Transparent dreams and high-tech machines - the world’s biggest glass show is an all-encompassing event

Glasstec, which takes place from 9 to 13 November at Germany’s Messe Dusseldorf exhibition complex, is easily the largest event on the glass calendar. The 2002 exhibition clocked in with 1,100 exhibitors and over 54,000 visitors, and the 18th edition may well top these figures. Glasstec is a biennial celebration of glass in all its forms and its associated technology. Besides flat glass, areas are dedicated to float production, automotive glass, hollow ware, instrument glasses and other glass applications in the nine halls. Machinery is a vital part of Glasstec and Halls 12 to 17 will host a huge line-up of machinery manufacturers from all over the world.

Laser technology

Glass Technology Live is a regular fixture of the exhibition. This ‘glass pavilion’ area will be dedicated to all sorts of applications for glass in architecture – in addition to façades the focus will, for the first time, also be on interior finishes involving glass. Here in Hall 11, hands-on ‘live’ demonstrations will complement exhibition talk: pendulum impact and falling-ball tests will show the possibilities and limitations of modern glass structures ensuring an informative and diverse programme on this stand.

For the first time, visitors can also see a presentation of the entire range of laser technology, and learn about the latest developments in cutting, marking, surface etching and fusing.

Products, machines, plant systems and components are being exhibited under the banner of ‘Lasers and the Future of the Glass Industry’. There will also be symposium presentations and talks about developments, experiences, trends and new applications in the sector.

Machinery masters

The undisputed stars of the machinery show are European: The insulated glass machinery experts from the German speaking countries (Lisec, Bystronic, Hegla, etc.) and the Italians, the acknowledged machinery masters for edge-working and decorative processing (Bottero, Schiatti, Lattuada, etc.). Tempering and bending specialists Tamglass, Glassrobots and Uniglass all hail from Tampere in Finland.

Much reduced set-up time for exhibitors is perhaps the reason why Lisec is arranging to fly existing and prospective customers to Austria to see its new developments, which include a toughening furnace. (This sounds like something special.)

This means that the largest stand will probably be that of partners Tamglass and Bavelloni in Hall 16.

The day’s discussions tend to continue in the evening in the Aldstadt, Dusseldorf’s old town. Cool ‘Alt’ beer, warm ‘Floenz’ (blood sausage) and hearty ‘Aehzezupp’ (pea soup) are traditional specialities, while ‘Mostert’ is, you guessed it, Dusseldorf's famous mustard. That’s quite a mixture.