Specialist glass suppliers and what they do
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Looking for a specific type of glass? Not every supplier can help. Learn about specialist glass suppliers today.
Who are the unsung heroes of our modern world? Refuse collectors, you might say. Nurses. Care workers. But how about glass suppliers?
We're not kidding around – nor are we blowing our own trumpet
too loudly. Close your eyes for a moment and try, if you can, to imagine a world without glass.
At this stage in human history, a world without glass is like a world without the internet. It's needed in every industrial sector. It makes transportation possible. It's used in everything from a one-room flat to a downtown skyscraper. It's used to store food. It's used in healthcare. It's used in – well, you get the picture.
Despite the integral role that glass suppliers play in keeping our society ticking along, the average person knows very little about them.
What do they do all day? What are their specialities? How are they different from glass manufacturers and glass processors? How can you tell a good one from a bad one?
In this article, we aim to illuminate this most vital yet under-celebrated type of business – before shining a light on our own services. We hope it (ahem) clears things up.
What does a glass supplier do?
A glass supplier's primary role is to supply businesses and individuals with glass products. These cover everything from raw materials to finished glass products.
Some glass suppliers also manufacture their own glass. Others process it for specific uses. Still others distribute it on behalf of other manufacturers. Some do a combination of these tasks or focus on just one.
Not every glass supplier handles those raw materials used to make glass panes. Not every glass supplier cuts glass,
toughens it or
makes it into mirrors. It all depends on the firm and its particular specialities.
A firm could specialise in products – mirrors, say, or
glass balconies. Some offer installation services, delivery services or technical support.
It's a field that's bursting with variety – and here at ToughGlaze, we're proud to say we specialise in more than most. We process and supply a huge range of products – and we deliver them, too.
This all-in-one service has its advantages – but before we get into the meat of the matter, let's consider some of the specialisms that different glass suppliers might have.
What do specialist glass suppliers specialise in?
A glass supplier could specialise in a particular type of glass. At ToughGlaze, we specialise in toughened and laminated glass – types of glass designed to be installed in critical locations where extra safety is required. Another supplier might specialise in float glass or annealed glass.
Another kind of speciality relates to client bases. A glass supplier might, for instance, specialise in supplying glass products to businesses or homeowners, architects or contractors. They might supply glass to the automotive industry.
They might specialise in security glass – glass that's built to withstand bombs, bullets or bandits. Or their focus might be on fire-rated glass that stops the spread of fire and smoke.
Then there's
decorative glass. This is an umbrella term covering a wide range of glass products – from glass with mesh or fabric interlayers to coloured glass, from sandblasted glass to screen-printed.
Finally, a glass supplier could specialise in smart glass, also known as switchable glass. This is an innovative glass product that allows users to change it from transparent to opaque via a smart home system.
The answer, then, to the question "What do specialist glass suppliers specialise in?" is "Pretty much anything". But how about us here at ToughGlaze?
ToughGlaze: our specialisms
What do we specialise in? The clue's in the name. Many of our products are made from toughened glass. But within that broad category falls a remarkable number of products and processes.
We make
laminated glass. We make
heat-strengthened glass. We make
glass built for fire safety. We make
glass built to block out noise. We make glass specifically designed to withstand force from
bombs,
bullets and
bandits.
As if that wasn't enough, we also supply a wide range of decorative glass products. These range from switchable privacy glass to glass lit up by LEDs. We provide laminated glass with mesh interlayers, fabric interlayers and coloured interlayers. We even let you print your designs onto glass.
And unlike some glass suppliers, we don't limit our glass products to specific industries. We supply toughened and laminated glass products to all manner of clients, including architects who need materials for complex, large-scale structural glazing products.
We see a continuity between our job as a glass supplier and our job as a glass processor. At the end of the day, it's all about creating a seamless experience for the customer.
This takes several forms. Because we manufacture, process and supply all our products from under one roof, customers can expect fast turnarounds, transparency, accountability and clear lines of communication. At a time of significant supply chain disruptions, this is more important than ever.
How can working with just one glass supplier help you beat the supply chain blues?
We live at a time when supply chain disruption is the norm, not the exception. So, how can working with one glass supplier help you beat the supply chain blues?
It's a topic we've
covered in detail before – but in the context of specialised suppliers, the answer is simple. If you work with a supplier that distributes on behalf of a processor, you could face significant disruption.
Whether it's COVID-19, the Suez Canal blockage or US tariffs, global supply chains have rarely been in such a state of flux. Working with a firm that specialises in a product like toughened glass rather than just one link in the chain means less disruption, more accountability and fewer sleepless nights.
ToughGlaze is one of the UK's most trusted
suppliers of toughened glass and other commercial glass products. Do you need a one-stop supplier for your next project? Let's talk. Get in touch with our experts
online – or call 020 838 4400.
