During the recently-held NGA conference, global flat glass industry expert Bernard Savaëte gave a keynote address on the evolution of the industry.
Bernard Savaëte delivering his keynote address during the NGA conference
The global glass industry has witnessed tremendous shifts in the last 25 years, with more changes on the horizon, according to Bernard Savaëte, a global flat glass industry expert and founder of BJS.Différences. Savaëte delivered a keynote address during the Annual Conference for the now-combined National Glass Association and Glass Association of North America in Napa, California.
Savaëte began with the evolution of the float glass industry in the last 25 years. “In 1992, there were 150 float lines operating, mainly in the Western world; today there are more than 500. In 1992, China had just 25 lines; today, it has more than 300 lines that are built, and 250 lines that are running,” said Savaëte. “Twenty-five years ago, 60% of float glass production came from the [European Union], the United States and Japan. Today, less than 20% of production comes from those places.”
Savaëte also discussed the new players that have emerged in the float industry. In 1992, the global industry had four dominant companies: Asahi Glass Co., Pilkington, PPG and Saint-Gobain. Two of those companies no longer exist in the glass business in the form they once did – Pilkington was acquired by Nippon Sheet Glass and PPG sold its glass business to Vitro Architectural Glass. And the list of dominant global players has grown to include Guardian Glass, Fuyao, Kibing Group, Sisecam, Xinyi Glass Holdings Ltd. and others.
The fabrication market has also experienced notable shifts, with fabricat...
