From skyscrapers to interiors to homes, there’s a glass detail somewhere. For some time now, glass has been a widely used material by architects, interior and industrial designers owing to its flexibility, practicality, functionality, and beauty. Changing its form or design is the only thing one would ever need to do to adapt to a certain style of any era. It’s safe to say that glass, in itself, is timeless. Which is what GLASSTECH Asia, now in its fifth year – and counting – is banking on.
Also known as the International Glass Products, Glass Manufacturing, Processing and Materials Exhibition & Conference, Glasstech Asia is organized by the Singapore Glass Association (SGA) and the Conference & Exhibition Management Services (CEMS). CEMS is notably the first company engaged in professional exhibition and conference organization to be given an ISO 9002 certification in Singapore. At its helm is Edward Liu, a.k.a. "The Exhibition Man." The event is supported by the Peninsula Malaysia Glass & Mirrors Dealers Association, Philippines Chamber of Glass & Aluminum Ind. Inc., Australian Glass & Glazing Association, Italian Association of Glass-processing Machinery and Accessory Suppliers, Glass & Glazing Federation, and the National Glass Association. The exhibit is held side by side the HollowGlass Asia 2005 and will jointly take place from November 30 to December 2 at the IMPACT Exhibition and Convention Centre in Bangkok, Thailand. A much awaited event, the industrial trade fair aims to help build important corporate ties that will promote and develop further the glass industry in the Asia Pacific. Fortunately, they are not the only ones pushing for this as every Glasstech event has been nothing but a definite success.
The event never fails to bring together an eclectic group of people from varying but related fields and/or industries such as engineering, architecture, general building contracting, real estate, glazier, glass manufacturing, government, chemical and pharmaceutical, automobile, academic institution, glass installation, furniture manufacturing, lamp manufacturing, bottle and vials manufacturing, and many more. Diverse as they may be, they will surely come to the 2005 show to look, learn and observe a very wide range of glass industry products.
Glasstech Asia 2005 exhibit expects to draw 350 exhibitors coming from 25 countries, including Australia, Austria, China, Belgium, Finland, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Japan, Italy, Korea, Malaysia, India, Singapore, Portugal, Russia, The Netherlands, UK, Thailand, Turkey, USA, Switzerland, and Taiwan.
Based on the success that this event has enjoyed for quite some time, organizers SGA and CEMS have added a few more features to make this year’s exhibit the best yet. This year, there will be free seminars to take place every hour every day of the exhibit at the Challenger Hall 3 as well as a conference titled "New Challenges and Opportunities with Glass" on December 1. Glasstech Asia also offers pre-scheduled appointments (PSA) to enable exhibitors and buyers/visitors to make appointments with one another even before arriving in Thailand. One’s eligibility to use the PSA is subject to the organizers’ approval. To get started, companies must simply register online and submit information regarding their profile, products, and services along with interests. Two weeks prior to the event, those approved to avail themselves of this service can log in and choose companies they would like to sit down with. When a match has been made, the PSA system will automatically schedule appointments for those companies who have selected each other. Those that will not have a match will be posted on a pending list where participants can review and make yet another selection to add to their appointment list. This will go on until the final closing date when the PSA system itself will be responsible for the last of the allocations among those who still have free slots.
Allow me give you a little preview.
From Singapore comes Lei Gardien (S) Pte Ltd, a glass supply company known for some of the most attractive glass products used in architecture, interior design, and the automotive and industrial industry. Today, the company boasts a range of 200 glass products, including the Emerald Lei Magic Glass/ Films, Emerald Etched Art, and Emerald Lei Deco Etched Art. Our very own Heritage Hotel has a Lei Gardien antique mirror sitting in its lobby while the Aspen Tower’s imposing facade is adorned with Lei Gardien glass.
Also Singapore-based is the Singapore Safety Glass Pte. Ltd, which has an ISO 9001 certification since 1994. This 20-year-old company is noted for its architectural glass products composed of tempered glass, heat-strengthened glass, tempered heat-soaked glass, laminated safety glass, decorative laminated glass, silkscreened ceramic glass, and insulating glass units. To get a good idea of just how lovely their products are, just look at the colorful Changi Hotel.
Meanwhile, from Thailand comes the Siam Pattern Glass with its 20 years’ experience in glass craft. It is the first company in Thailand to develop the figured glass line along with a wide range of colors and designs.
Perhaps one of the biggest companies in the glass industry is Solutia Inc. whose headquarters is located in St. Louis, Missouri. Its glass products are recognized all over the world. Automobile giants such as Daimler Chrysler, Audi, Ford, Peugeot, Honda, Porsche, Volvo, and Toyota have been using Solutia glass for their automobile windscreens. Also, Solutia’s products are in a number of impressive structures, including Singapore’s Changi Airport, I.M. Pei’s glass pyramid at the Louvre, and even the very glass that keeps the famous Mona Lisa safe and sound.
If the foregoing has made you glass-conscious, visit www.glasstechasia.com for more of all that glass.