Experts Forecast 2025 Glass Industry Trends
By Joshua Huff
While trends come and go, in the glass industry, the desire for more complex, larger and energy-efficient glass remains the same. Jalal Fitoury, chief technical and innovations officer at Italy-based Permasteelisa Group, also expects this to ring true in 2025.
He anticipates that the glass industry’s immediate focus in 2025 will center on meeting sustainability demands through low embodied and operational carbon. He predicts the industry will shift its focus toward artificial intelligence (AI) and nanotechnology, which can help transform static glass objects into dynamic systems that enhance communication and power generation.
AI, Nanotech and Robotics
Fitoury says the glass industry will continue experimenting with more advanced technology because of the growing demand for functionality beyond glass’ light transmission and acoustics, thermal and structural performance.
“AI, in combination with sensor-driven nanotechnology, will be transformative for the glass and façade industry,” he explains. “Historically, façades have served aesthetic, light transmission, acoustic, thermal and structural purposes. Soon, the glass will be able to adapt to users’ requirements in real-time, adding new functionalities such as power generation, power consumption regulation, communication and well-being options. The impact will likely be immense on the internal fit-out and mechanical, electrical and plumbing of buildings in the future.”
Andre Noppe, vice president of global commercial glass coatings at Vibrantz in Houston, has noticed AI advances in digital printing. He says AI has allowed clients to achieve quick, high-resolution designs with a modest investment in a few platforms.
“While current AI has limitations—such as struggles with large-format images and noticeable pixelation when rescaling—it offers a cost-effective solution for smaller fabricators who may not want to hire a human design resource,” he says. “Additionally, our customers are leveraging AI to tackle complex production challenges.”
Moe Benmbarek, an applied research senior engineer at Dallas-based Oldcastle BuildingEnvelope® Inc. (OBE), says the use of AI in design software, quality control and installation will only increase in the future.
“AI-driven design tools can automate repetitive tasks, allowing architects and engineers to rapidly explore thousands of design variations and select the most efficient or aesthetically pleasing options,” he says. “In quality control, AI can ensure uniformity across products by comparing real-time production output with established standards, automatically flagging deviations. This is especially useful in prefabrication or unitized manufacturing, where precise tolerances are essential for structural integrity and ease of assembly.”
Personalization and Carbon Footprint
Noppe has noticed that customization has driven many investments in recent years and will continue to do so. He notes that digital printing technologies are increasingly being adopted to enhance production flexibility and allow for more customized solutions.
Noppe says this shift caters to consumer demand for personalization and reduces product waste. He adds that vacuum-insulated glass and low-emissivity (low-E) coatings have also become more prominent, offering noise reduction and improved thermal insulation, making buildings more efficient.
“While these were primarily used in commercial buildings to reflect sunlight and reduce heat transfer, we are seeing a recent increase in residential adoption,” he says. “This change is helping homeowners lower their energy expenses and better support the broader movement toward sustainable building practices.”
Noppe explains that the overall driver is the push to reduce carbon footprint. Customers are looking for solutions that streamline operations while being environmentally aware.
Building-integrated photovoltaics are also set to expand, allowing façades to generate electricity and actively transform buildings into energy sources. Carlos Amin, vice president of sales at Miami-based Tecnoglass, says climate-specific glass designs, such as double or triple-glazed units optimized for local conditions, will continue to advance, with vacuum glass playing an increasingly prominent role in enhancing insulation and reducing energy reliance.
“Everyone is looking for smart glass technologies,” adds Lori Allen, corporate marketing manager for Israel-based Gauzy. She discussed the advantages of smart glass during glasstec 2024 in Düsseldorf, Germany. “They’re looking for something different to extend the function of glass. Give a new spin on putting different technology in the glass. It’s an often used material, but more can be done with it. We have to ask, ‘How does it transform what we do in our projects and all the spaces we spend time in?’”
Allen says the future involves adapting glass to fit various needs. She explains that Gauzy has seen “huge demand in the smart glass market for sustainable and more functional products.”
Renovation Versus New Construction
Amin expects retrofitting, modularity and safety innovations to drive change within the glazing and façade industry. He says retrofitting, in particular, has become a popular, sustainable alternative to new construction, with more demand for products tailored specifically for renovation projects.
He explains that glass companies, including Tecnoglass, are developing solutions such as thin double glazing and lightweight façade systems that offer energy efficiency and ease of installation, especially suited for existing structures.
“Modular glazing systems are another area of focus, enabling rapid installations and easy adaptability,” he adds. “These systems are particularly valuable for older or historic structures, aligning with industry trends toward future-proof, versatile design.”
