Katy Devlin

Katy Devlin

Katy Devlin is associate publisher and editor in chief of Glass Magazine. E-mail Katy at kdevlin@glass.org.

Glassfab Looks to the Future

In recent years, Glassfab leaders have been actively pursuing new investments to meet evolving market demands, all while undergoing a major management transition as several founding members of the team move toward retirement.

Ten Takeaways from the 2023 Forecast

Prepare for what’s next with leading construction economists.

GlassBuild 2022

The largest glass and fenestration industry gathering in North America, 2022 GlassBuild America: The Glass, Window & Door Expo, takes place Oct. 18-20 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. “See Everything” including new products and equipment, customers, suppliers, and continuing…

Q+A with GlassFab: Building a Culture of Quality and Service

Glass Magazine sits down with Mike Goldfarb, one of Glassfab’s original managing partners and vice president of sales for the company. Goldfarb discussed his history in the industry, the impressive growth of Glassfab, and how to build a culture of quality and service that lasts.

30 Years of Top 50 Glaziers

Glass Magazine’s annual Top 50 Glaziers celebrates its 30th anniversary with this year’s report. That’s three decades of tracking the impressive evolution and growth of the U.S. glazing market. 

Flat Glass Recycling

It’s possible, it’s profitable, and it’s necessary to achieve energy efficiency targets in glass manufacturing.

Top 10 Takeaways from the 2022 Forecast

U.S. economic recovery continues, clouded by labor, supply and inflation challenges. Highlights from the latest construction forecasts.

Pros and Cons of Envelope Backstops

Backstops place caps on what can be “traded off” to meet performance requirements, thus necessitating a minimum level of envelope performance no matter what else is done to improve whole-building performance. The implications are significant for the glass and glazing industry.

Closing Out the International Year of Glass

As IYOG comes to a close, I'm looking back at the year’s activities. NGA helped to promote glass this year by demonstrating the essential role of glass in the built environment's sustainability goals, and by raising awareness of the industry as a rewarding career path.

Look for Women in Glass

The National Glass Association's Women in Glass and Fenestration Panel at GlassBuild 2022 is just the start of the NGA’s efforts to provide community for women currently in glass, and to encourage more women to enter the glass and glazing field.

FGIA Fall Conference Kicks Off in Chicago

The Fenestration & Glazing Industry Alliance’s 2022 Fall Conference kicked off Sept. 25 with conference activities really beginning in full on Sept. 26. The opening session included retirement announcements, information on the new FenBC region, FGIA's new strategic objectives and more.

An Industry of “First Responders”

The glass industry has an opportunity to become a new type of “first responder” by providing security products that protect children, teachers and staff against school shooters.

glasstec returns

The international glass products, manufacturing and technology show runs Sept. 20-23.

Top Takeaways from NGA Glass Conference: Chicago

About 100 glass industry technical leaders gathered July 18-20 for the NGA Glass Conference: Chicago, where the group addressed everything from security glazing to protect against active shooters to updates in test methods of fabricated glass. 

Grappling with Rising Glass Costs

Summer 2022 has brought high temperatures right alongside higher prices for everything from gas to groceries, and yes, to glass. How has the industry responded? 

Signs of Financial Trouble at View Inc.

Smart glass manufacturer View Inc. issued a grim financial statement earlier this month warning that it risks running out of cash.

Ideabook | Glass the Protector

The projects featured demonstrate the wide ranging abilities of glass to protect people. 

All About Glass & Metals: Maximize Daylight, Minimize Discomfort and Glare

Views through windows can stimulate the well-being and productivity of building occupants. With careful design and daylighting controls, daylighting can also substantially reduce lighting energy use.

All About Glass & Metals: New IGU Technologies for Carbon Reduction and Zero Net Energy

The last year has witnessed increasingly ambitious plans to meet carbon-neutral, net-zero goals in the next several decades. To reduce carbon emissions and meet these benchmarks, the building sector must be addressed.

All About Glass & Metals: The Importance of Thermal Bridging

For fenestration assemblies, the potential for thermal bridges may occur where the window framing meets the surrounding wall. An excerpt from Thermal Bridging Considerations at Interface Conditions Design Guide, available for download in the NGA Store.

All About Glass & Metals: The High-Performance Façade Equation

Glass Magazine’s 2022 All About Glass & Metals: Guide for Architects takes a closer look at three essential elements to the high-performance façade equation.

Tackling Glazier Challenges in BEC’s Return to Nashville

The National Glass Association’s Building Envelope Contractors Conference returned to Nashville this week with an at-capacity crowd of nearly 650. Glass industry leaders from 40 states, four Canadian provinces as well as Europe have gathered for two days of glazier-focused education during the…

Glass Can Save the World

While the sentiment may seem audacious, it’s also true. 

