices related to cavity configuration, material compatibility, fabrication processes, and quality requirements of the sealed spaces within multiple-cavity units. The guideline is intended to support professionals across the fenestration supply chain, including designers, specifiers, fabricators, and installers.

Commenting on the update, Amy Becker, FGIA Glass Products Specialist and staff liaison for the Design Considerations for Multiple-Cavity IGUs Task Group, highlighted the industry’s ongoing shift toward higher-performance glazing. She noted that increasing the number of cavities is an effective method to improve energy efficiency, but one that requires careful attention to new technical considerations. The updated guidelines aim to help industry professionals navigate these challenges more effectively.

The revised specification is now available through the FGIA online store, with pricing set at USD 80 for FGIA members and USD 230 for non-members. FGIA also recommends complementary reference documents, including IGMA TM-3000 – North American Glazing Guidelines for Sealed Insulating Glass Units for Commercial and Residential Use, for a broader technical framework.

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This limitation has led many manufacturers to integrate gas measurement into their quality control process, using devices from Sparklike.

Defects detected by visual inspection systems

Automated inspection systems are effective at identifying defects that are visible and measurable on the glass surface or assembly level, including:

• Scratches, dirt and inclusions caused during cutting, washing or handling
• Edge defects and chipping resulting from cutting or grinding, which can affect durability
• Optical distortion and roller wave, commonly associated with tempered glass and detected by systems such as those from Viprotron and Softsolution
• Anisotropy, a visual effect created by stress patterns during tempering
• Visible spacer misalignment or assembly defects that may lead to mechanical stress

These inspections ensure that IGUs meet visual and dimensional quality requirements before leaving the production line.

Critical IGU issues not detectable visually

Incorrect gas fill levels

Gas filling is a key determinant of IGU thermal performance. An IGU can appear flawless while containing significantly less argon or krypton than specified. Measurements carried out with Sparklike devices have revealed:

• Gas fill rates as low as 50–60% of target values
• Variations between operators and production shifts
• Inconsistencies between double and triple glazing
• Temperature-related filling deviations

By measuring gas concentration directly, manufacturers have been able to optimise filling parameters and achieve more consistent U-values.

Gas leakage over time

Even IGUs that pass factory inspection may lose gas after installation due to environmental stress, transport or climatic conditions. Long-term measurements have shown that changes in altitude and temperature can influence gas retention, affecting insulating performance months after production.

Seal integrity issues

Visual inspection cannot confirm whether an IGU seal is maintaining its hermetic function. A seal may appear intact while allowing gradual gas loss. Sparklike devices measure noble gas content as a percentage, enabling repeated measurements over time to monitor seal performance and identify potential failures early.

Comprehensive quality control approach

Combining automated visual inspection with gas concentration measurement provides a more complete assessment of IGU quality. While visual systems confirm appearance and assembly accuracy, gas measurement verifies insulation performance and durability. This combined approach allows manufacturers to move beyond visual conformity and ensure that IGUs perform as specified throughout their service life.

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The architectural concept is led by PCA-STREAM, under the direction of Philippe Chiambaretta, proposing a distinctive composition of two connected towers joined by a series of elevated “links”. These connections are not only spatial elements but structural and environmental devices, reinforcing the building’s vertical continuity while enabling large-scale façade integration.

At the core of The Link’s architectural identity is its fully glazed envelope, described by the project team as an all-glass façade. To address thermal performance, solar control, and energy efficiency at this scale, the building employs an insulating double-skin façade system. This approach allows the tower to maintain high levels of transparency while controlling heat gain, ventilation, and occupant comfort, key challenges for tall office buildings in dense urban environments.

A defining feature of the façade strategy is the integration of building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) directly into the glass envelope. ISSOL® has confirmed its role as the designer and manufacturer of the photovoltaic glass modules, used on the project. ISSOL supplied more than 4,000 m² of tailor-made photovoltaic glass, with individual modules reaching up to four metres in height. These large-format PV glazing elements are fully integrated into the façade system, combining energy generation with architectural expression.

The Link is officially described as the first tower in La Défense to incorporate photovoltaic panels at this scale within its façade. The project targets HQE Exceptionnel certification, reflecting its ambitions in energy performance, environmental responsibility, and circular construction practices.

Construction is being delivered by VINCI Construction France, with Groupama Immobilier associated as the site owner and development stakeholder. While the curtain wall contractor, IGU fabricator, and base glass manufacturer have not been publicly disclosed, The Link already stands as a reference project for double-skin glass façades and BIPV integration in European high-rise office architecture.

