The 35th China Glass Exhibition: A look back at the key technologies and breakthroughs

From April 7 to 10, 2026, the 35th China International Glass Industrial Technical Exhibition – organized by the Chinese Ceramic Society – was held at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre. The show was a big success. It also happened to mark the 40th anniversary of this exhibition series. The theme? "Smart New Glass, Powering a New Future, Celebrating 40 Years of Excellence." The event brought together top players from the global glass industry, creating a high-end platform for technical exchange, product showcases, and business partnerships. It really showed off what the glass industry has been doing in areas like high-end manufacturing, smart production, and green technology – injecting fresh energy into the sector's push for high-quality development.

Four decades strong: scale and influence reach new heights

Since it first launched in 1986, China Glass has grown into one of the world's largest and most professional glass exhibitions, covering the whole supply chain. For domestic glass companies, it's a key window into both local and international markets. For global glass giants, it's how they deepen their presence in China. The show has become a real barometer and trendsetter for the industry.

This year's exhibition covered 90,000 square meters and drew 889 exhibitors from 31 countries and regions. Professional attendance was expected to top 100,000. The show covered everything – glass production, deep processing, equipment manufacturing, raw materials, you name it. Domestic exhibitors numbered 697, while international ones hit 192. Traditional powerhouses like Germany and Italy showed up with national pavilions, showcasing their latest work in smart factories, green technologies, and high-performance functional glass. There were also plenty of technical seminars and industry forums, where experts and company representatives talked through innovation, green transformation, and industrial collaboration. All of it highlighted 40 years of progress in China's glass industry – and where things are headed next.

Domestic companies shine: innovation on full display

Chinese glass companies really stood out at this year's show. Big names like Triumph Science and Technology, China Building Materials Academy (CBMA), CSG Holding, Xinyi Glass, Kibing Group, and Jinjing Group all showed off new products and technologies – covering production, processing, equipment, and raw materials. It was a strong demonstration of just how much innovation and brand strength China's glass industry has built up.

Leading players drive innovation across multiple applications

Triumph Science and Technology brought nine of its subsidiaries to exhibit together, including CNBM Glass New Materials Research Institute, China Triumph International Engineering, China Yaohua Glass, Bengbu Triumph Engineering, and Triumph Digital Intelligence Technology. They launched a bunch of new innovations.

Yaohua Glass focused on its "Yaohua Smart Glass Cabin" – a smart home system that brings living room, bathroom, and balcony scenarios right into the exhibition booth. They incorporated products like ultra-clear double-silver IGU glass, triple-silver Low-E ultra-clear glass, and smart dimming glass. Using IoT technology, the glass can talk to appliances and the environment, automatically adjusting light transmission and temperature with a response time under 0.5 seconds.

Bengbu Triumph Engineering showed off its hot-end annealing lehr equipment, cold-end smart production lines, intelligent deep-processing systems, and a lean production management platform for glass plants.

Triumph Digital Intelligence Technology presented its latest work in smart glass manufacturing, smart environmental safety systems, and industrial internet applications. Triumph also signed several project cooperation agreements in areas like automotive glass, technical upgrades for specialty float lines, and overseas sales.

China Building Materials Academy (CBMA) and its subsidiaries focused on high-end energy-saving and specialty glass. They showed large high-performance quartz glass, ultra-low expansion glass-ceramics, aviation glass, PPG cover glass, thin IGUs, aerogel glass, and glass release paper. These products are already being used in aerospace, semiconductors, and other strategic national projects – helping secure supply chains and support industries like renewable energy and building efficiency.

CBMA also launched an AI agent for inorganic non-metallic materials, built on their CBMA large language model and a "five-pronged" theoretical framework. It creates an integrated solution combining fundamental theory, R&D agents, and fully automated AI labs. This gets around a big bottleneck – verifying AI model predictions – and pushes materials R&D toward AI-driven methods.

CSG Holding brought products from four core areas: float glass, solar glass, energy-saving glass, and electronic glass. Their "Kirin" series includes four main products: "Ice Kirin" (summer shading, heat insulation), "Fire Kirin" (winter warmth retention), "Light Kirin" (ultra-clear high transmission for solar and BIPV), and "Kirin King" (thin, strong, scratch-resistant for consumer electronics and car displays). Together, they offer a one-stop glass solution for green buildings, smart living, and high-end manufacturing.

Xinyi Glass featured 42 core products spanning architecture, electronics, automotive, appliances, and industrial applications. Their star product, Xinyi Ice Blue IB71 float glass, won a lot of interest thanks to its body-tinted insulation, very low spontaneous breakage rate, wide application range, long life, and high stability. For the auto sector, Xinyi showed Ice Blue insulated windshields and dimming glass. They also exhibited their 89-series near-zero energy coated glass (high light transmission, high insulation) and custom products like bendable tempered triple-silver IGUs, multi-layer thick ultra-clear SGP laminate, and anti-reflective triple-silver IGUs – all aimed at modern architectural needs.

Kibing Group showed 17 coated and uncoated float glass products in colors like European gray, European tea, emerald green, and sapphire blue – wide range, stable quality. For energy-saving glass, they focused on bird-safe glass, anti-reflective (AR) glass, and temperable triple-silver Low-E glass (insulation performance far above industry standards). Their solar glass included high-transmission, sand-resistant coated glass and BIPV power-generating glass. In electronics, they featured the "Kibing Shark" series for automotive and display applications.