Investing in New Equipment? Learn How to Do it Right at GPAD.

4 Ways to Futureproof Your Fabrication Business at GPAD

It’s almost time to pack your best practices and your bags for the return of Glass Processing Automation Days, or GPAD, set to kick off Tuesday, March 29 in Nashville at Grand Hyatt Nashville. The conference, hosted by the National Glass Association, will draw leaders in glass fabrication,…

The Indicators I’m Tracking

I’m neither an economist nor a forecaster. However, there are a few key market indicators I’ve been tracking in recent months in an effort to see though the cloudy forecasts of leading construction economists.  

Manage Risks with Mockups

Test performance, identify design concerns and align expectations before construction begins.

Views + Daylight

Leading industry voices discuss the role of natural light and views on human health and performance, and the essential role of glass in daylighting design. Plus, NGA resources, including a webinar on the use of glass in biophilic design. 

A Tour of Super Sky

Earlier this month, I had the pleasure of touring the offices and fabrication facility for Super Sky in Mequon, Wisconsin. Its current facility covers 115,000 square feet and includes an impressive manufacturing floor that features state-of-the-art automated fabrication equipment alongside reliable…

2022 Crystal Ball

In early December, I sat down with my friend, the famous From the Fabricator blogger/podcaster and head of Sole Source Consultants, Max Perilstein. We took out the 2022 crystal ball and chatted through our projections for the industry in the new year.

Next-level Lifts

The glass lifting and handling market is booming, driven by a need to handle larger and heavier lites, to keep employees safe, and to accomplish more with fewer workers.

What Can Help with Labor and Supply Challenges?

What’s keeping the glass industry up at night? Exhibitors, attendees and speakers at GlassBuild America all pointed to two major challenges: the ongoing labor shortage and pandemic-related supply chain constraints.

GlassBuild America Displays Industry’s Resilience

Exhibitors, suppliers return to in-person event with high energy, focus on meeting industry challenges and identify industry trends.

Walker Glass Leaders Discuss Top Trends

Earlier this month, I hopped on a video call with Charles Alexander and Danik Dancause of Walker Glass to get their take on the current state of the industry and leading trends. Alexander, who is the company’s vice president of sales and marketing, and Dancause, marketing operations manager,…

The Digital Factory

Smart Factory and Industry 4.0; the internet of things (IoT) and the industrial internet of things (IIoT); digitalization and intelligentization; artificial intelligence (AI), radio frequency identification (RFID), enterprise resource planning (ERP); and so many others. While the vocabulary can get…

Speak to the Next Generation of Manufacturers

How can manufacturers effectively reach young people and recruit them to the industry? This is a challenge the Manufacturing Institute has been working to address through Manufacturing Day, held annually on the first Friday in October. 

Remembering an Industry Innovator

In preparing our Innovation Issue each year, we get the opportunity to collaborate with the ambitious and inspiring innovators behind these product and project achievements. One such innovator was Bernard Lax, the founder and CEO of Gardena, California-based Pulp Studio, who passed away…

Two Simple, but Not Easy, Priorities

Two related leadership priorities can help companies to recruit and retain employees, improve engagement and profitability, and keep workers safe: one, promote diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace; and two, address racism and discriminatory practices on the job.

Back to GlassBuild

Exhibiting companies have spent the previous year developing new product solutions to address their customers’ top concerns, and these innovations will take center stage at GlassBuild.

Training the Next Generation

Finding and keeping skilled labor is the top challenge facing U.S. glazing contractors. In response, a growing number of companies and industry organizations are looking to apprenticeship programs to bridge the skills gap and train the next generation.

Introducing a New Name in Float Glass

It’s not often the North American float glass industry welcomes a new plant, let alone an entirely new company, to the market. Learn more about Canadian Premium Sand's plans to start a float plant outside of Winnipeg, Manitoba. 

All that Glass Can Do | 3 building performance cost-benefit questions

The primary roadblock in adopting a high-performing glass product is cost. However, the price tag for high-performance systems should be considered alongside the holistic costs of building construction and operations. Sources point to three primary areas to consider when weighing costs. 

All that Glass Can Do | Next-gen technology

In addition to incremental improvements, the industry is also seeing the introduction of technologies that mark a larger step forward in performance.

All that Glass Can Do | Beyond energy & thermal performance

This part of All that Glass Can Do looks beyond energy and thermal performance to the other wide-ranging capabilities of glass, such as security glass, large sizes, curved assemblies, decorative glasses and more. 