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Modern aluminum systems are no longer simple frames. They are precision-engineered building envelopes, designed to control heat, air, water, sound, and structural movement, often simultaneously and under extreme conditions. Behind every profile lies a calculated balance between strength, efficiency, and durability.

Today’s advanced aluminum profiles go even further. Multi-chamber designs slow heat transfer while increasing rigidity. Integrated drainage paths and pressure-equalized cavities manage water infiltration and wind pressure. Precision gaskets and airtight seals work together with high-performance glazing to create a system that performs as a single, unified whole. Nothing is accidental. Every millimeter is engineered.

But engineering alone does not build a façade.

High-performance façades are not simply architectural features. They are the result of intelligent design, advanced materials, and skilled hands working together. They shape how buildings perform, how occupants feel, and how cities evolve.

Behind every transparent skyline is invisible complexity, and behind every successful façade are professionals whose work allows architecture to stand tall, efficient, and enduring.

Videos: Linkedin 1, Linkedin 2

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Glas Natter’s factory layout is almost entirely built around LiSEC technology, creating a continuous in-house workflow. The current setup includes:

• AUT-D & ESL-A automated storage and loading systems
• LiSEC GFB cutting table with breakout optimization
• KSR & KZW edge grinding and arrissing modules
• TPS and warm-edge spacer insertion systems
• Automatic gas filling with argon and krypton control
• SRP-A sealing line with precision bead application
• LiSEC software for production sequencing, defect tracking, and batch auditing

This unified line eliminates manual transfers and reduces handling stress, ensuring consistent edge quality, improved gas retention rates, and fewer rejects under EN 1279 performance standards.

Glas Natter was one of the first European processors to commission the LiSEC SRP-A sealing platform, designed specifically for thicker and more complex unit geometries. The system supports:

• IG thickness up to 80 mm
• Oversized façade panels and irregular layouts
• Hot melt, polysulfide, and silicone secondary sealing
• Warm-edge spacer systems including TPS, Swisspacer, and flexible structural spacers

The Full-Support Belt System stabilises units even when corner sealant overhangs, preventing torsion and ensuring precise secondary sealing depth. Combined with the new suction-axis holding mechanism, the SRP-A maintains alignment even on triple units with Low-E coatings and laminated layers, where differential weight distribution is typically a challenge.

Glas Natter plans further integration of LiSEC’s analytics platform, enabling predictive maintenance, sealant consumption monitoring, and real-time production tracking. These upgrades support tighter tolerances in U-value performance, edge conductivity, and seal durability, which are increasingly demanded in contemporary glass façades.

Glas_Natter.zip (37 MB)

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Desiccant first appeared in double glazing during the 1950s, when condensation was one of the biggest challenges in the industry. Even when seals were perfect, moisture trapped between the panes would fog the glass as temperatures dropped. The solution came from the packaging world, where desiccants were already being used to protect goods from humidity during transport. The idea quickly transformed the performance of insulated glass.

Today’s desiccants are far more advanced. Made from molecular sieve beads, each granule contains thousands of microscopic pores that absorb and permanently lock away moisture. Without them, glass units would mist, coatings would corrode, and their lifespan would be drastically shortened.

At Euroview Architectural Glass, desiccant management is a precise, controlled process. Storage conditions are checked daily, fill systems are calibrated to the gram, and every finished unit undergoes dew point testing to ensure long-term clarity and performance. Though invisible, this small material plays a mighty role, proving that sometimes, the smallest details make the biggest difference.

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The findings by Chris Davis and Kevin Yin emphasize that the quality of the gas fill, whether argon or krypton, is crucial for maintaining efficiency over decades. Properly sealed units show less than 5% gas loss over 25 years, with minimal thermal degradation. However, poorly constructed or defective IGUs may lose up to 10% annually, leading to substantial heat loss and shortened service life.

Field investigations on buildings of various ages revealed that many IGUs had dropped below the 80% argon concentration required by EN 1279-3. Interestingly, some units that looked visually intact still showed significant gas depletion. This underlines the importance of non-destructive testing methods, such as laser-based gas analysis offered by Sparklike, to assess real performance.

For manufacturers and facade experts, continuous verification of gas levels ensures that insulation performance aligns with sustainability goals. Reliable testing supports smarter maintenance, extends IGU lifespan, and contributes to the broader pursuit of net-zero energy buildings.

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