Through the looking glass
Glass experts Ziad Yazbeck, from Glass LLC and G S Raju from Guardian RAK Glass reflect on how architecture, sustainability and economics are driving the development and supply of products
What have been the key emerging trends to affect the development of glass products over the past year?
Yazbeck: Firstly there are a lot of high quality products coming in the area; secondly the local production has become being a major quality provider to the world; we used to import, but now we’re exporting. Th at’s very important. Th e switch from imports to exports is a combination of two factors; the economic slowdown and the arrival of Chinese contractors.
Firstly due to the slowdown whatever large projects there are going on in the area are done by Chinese companies.
However, in the glass industry we managed to grab a share of the national markets, whether it’s in India or Turkey, or even GCC countries, we have managed to get a strong foothold and we produce for local projects.
Th e third trend is lots of people are looking for high-clarity glass. There is a strong demand for very clear glass and this again is a very important factor. Previously there was a demand for green, yellow or pink, for example but they are changing from that and going towards clear glass as much as possible to create a neutral eff ect. It’s an architectural trend.
Raju: Th e general trend is moving towards usage of value enhanced glass like coated instead of fl oat glass, whichhelps to meet the architects’ visions of aesthetics and design and delivers better performance in terms of light and heat. Recently in the Middle East, the trend is approaching towards usage of double or triple silver coating. However, there is a debate as to the use of these products versus the use of high performing single silver products, which cater better to the Middle East Environment.
In Africa, the general glass trend is still in using a lot of Single Glazing. There has been recently few projects – monumental Projects – considering the usage of double glazed products. Africa is a growing market and they are currently dependent on Middle East and elsewhere for these new developments.
How do architectural demand and design trends affect the development and production of glass products in the Middle East?
Yazbeck: There are two kinds of architectural trends at the moment as there are two schools or architects working here. Firstly there are the architects coming from Europe. We have a lot of sun here so whatever glass you use, in order to be green and ecofriendly, you have to reduce the heat coming in.
Many architects think a low-e coating will work and give clarity and yes it does give you clarity but with temperatures of 50?- 60?C outside it doesn’t work. You need air conditioning, power, and a lot of CO2 emissions are produced as a result of that.
The issue has been realised and now the authorities have come through with very stringent conditions on the clear glass and that’s very important. The other line of work is the architects based in the area, who understand the culture here and they still work with the same stone, rocks and sand.
Most of our products are developed based on the demand of architects.
Around seven years ago we established a techno-marketing department to work with consultants, specify products and create the quality design professionals want. This is like a consultancy unit, equipped with a lab that is even recognised by Dubai Municipality.
The team test to find the measurements of the thermal performance of glass. If you’re an architect and you need clear glass in a certain colour, we can tell you immediately whether this colour fits the municipality regulations. The government regulations are a major factor now. They have put a lot of stringent standards in place so you firstly have to do what all the authorities across the GCC in places like Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Abu Dhabi. We can show how and what to do in response to those regulations.
We are very well equipped and have one of the top machineries in the world, here in Dubai. So we are very well equipped to produce any product demanded, and to deliver it. ]
Raju: Of all the countries in the world I have visited, I have not seen any place equal the UAE in terms of elegance, creativity and style. The UAE is an architect’s paradise. Every architect works towards leaving a legacy and I bet the world’s best architects have their best projects in the UAE. The designs are bold, more challenging and more colours are used.
With the current environmental concerns, architects are looking towards solutions that support sustainability. In certain cases when the vision of the architect demands higher specification of the glass unit, value engineering by client and/or facade engineer ensures an appropriate solution, satisfactory to all parties, is reached.
Overall, the trend tends to inch towards the bolder and more vivid designs the architects are creating.
How were your glass coating products developed?
Yazbeck: Everyone in the world was talking about self cleaning glass. Some coatings heat the surface to burn whatever is present, then the water and humidity remove the particles but we did the checking at first you’re adding pesticides so you’re not eco-friendly, and also when you have such kinds of things it’s also very expensive.
We created something that was eco-friendly and easy to use. If you’re building a building you don’t want to pay $1.5m for self cleaning you need it to be part of the glass so we identified a product that was nanotechnology-based and
green. It is a shield for the heat; protects the glass to make it flat and the dirt particles cannot stick. It’s very simple and it’s very commercially viable; you don’t need to have a budget for it and it’s very easy to use.
The main market demand has come from Saudi Arabia and we are working on some of the biggest jobs over there; in Riyadh and Mecca.
Here in Dubai people are also specifying the product as it also reduces water consumption. In the next year we will introduce a product that will reduce heat by 80%.
Raju: Guardian envisioned the need of glass in this region and developed a coating a couple of years go, which offers SunGuard high performance and high durability solar reflective coatings.
These products are geared toward the needs of the region, where light is abundant throughout the year and winters are not so severe.
What do you see as the future of glass in the Middle East in terms of design trends and market factors?
Yazback: Glass demand is very much related to per capita growth; when populations grow they need houses and they need glass. The spending will go up and down, but there is a big difference between the normal trend and the market, let’s say. The thing is we have the manpower, sand, and we are operating in the UAE where it is easy to operate and export to anywhere in the world.
The thing about the glass industry is it’s a heavy cash investment. It’s not an industry where you just come in with a small amount of capital. Any machine you buy will cost a couple of million Euros.
The good thing is if you have the product and quality, it’s not where you produce the glass it’s how you’re going to deliver it. As a group now we have invested about US$ 500m in the industry; it’s not invested just for Dubai, The UAE, Qatar or Saudi; it is invested all over the world. There are offices in India and Turkey, all over the GCC and we are expandingto regions all over the world.
Raju: The future is still promising ,I would say Saudi Arabia is going to play very important role in construction and I still believe Qatar is just to wake up in a couple of years. In North Africa the future is moving towards value added products, better quality and great value engineering.
In spite of the slow start after the recession there is a real sense of confidence in the future of glass industry in the Middle East and Africa. The Middle East is witnessing an ever-increasing demand for float glass and processed, specialty glass products’ employing new and innovative technologies and pushing architectural boundaries, not only in design trends, but also in environmental protection.
