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India’s glass producers and downstream processors have steadily expanded their capacities with new tempering, insulation, lamination, and coating glass lines. The country possesses more glass processing lines than any other Asian country, barring China. India’s rapid growth is partly driven by government initiatives like Make in India. As a result, its manufacturing and infrastructure sectors are becoming more attractive to foreign investment. Rapid urbanisation and infrastructure development drive the demand for architectural glass in buildings, offices, and residential complexes. Automobiles, which require glass, are another significant contributor to the Indian glass market. India’s packaging industry also contributes to glass market growth, especially in beverages and pharmaceuticals. Last but not least, technological advancements and manufacturing processes enable specialty glass products tailored to specific industrial requirements, including solar panels, medical equipment, and electronics. Yogender Singh Malik, who analyses the processed glass industry, notes these factors will contribute to rapid growth in the Indian glass market.

Emerging Asian markets are characterised by a circular economy that dominates glass packaging design and functionality. The objective is to design sustainably to minimise consumption, renew materials and products, and reduce the environmental impact. With their large investments in green technology, glass packaging manufacturers are now embracing a circular economic model. As a result of improved design and manufacturing processes, these companies are positioning themselves for success on the global market. This has resulted in higher exports to the lucrative United States and European Union. Jahir Ahmed examines this latest trend in detail as he explores the circular economy in Asia’s top glass-producing countries such as China, India, Indonesia, and Thailand.

Manufacturers of glass serving a variety of industries are eager to improve quality and eliminate and reduce defects. Their efforts are now supported by companies offering inspection machines that are faster and more precise at both the hot and cold ends of production lines, as well as by shifts towards factory automation. With the latest technological trends involving faster and higher resolution cameras, non-visible wavelengths, artificial intelligence, and the fusion of inline measurement technology with machine vision, Rohan Gunasekera writes, the container glass inspection business is experiencing a new phase of growth.

Recent investments in flat glass in ASEAN countries and India focus on energy-saving or energy-efficient glass, as well as solar glass production. With the increasing demand for energy-saving glass, virtually every float glass plant has coated glass lines. Green buildings reduce emissions while increasing energy efficiency. By 2025, ASEAN member states aim for a 30% reduction in energy consumption. As such, regulatory and building energy codes are being adopted by these countries to improve the energy efficiency of their buildings and products. Moreover, the region’s governments support green initiatives. Jahir Ahmed believes the glass industry generally, as well as our society as a whole, can only benefit from this action.

With machines sold to over 100 glass processing companies worldwide, Wilhelmsthal, Germany-based Waltec Maschinen GmbH is one of the largest global glass machinery manufacturers. Klaus Kestel, Waltec’s head of sales, discusses the company’s performance, plans, and products in an exclusive interview with Asian Glass magazine.