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Visit Glass, the dedicated flat glass showcase set to debut at FIT Show 2019, has seen a number of high profile brands sign up to exhibit at the NEC this May (21st to 23rd).

The lineup has grown considerably in recent months to include the likes of Lisec, GGR Group, Flat Glass Solutions, Edgetech and Saint-Gobain. Visitors can expect an impressive display of the latest processing machinery, products and equipment.

Experts from a number of Visit Glass’ exhibiting brands are scheduled to deliver key notes as part of the main FIT Show learning programme. Topics that will be covered include ‘the evolution of glass’, ‘flat glass technology’, ‘automation’, ‘pushing the boundaries of glass design to meet creative trends in large scale commercial architecture’, as well as ‘the comfort and health benefits of glass’.

Flat Glass Solutions will be showcasing a water treatment centrifuge, a new and innovative eco-friendly polishing wheel for processors, a rotary table and snip saw for IG manufacturing, along with a vacuum lifter for glass. Speaking about their decision to exhibit, Managing Director David Cahill said: “As a brand that is still in its infancy we want to expose our new products and ideas to the industry. Visit Glass will allow us to do just that.

“We’re looking forward to meeting with prospective customers, with the potential to rapidly expand our customer base, speaking directly to our target market. It’s such a long time since we had a glass show in the UK, I’m excited to see how the glass industry responds to Visit Glass.”

Edgetech Managing Director Chris Alderson comments: “We always look forward to the FIT Show, but this one is shaping up to be particularly special. We’ll be taking the opportunity to celebrate Super Spacer’s astounding success over three decades with friends throughout the industry. We’ll be introducing customers to our new e-commerce system. And, after a lot of intensive research and development behind the scenes, we’ll be unveiling our cutting-edge new spacer product.

“I’m also delighted that Joe Erb, one of Edgetech’s most senior and long-serving employees, will be making the journey to share his wisdom with us!”

Recent preregistration data has reinforced the quality audience that is being driven to this year’s FIT Show. As well as registration being significantly higher than the same period in previous campaigns, 45% of those registered for FIT Show 2019 have a turnover of over £1m, with more than half of those registered being C-suite decision makers or higher.

FIT Show Event Director, Nickie West added: “We’re delighted with the support that has been shown for the inaugural Visit Glass. We knew that there was a gap in the market to create a dedicated showcase for flat glass, and Visit Glass will do just that.

“This new feature has broadened our appeal to architects, specifiers and commercial installers too. We look forward to welcoming faces old and new to the NEC this May.”

For more information www.fitshow.co.uk/visit-glass

The FIT Show team organises a brand new event for processors, specifiers and buyers of flat glass in all its forms.

Following increasing demand indicated by visitors to the FIT Show, the organisers have announced the launch of Visit Glass, which will take place alongside the FIT Show in May 2019 at the NEC.

Responding to a massive 40% of the 10,000 visitors to the 2017 FIT Show who declared their interest in seeing glass products and glass-related processing equipment and technology at the event, Visit Glass will become the first UK exhibition and forum dedicated to the manufacture, processing and application of flat glass for almost 15 years.

The event is designed to appeal to glass industry professionals, together with specifiers and buyers of flat glass products and systems. These include insulated glass units, architectural glass, processed flat glass for all non-glazing applications including kitchens, bedrooms, bathrooms and the furniture industry; and glass for interiors including offices and decorative interior design schemes.

Prompted by the visitor feedback the organisers of the FIT show carried out further research into the viability of such an event and were told that professionals operating in the sector would respond positively for something created specifically to address the unique needs of the UK flat glass industry, one that continues to undergo substantial technological and market changes. They also learned that, despite the success of the FIT Show, it did not serve the specific needs of flat glass manufacture, processing and technology. That will now be addressed by the launch of Visit Glass, according to organiser Nickie West.

“Despite glass being an obvious and essential component of almost everything that is shown at the FIT Show, the glass industry has needs that are quite distinct in almost every respect,” she said. “After analysis of visitor research at the 2017 FIT Show we realised that glass-related topics were some of the highest categories they wanted to see at the show. However, this was not reflected in what they saw there. Visit Glass will address this imbalance through a distinct, separate event alongside the FIT Show.

“With the numbers of visitors to the FIT Show indicating their interest in flat glass we can guarantee a very substantial attendance to Visit Glass,” added West. “In addition of course there will be a substantial marketing campaign to encourage a wide cross section of the glass industry, in addition to users and specifiers.”

Visit Glass will take place in its own clearly designated space at the NEC alongside the FIT Show, in a space that combines key exhibitors representing leading brands alongside a powerful, thought provoking and informative seminar programme dedicated to the glass industry and markets in the UK. To ensure an appropriate format for Visit Glass was created the event was ‘soft launched’, during which time a number of powerful, key brands were quick to reserve exhibition space. These include Pilkington, Saint-Gobain, Edgetech, Lisec, National Glass Group and Sapphire Glass Merchants, with others joining the floorplan as word of the event spreads.

A dedicated seminar theatre within Visit Glass will offer a comprehensive programme of seminars addressing UK and general issues relating to the manufacture, processing and application of flat glass. Industry experts are being consulted to ensure content that is highly relevant and current for the UK flat glass industry when the event takes place in May 2019.

Visitors will also be encouraged to network in the Visit Glass bar, access for which will be granted to Visit Glass pre-registered visitors who will automatically be granted VIP status. Visit Glass and FIT Show visitors will have full access to both events.

Visit Glass will take place at the National Exhibition Centre (NEC) Birmingham, 21st to 23rd May 2019. Further information is available at: www.fitshow.co.uk/visitglass or for interest in exhibiting, by calling Freya Humphries on +44 7572 623457.