Architect's Guide to Glass & Metals | All that Glass Can Do

An in-depth look at specification and design for glass and glazing, including glasses that achieve the thermal performance of an opaque wall, glasses that can hold up a roof without the need for metal supports, glasses that can generate electricity, stand up to hurricanes, protect against…

All That Glass Can Do

A conversation with Urmilla Sowell, technical and advocacy director, National Glass Association about the versatility of glass.

Get to Know Liz Haggerty

The new president of Oldcastle BuildingEnvelope brings a mix of technical acumen and business expertise to North America’s largest glass and metals company.

5 Decorative Glass Trends to Watch

New design trends in the decorative glass market call for larger sizes, custom designs, vibrant colors, new inks, multi-functional products and more. Successful glass fabricators keep a close watch on emerging trends, track relevant changes in codes and standards, and implement factory best…

Keep an Eye on the Green Horizon

4 code & regulatory takeaways from the NGA Glass Conference

4 code and regulatory takeaways from the NGA Glass Conference

The National Glass Association held its winter NGA Glass Conference Feb. 9. At the top of the agenda for the virtual meeting: new energy and environmental codes and regulations that will impact the glass industry, driving product trends and asking more from companies. 

What's in store for the Institutional Market in 2021?

Forecasters expect to see a lasting hit to government and education but express some optimism in health care.

Top Takeaways from the Commercial Construction Forecast

The pandemic disrupted commercial construction in 2020. What will 2021 hold for industry companies as the market and the overall economy continue to recover? Check out the topline takeaways from the commercial construction outlook from Glass Magazine’s Annual Forecast.

Prepare for What's Next

How can glass companies prepare for 2021? I asked some of Glass Magazine’s expert contributors to weigh in, and they offered insights on everything from legal and contract best practices to labor concerns.

10 Most-clicked Glass Industry Headlines of 2020

6 Reasons to Make 2022 the Year of Glass

We are now in the glass age, declared several United Nations representatives during the worldwide presentation of the UN Year of Glass 2022, held last week. Find out the top reasons why glass should be recognized through a United Nations Declaration.  

Challenging Installs

3 installation case studies show what advanced glass lifting and handling equipment can do.

Get Ready for Change

 5 key takeaways from industry experts at the July NGA Glass Conference.

Innovation During Crisis | Special Recognition Program

The Glass Magazine Awards program recognizes the best and brightest innovations in glass industry products and projects. This year’s special recognition program highlights how the industry innovated in response to the demands and dangers created by the COVID-19 pandemic.  

2020 Industry Trends | Part 4 | Metals & Hardware

2020 has challenged glass companies across all segments of the industry, but it hasn’t stopped the pace of innovation and evolution across the industry. This six-part series presents Glass Magazine’s complete Industry Trends report.

2020 Industry Trends | Part 6 | Software & Digital Tools

2020 has challenged glass companies across all segments of the industry, but it hasn’t stopped the pace of innovation and evolution across the industry. This six-part series presents Glass Magazine’s complete Industry Trends report.

2020 Industry Trends | Part 5 | Handling & Transportation

2020 has challenged glass companies across all segments of the industry, but it hasn’t stopped the pace of innovation and evolution across the industry. This six-part series presents Glass Magazine’s complete Industry Trends report.

2020 Industry Trends | Part 1

A GlassBuild to Meet 2020 Challenges

COVID-19 has turned 2020 plans upside down for us all. It has asked us to adapt and change; to find new ways of connecting, working, collaborating, problem solving. Now it’s forcing us to pivot once more when it comes to our industry’s gathering place.

How to Reopen the Workplace: Part 3, Considerations from Legal Council

Legal questions surrounding COVID-19 range from questions over company responsibilities and liabilities, to what constitutes reasonable health and safety concerns from employees. Learn top considerations from the American Subcontractors Association Attorneys' Council. 

Advanced Protection

Fire-rated glass and glazing has evolved. Manufacturers increasingly provide fire-rated glass and glazing solutions that are larger, more complex and better able to meet added performance requirements for thermal efficiency, daylighting, impact safety and more. 

Essential Connection

Even in isolation, glass creates the possibility for an essential connection—connection to the outdoors, to nature and, most importantly, to people. 

Need Emergency Financing Due to COVID-19?

The economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic has hit many glass companies hard. During an NGA webinar, April 22 at 1 p.m. ET, financial expert Marco Terry will help owners navigate financing options to help businesses today, tomorrow and once the crisis has passed.  

Do Your Employees Qualify for Paid Leave Due to COVID-19?