OBE’s glass technical support manager, Jason Fisher, anticipates an increase in the adaptive reuse of commercial buildings. He says developers not only see the benefit, but it’s a “design trend that’s resonating with building occupants.”
Navigating High Costs and Innovation
Navigating costs will become increasingly important to meet sustainability and performance improvement demands. Fitoury explains that to meet innovation and sustainability demands and budgetary requirements in new developments and renovations, the industry will need to address several key questions, including how the glass industry can:
• Industrialize low-carbon glass;
• Reuse existing glass components while meeting increased performance criteria and service lifetime; and
• Integrate photovoltaic functionality and retain transparency economically.
As Noppe sees it, the glass industry is navigating a challenging period shaped by macroeconomic factors such as high interest rates and energy costs.
“As we move into 2025, there are promising signs of slow but gradual improvement,” he says, adding that “clients are generally open to new solutions, but the current lower market demand has shifted their focus toward cost considerations and business efficiencies.”
Solving Complex Ideas with AI
Carlos Amin, vice president of sales at Miami-based Tecnoglass, predicts AI will play a more important role, especially in complex glazing projects. When it comes to design, AI helps optimize material selection and structural analysis, enabling faster, more sustainable options for complex glazing projects. For manufacturing, automation and robotics improve precision, reduce waste and speed up production timelines, complementing skilled craftsmanship. Robotics also show potential for onsite installation, offering enhanced efficiency and safety.
“On the installation side, augmented reality provides real-time data that minimizes errors, while digital twins and building information modeling are transforming project planning and predictive maintenance, improving long-term performance and operational efficiency,” says Amin. “As these technologies evolve, they will continue to streamline processes and improve glazing projects’ overall quality and sustainability.”
As for fabricating, Thomas Bechill, sales support manager of the German company Hegla Corp., says automatic glass sorting and loading machines are becoming more sought after. He explains that Hegla sees the biggest payback and opportunities in these areas.
“I’ve had customers double their throughput on the line just by automating the loading system,” he says. “They might have already had an automatic loader, but it was only accessing six or eight glass types; now, they’re cutting up to 150 types of glass between coatings, thicknesses, tints, bird-friendly, etc.”
According to Regan Axtell, OBE’s glass product manager, advanced technology and complex architectural demands will only improve the glass industry.
“Complex architectural demands push the current limits of glazing technology, but this is a good thing,” he says. “Pushing the industry to evolve, developing new technologies and then actually using them. Demands on design and performance are needed for any industry to evolve. For glazing, this will allow for more sustainable, creative and awe-inspiring architecture.”
FORECASTING 2025: Expectations, Demands and Challenges
This past year brought renewed focus on sustainability, circularity and technological advancements. Though innovation in the construction industry moves at a glacial pace, we are curious to know what new developments await us in 2025. Devin Bowman, general manager at Washington-based Technical Glass Products, says the glass industry is poised to play a more pivotal role in helping architects design safer, more secure spaces that do not compromise the occupant experience.
“This is especially true for safer school designs, which face the dual challenge of inviting learning while protecting students and staff,” he says. “One way to achieve this is with fire- and security-rated glazing. The material helps improve sightlines throughout the built environment.”
With an eye toward glass railings, Syndi Sim, director of sales and business development at California-based Q-Railing, expects glass railings to transcend traditional roles in 2025 and expand into sectors such as hospitality, retail, education and luxury residential projects.
“The glass railing industry is experiencing a significant transformation, embracing sophisticated designs that elevate aesthetics and enhance functionality,” she explains. “I am seeing a shift toward intricate and sophisticated glass railings, particularly in high-end residential and commercial projects. We have also seen an uptick in architects increasingly using these designs to craft focal points in areas like lobbies, staircases and balconies.”
Of course, transformation comes with its share of challenges, including keeping pace with demand, which Bowman says will be crucial.
“With forward-thinking building performance standards and energy codes raising the bar for energy efficiency in new and existing structures, the glass industry faces a critical challenge: keeping up with these demands while innovating at scale,” he says. “High-performance glazing solutions—whether double- or triple-glazed systems or more advanced options—can meet these higher performance standards. But as an industry, we must find faster, more efficient ways to deliver on these expectations without overwhelming production capacity.”
Joshua Huff is the senior editor of USGlass magazine. Email him at jhuff@glass.com and connect with him on LinkedIn.
To view the laid-in version of this issue in our digital edition, CLICK HERE.