In addition to the product presentation by the more than 1,150 exhibitors, glasstec 2014, the International Trade Fair for Glass Production, Processing and Products, will feature a wide-ranging ancillary program geared toward each visitor target audience (mechanical engineering, manufacturing, crafts, architecture/construction, window/façade and solar sectors). glasstec will take place from October 21-24 at the fairgrounds in Düsseldorf, Germany. 

 

This year, glasstec’s supporting program in the crafts segment will consist of the special show “glass technology live,” the Crafts Center with the new Glass Crafts LIVE theme, the Autoglass Arena and the glass art exhibition. The congress program of glasstec 2014 will consist of the scientific conference “engineered transparency” focusing on structural uses of glass, the Architectural Congress and the “solar meets glass” conference on topics concerning glass and solar. 

 

The “glass technology live” (gtl) show in Hall 11, organized by Stefan Behling and his team at the Institute for Building Construction at the University of Stuttgart, Germany, is reportedly one of glasstec’s most popular events. Products about to emerge in coming years will be on display, usually alongside the highlights from the various fields of application, and always with a focus on architecture. In 2014, the main themes at this special show, which covers about 26,900 sq ft, will relate to intelligent glass. Exhibits will represent segments such as light directing, translucent glazing, composite elements in façades, glass and OLEDs, as well as light and thin glass for architecture and displays. 

 

A trade symposium will accompany “glass technology live” free of charge to all glasstec visitors. Presenters from research institutes, associations, companies and architecture firms will discuss a range of topics focusing on the future of the glass industry. The gtl Symposium program will be dedicated to a different topic each day, with the content designed by the following partner organizations: the Research Association of the German Glass Industry (HVG) and the German Society of Glass Technology (Glass Melting and Forming, October 21), the German Engineering Federation (Processing and Finishing Technology, October 22), the University of Stuttgart (Architecture and Technology, October 23), the German Federal Association of Glaziers Trades (Crafts, October 24) and the German Flat Glass Association (Glass in Windows and Façades, October 24).

 

Directly adjacent to “glass technology live,” attendees will find the Façade Center, featuring glass-focused content geared toward façade designers, construction engineers, architects and the glass-processing trades. It will consist of exhibitor presentations in Hall 11, façade mock-ups at the nearby gtl special show and the “Professional Center Glass + Façade,” offering information presented by various institutes and associations. A new component of the Façade Center will be the European Façade Network’s efnMobile, where students—together with the University of Applied Sciences in East Westphalia-Lippe, Germany—will create façade models live and offer façade consulting.

 

The broad range of glass products for use in architecture attracts a large number of architects and building designers to glasstec. The ancillary program will cater to this target audience by offering the Architecture Congress “Glass 5.0–Design, Function, and Emotion” on October 22. Presenters will include architects such as Graham Dodd of Arup Fellow, Winy Maas of MVRDV and Paolo Cruz of the University of Minho. The event is certified as professional ongoing education.

 

The science and technology-oriented “engineered transparency” conference will address visitors from research and development, as well as the construction and implementation segments, by discussing the latest trends and developments in the structural use of glass. Organized jointly by the technical University of Dresden and the University of Darmstadt in Germany, the “Glass, Façade, Energy” conference will take place on October 21 and 22. The conference is structured into the three main sections: Structural Glass, Façades and Solar Technology; individual focal topics will include Timber-Glass-Laminates and Hybrid Structures, Adhesive Bonding Technologies, Energy and Sustainability, and Building-Integrated Solar Technology and Design. 

 

In addition to the German Federal Association of Glazier Trades and the exhibitors in Hall 9, the Crafts Center with its supporting program will offer the glass processing trades and crafts a dedicated forum. Brand-new will be “Crafts LIVE,” an area where glass-processing craftsmen are encouraged to experience tools and materials in a hands-on environment at eight interactive stations according to these topics: Cutting (cutting and storing), Processing (drilling and grinding), Finishing (varnishing and gluing) and Installation (e.g., of fittings). A demonstration area will be set up where the erection of a glass façade, the construction of a shower stall and the installation of a sliding glass door will be shown. A highlight will be the two installation and assembly competitions on each day of glasstec, at 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. 

At the integrated glass finishers’ area, speakers from the sector will present new products and finishing technologies with the motto “Glass meets design.” Topics will include the laser processing of glass and new coating and layering systems, as well as bent glass and innovative adhesive technology. 

 

The Autoglass Arena will supplement the supporting program for tradesmen and craftsmen. In addition to the product range on exhibit by more than 50 companies, the arena will feature the National Auto Glaziers’ competition (October 23-24). The Auto Glaziers’ Plenary (October 21-22) will once again take place as part of the Autoglass Arena with a comprehensive range of free lectures and workshops. The plenary will be dedicated to technical topics on the first day of glasstec and to business issues such as leasing concepts and insurance issues on the second day. 

 

The “glass art” special exhibit displaying art objects made from glass will complete the Crafts Center. Exhibiting artists from internationally renowned galleries, the Hentrich Glass Museum and the North Rhine-Westphalia Association of Glass Artists, will show a broad spectrum of glass art, from sculptural objects to glass painting. 

 

The fourth “Solar meets Glass—Industry Summit for Markets, Costs and Technology” conference will be held on October 20 and 21. Experts from the glass and solar industry will discuss topics of relevance for both sectors. In addition to providing a market and technology overview, the conference program— developed by Messe Düsseldorf in conjunction with the Technology Transfer Institute of Eastern Bavaria, Germany—will emphasize new business models for success in the glass and solar industry, as well as solar applications in the building shell. 

 

The glasstec website provides tools for the preparation of a visit. The Industry Guide helps to find offerings from exhibitors and the ancillary program according to these core groups: mechanical engineering; manufacturing, processing, and finishing; crafts; architecture and construction; windows and façades; and solar. The online Trendcompass shows where to find new products in specific segments. By combining this online service with the “Companies and Products” database, attendees are able to get information on every exhibitor’s products. 

 

For more information, visit www.glasstec-online.com.