A key highlight was the use of ultra-thin glass, as thin as 0.5 mm, in triple glazing. This innovation allows for lighter, slimmer window units while maintaining excellent thermal insulation. Thin borosilicate glass, known for heat and break resistance, demands precise handling. HEGLA’s automated cutting technology with a specialized cutting head ensures strong, uniform edges suitable for insulating glass units combined with advanced spacers like TPS.

HEGLA also introduced a new fully automated LSG cutting table that combines features from its AdvaLam and ProLam systems. Enhanced with a laser diode heater, it increases productivity by 20% while reducing cycle times, shifting control from operator to machine for improved efficiency.

Laser technology adds functional value, enabling bird protection patterns, RF transparency, and heat able glass. HEGLA’s laser markings are durable and colour-fast for over 20 years. New processes include a high-quality laser edge coating and the compact UC-Stamp marking system for precise identification.

The glass365 ERP platform, based on Microsoft Dynamics 365, offers mobile access, AI-driven order processing, and Office 365 integration. It automates email order reading and simplifies production scheduling, with a new MES/PPS solution in development.

HEGLA’s innovations empower the glass industry with smarter, faster, and higher-quality manufacturing solutions.

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The building’s curtain wall system features high-performance insulated glazing units (IGUs) designed to maximize natural daylight while minimizing heat loss and gain. These IGUs are enhanced with low-emissivity (low-E) coatings and solar control films, which help regulate the building’s internal temperature by reducing solar heat penetration without sacrificing transparency. This careful balance contributes to the project’s ambitious WELL, LEED, and WiredScore Platinum certifications, underscoring CityWave’s commitment to occupant well-being and energy efficiency.

Structurally, the glass facades are engineered to complement the iconic 140-meter timber and steel solar canopy that crowns the complex. The precision fabrication and installation of the glass elements allow for seamless integration with the canopy’s sweeping design, ensuring durability and safety while maintaining a visually striking presence.

Additionally, acoustic laminated glazing enhances sound insulation, creating a comfortable indoor environment amidst Milan’s vibrant urban setting. The customization required for the curved and angled glass panels showcases advanced manufacturing techniques, highlighting innovation within the glass industry.

CityWave Milan exemplifies how modern glass technology can drive sustainable urban development, blending architectural beauty with high-performance engineering to create a landmark that will shape Milan’s skyline for years to come.

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A Leap in Multi-Layer Film Technology

Unlike standard extrusion, this co-extrusion process combines multiple materials into a single film, optimizing performance characteristics. For the acoustic market, the tri-layer EVA film includes a viscoelastic core between rigid layers to dampen sound across a wide frequency range, a valuable feature for buildings requiring sound control.

For the solar industry, the same line enables the production of encapsulants with improved durability, UV resistance, and adhesion, crucial elements for the longevity of PV modules.

First of Four Lines in Strategic Expansion

This line joins two existing ones producing architectural interlayers and is part of a broader expansion: Satinal plans to launch three more co-extrusion lines in the coming year. The investment highlights the company’s growing presence in both solar and safety glass markets, while also supporting a more sustainable manufacturing approach by improving material efficiency.

With this move, Satinal becomes the first in Europe to use co-extrusion for such applications, reinforcing its role as a pioneer in high-performance interlayer technology.

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Expanding Capacity and Modernizing Production

The new furnace is part of an extensive upgrade that includes an additional 20,000 square meters of production space, significantly boosting Vitri Speciali’s manufacturing capabilities. This expansion not only enables increased output but also supports the company’s commitment to specialized glass containers tailored primarily for the global food industry.

QSA’s Role in Strategic Design and Safety

The project’s design and execution were expertly managed by QSA, a consultancy firm known for its deep expertise in industrial infrastructure development. Their involvement ensured that the entire process adhered to the highest standards, particularly emphasizing worker safety. Vitri Speciali underscored the importance of a robust prevention and control system, guaranteeing safe working conditions for all personnel during and after construction.

Commitment to Quality and Regional Development

Headquartered in Trento, Vitri Speciali prides itself on delivering premium glass containers worldwide. The company’s leadership described the furnace inauguration as “a source of great satisfaction,” highlighting the infrastructure’s strategic significance to the region. The investment reinforces both economic growth and the advancement of safe, quality-focused production practices within the Italian glass industry.

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Technology Meets Nature: A New Material Order
PBFD 2025 launches with a thematic focus on Technology Meets Nature, a bold exploration of organic and innovative materials in façade systems. Presentations will highlight the integration of timber, pressed terracotta, stainless steel, and biobased glass composites into performative façades. Visionary keynote speakers include Michele Pasca di Magliano (Zaha Hadid Architects) and Agnes Koltay (Koltay Facades), whose work pushes the limits of material expression and thermal performance.

Glass: The Transparent Vanguard of Sustainability
The glass industry finds a central platform at PBFD. With leaders like Joan Tarrus (Sedak) and Ingo Stelzer (Kuraray) taking the stage, thin-glass technology, laminated safety innovations, and energy-active glazing will be critically examined. Their presence underscores the glass sector’s evolution, from passive envelope component to active climate mediator and aesthetic protagonist.

Debates That Shape Cities
Day two, moderated by Mikkel K. Kragh (Aarhus University), explores façades as engines of circularity. Discussions span adaptive reuse strategies by Eckersley O’Callaghan and predictive glass maintenance from Priedemann Façade Specialists. The day ends with Thomas Winterstetter (Werner Sobek) spotlighting high-tech glass façades that grow with the cities they envelope.

Heritage Meets High-Tech
The grand finale unfolds at Palazzo Nani Bernardo, fusing Venetian heritage with future-forward thinking. Exclusive site visits, including a behind-the-scenes tour of the Simeon glass-and-steel fabrication facility and the architecturally rich De Stefani winery, perfectly conclude this immersive event. PBFD 2025 isn’t just a conference, it’s where the future of façade design is written, in glass and beyond.

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