To help employees determine when they qualify for paid leave, the NGA has developed a fact sheet that you can distribute to a company’s workforce.

Contracts 101 for Glaziers Amid COVID-19 and Worksite Closures

In this time of COVID-19 and worksite closures, it is more important than ever for glazing contractors to understand contractual obligations. The National Glass Association announced a new resource that provides the questions contractors need to ask about existing contracts.

Glass Industry COVID-19 News: What We’re Watching

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has led to a seismic shift in the way glass and glazing industry companies do business. The crisis has created sudden financial uncertainties, worker safety challenges, questions over how to continue operations and more. Here is a quick look at the news we’re watching…

Managing Stress and the Importance of Taking Care of You, from Bill Sullivan

The added stress tolls on companies and individuals throughout the uncertainty of an ongoing pandemic are vast and varied. Bill Sullivan of Brin Glass recognizes that practicing self-rescue first before helping others is critical in coping with the added stress impacts on his business and at home.

Maintaining Value-Add Capabilities Amid the Disruptions, from Alan Kinder

Alan Kinder, architectural design manager at Guardian Glass, makes the case that now, more than ever, companies must deliver positive impact and bring value to customers.

The New Normal of Business During COVID-19, from Brad Thurman

Brad Thurman of GGI discusses fundamentals in the “new normal” of conducting business during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Clear Performance Solutions

High-performance building is no longer optional. Building codes require it. Owners and occupants increasingly demand it. And our global sustainability depends on it.

120 Years in Glass

NSG Pilkington's Rossford, Ohio, plant includes two float glass lines, running 24/7. The long and rich history of the Rossford plant, traces the advancements of glassmaking in the U.S. Its current operations demonstrate the industry’s advancements over the decades.

Unity in the glass industry during COVID-19, from Alan McLenaghan

SageGlass CEO Alan McLenaghan provided an update on the company’s status and operations during the ongoing COVID-19 crisis and offered insights on the industry’s strength and collaboration.

Where do we want to be when this pandemic is over? From Nataline Lomedico

During a video conference with staff, Giroux Glass CEO Nataline Lomedico asked employees to communicate, collaborate and prepare for what comes next, after COVID-19.

Train, Plan and Communicate during COVID-19, from Tim Finley

Tim Finley of TFin Building Solutions says glass companies should use the unexpected downtime during the coronavirus pandemic to train workers, preview processes, reach out to customers and more.

Invest in Your Brand and Your People During COVID-19, from Keith Daubmann

My Shower Door’s Keith Daubmann says his company is investing in its brand and its people during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The company continues to pay its workers and is focused on training.

Embrace Calls for Performance Solutions

New requirements for better performing, more sustainable and thermally efficient glass and glazing products represent an important opportunity for the industry, said Apogee CEO Joe Puishys during his keynote address at the 2020 Building Envelope Contractors Conference.

Staying Safe and Operational during COVID-19, from Syndi Sim

DFI's Syndi Sim offers insights on changes at the company that protect employees while allowing orders to be fulfilled during the COVID-19 crisis. 

Bringing Calm to Customers during COVID-19, from Chris Phillips

Glass installers who are working in customers’ homes during the coronavirus outbreak have an opportunity to bring a sense of calm through professionalism and quality workmanship, says Chris Phillips of Showcase Shower Door.

Industry Perspective: How can glass companies pivot during the time of coronavirus? From Dustin Anderson

When the phones stop ringing due to coronavirus, what can companies do to pivot and diversify? Dustin Anderson of Anderson Glass in Waco, Texas, offers a glazier perspective on finding new business during the crisis.

Industry Perspective: The Business Impact of Coronavirus, from Dustin Anderson

Dustin Anderson of Anderson Glass in Waco, Texas, offers a glazier perspective on the business impacts of the current coronavirus health and economic crisis. Anderson will be posting regular videos discussing the impact of coronavirus on business and sharing ideas about how companies can best…

Take Five with Trulite CEO Kevin Yates

Let’s Write a New Story About Bird-Glass Collisions

The glass industry has faced growing scrutiny in recent years over bird deaths caused by collisions with glass façades. Most in our industry know that those collisions could have been prevented through bird-friendly design and product solutions. Word of these solutions has yet to reach…

2020 Economic Forecast: Your Top Five 2020 Questions Answered

The U.S. economy is slowing but is unlikely to go into recession. Details on threats to the construction economy, regional winners & losers and building trends.

Code Watch

Introducing the New Glass Magazine Website

Glass Magazine rings in the New Year with a relaunch of its website, GlassMagazine.com. The new website offers essential glass industry content and news in a more organized, accessible and mobile-friendly format. It is designed to better connect readers with the information they need to meet…

2020 Forecast

What will 2020 have in store for the overall economy and for construction? And, what potential threats should glass industry companies watch for as they make investment and hiring decisions, bid projects and more in the year ahead?

The Industry’s Next Step

This December issue of Glass Magazine closes out an amazing decade in the industry—one that has witnessed a redefining of what’s possible with glass. What will the next 10 years bring? What are the long- and short-term trends, challenges and opportunities for architectural glass? How can industry…

A Smart Future in Glass

The future of the glass industry is smart—smarter glass for smarter buildings in smarter cities, according to presenters and organizers at the 2019 Glass Performance Days, June 25-28 in Tampere, Finland. “Smart cities, smart buildings and smart glazing are our future,” said Jorma Vitkala, chair of…

Did NYC’s Mayor Really Announce a Ban on Glass Buildings?

Last week, the glass industry witnessed some jarring headlines coming out of New York City: "NYC’s ‘Green New Deal’ to ban glass, steel skyscrapers"; "De Blasio vows to ban glass and steel skyscrapers in NYC"; "NYC mayor wants to ban new glass skyscrapers to cut emissions". The news came out of…

Keep DIY Fixes out of the Glass Plant

Growing up, my dad was the king of do-it-yourself fixes. He used to say that, provided with enough duct tape and a hanger, he could create a quick, temporary repair for almost anything that went amiss around the house. Those handy DIY fixes, however, are not for the glass plant. Last week at the…

Future of Glass—From Transparency to Technology

What’s driving future glass trends? Transparency, performance and technology, according to Lisa Rammig, senior associate for Eckersley O’Callaghan. Rammig spoke Jan. 23 during the 2019 National Glass Association Annual Conference in Naples, Florida. To meet next-generation demands, players from…

How to Recession-proof Your Business

Many economists are pointing to a potential slowdown in the U.S. economy after nearly a decade of sustained growth. “We see some headwinds coming,” said economist Connor Lokar during his forecast presentation at the Glazing Executives Forum at GlassBuild America in September. So, how can glass…

Prepare Your Talking Points, the Battle for Glass is Back

Are architects turning their backs on skyscrapers? This was the question posed in a recent CNN piece that interrogated the sustainability and energy performance of glass. The article, through interviews with several architects and other building industry officials, seemed to posit that glass…

Plant Safety 101

Sources: MyGlassClass.com from the National Glass Association; the Occupational Safety and Health Administration; Glass Safety Awareness Council, Insulating Glass Manufacturers Alliance; Vitro Architectural Glass. Glass plants can be dangerous places to work. They combine the hazards of any…

Underrepresented Groups Offer Opportunity to Combat Labor Shortage

In the CMD iSqFt webinar, “Construction 2016: How Sustainable is the Construction Economic Recovery?” several leading construction economists addressed the challenges of the labor shortage in construction and manufacturing. To combat the shortage of skilled labor, economists noted opportunities in…

Exit Planning and Succession III - A Continuing Story

CRL CEO Don Friese (left) and President Lloyd Talbert. Photo by Lizz Mullis The story of C.R. Laurence Co. is one of growth and acquisitions, of innovation and solutions. It is a story of people, strong leaders and dedicated employees who worked to grow the company into a respected glass and…

The Future of Float Glass Points to Advancing Technologies

Technological advances are changing the float glass industry. Market demands for higher performance glasses along with pressures to reduce the environmental impact of production have led to notable advancements in technology for both float products and processes. Regarding the first, the push for…

Code Conflict in Florida

Six months ago, the state of Florida enacted new energy codes, mandating that new building and renovation projects in commercial and residential applications meet requirements outlined in the 2012 International Energy Conservation Code, IECC. The updates to the energy codes led to disagreement,…

The World of Glass

The glass-making process starts with raw materials heated to 2,900 degrees Fahrenheit to produce molten glass. Pictured, the molten glass floats on a molten tin bath to become a flat ribbon. Photo courtesy of Guardian Industries.   The global float glass industry…

Warning: Fake shipping company scam

  UPDATE (July 21, 2014): In January 2009, I wrote this blog in response to a flood of emails I had received regarding a fake shipping scam targeted at small and mid-sized businesses that can cost companies upwards of $10,000, in addition to lost product and time.  In the more than…

Your Profits: How to Make Your Bid Stand Out

The slower construction market has created a challenging bidding environment increasingly defined by fierce competition and pressure to compete on price. Glazing subcontractors have been forced to perform a complicated balancing act of maintaining survivable profit margins while remaining…