Yaopi Glass highlighted thin-film solar glass, CSP solar base glass, automotive glass, online-coated float glass, architectural processed glass, specialty glass, and full-panel coated glass – covering new energy, automotive, and construction. Steady quality and advanced technology drew a lot of attention, especially from international customers. Their automotive glass and thin-film solar base glass were standouts, and they reached cooperation agreements with several carmakers and new energy companies during the show.

Jinjing Group continues to push development and production of new energy glass substrates. Their "Pure" series ultra-clear glass provides high-quality materials for efficient solar modules, high-end building facades, and premium furniture. As a pioneer in TCO glass R&D and production, Jinjing also showed TCO glass – which can serve as transparent electrode substrates for perovskite and cadmium telluride thin-film solar cells – helping move next-gen solar tech toward commercialization.

Equipment and materials companies step up to complete the supply chain

NorthGlass – a leader in glass deep-processing equipment – exhibited under the theme "Smart Leading the Future, Craftsmanship for the Long Run." They showed their latest in high-end equipment, smart manufacturing, and high-end curtain wall glass.

NorthGlass's fourth-generation high-end tempering furnace features precision heating algorithms and a new quench design, delivering major improvements in temperature control and tempering efficiency. Their smart factory model showed a complete automated deep-processing workflow. In coating, they presented upgraded end heads, magnetic bars, and new solutions for thin-film solar cells. Their three-phase energy-saving fans combine permanent magnet direct drive with three-phase flow technology, achieving top-tier energy efficiency (over 30% power savings). In glass products, a 3D multi-curved glass similar to the one used at OPPO's global headquarters was a crowd-pleaser – sharp images even on complex curved surfaces. Another highlight was their琉璃 (colored) glass curtain wall, with striking colors and rich textures that drew designers and professionals.

During the show, NorthGlass secured multiple major equipment orders, including for their fourth-generation tempering furnace, and signed several strategic cooperation agreements – further strengthening their market position.

LandGlass brought its full lineup of innovative products and system solutions. Their "Sky" series smart tempering equipment was a highlight, demonstrating "zero stain" optical quality through direct comparison. The equipment delivers precise temperature control and uniform air quenching, significantly improving optical quality.

LandGlass also showed several other smart tempering solutions covering building, solar, automotive, and appliance applications. They also featured ultra-thin titanium vacuum glass, PVB-laminated vacuum glass, and solar vacuum glass – addressing diverse global market needs. During the show, they held talks with customers from over 20 countries and signed multiple cooperation agreements. Their global service capabilities also received high praise.

Shenzhen Jixiangyun Technology exhibited under its brands "Keluode Laser" and "Keluode Vision." Their large-format glass laser cutting and separating machine is designed for big glass sizes – efficient, stable, good edge control, consistent results, improved yield. Their glass inner-hole cutting machine is the world's first fully automatic inline system with integrated vision positioning for multiple holes. It runs on proprietary control software, supporting smart, automated production – suitable for appliance glass, automotive glass, and more. Their visual defect detection system uses machine vision, AI, and smart lighting – all developed in-house – covering solar, automotive, and architectural glass. It automatically identifies and classifies defects, supports data analysis and quality traceability, and helps manufacturers move away from manual inspection.

Liaoning Beifang Machinery exhibited under the theme "Smart Light, Glass Future." Their smart autoclave uses intelligent controls for precise pressure and temperature regulation, greatly improving laminated glass efficiency and quality. Their automated laminated glass production line covers everything from cutting and cleaning to laminating and finished products – less manual intervention, lower costs. Their booth drew steady crowds, with lively business discussions.

CNBM Innovation & Technology Research Institute (Shandong) showcased civil aviation glass, composite fire-resistant glass, aerogel glass, thin IGUs, fully tempered vacuum glass, and electrochromic glass. During the show, they signed a product supply agreement with Malaysia Glass Group – deepening international cooperation in high-end energy-saving safety glass and showing their ambition to expand globally.

Sositec (Guangdong) launched their new SIMBA SC convection series tempering furnace. The core is an upgraded convection system that optimizes heat distribution, improves heating uniformity, and boosts flatness and clarity. It also integrates smart technology for automated operation, precise control, and real-time monitoring – simplifying processes, lowering labor costs, improving stability, and reducing reject rates.

Suppliers fill critical gaps in the industry chain

Beijing Opto-Electrical Technology – a specialist in glass optical performance and quality testing – launched two major new systems: the "Huoyan FLATVIEW" online glass flatness and optical distortion measurement system, and the "Huoyan OpticStress" online stress pattern measurement system. These are built for online quality inspection in glass deep-processing. Using non-contact optical measurement, they automatically detect flatness, optical distortion, stress patterns, and other core indicators – fast, precise, no manual intervention. They can detect tiny surface deformations and optical defects in real time and generate test reports. Suitable for float glass, tempered glass, coated glass, IGUs, and more. These systems solve the problem of slow, error-prone manual optical inspection, helping glass companies move toward smarter quality control and higher product pass rates. They fill a technology gap in China's high-end online optical inspection space and drew serious attention from many processors at the show.

Anhui Angu High-Tech showed four core products: SGP ionoplast interlayer, PU bulletproof film, functional PVB interlayer film, and XIR ultra-energy-saving film. They set up a demo area for PU bulletproof film – showing its high strength and impact resistance – for applications in ballistic protection, aerospace, and other demanding fields. Their SGP ionoplast interlayer offers excellent adhesion and penetration resistance, mainly for architectural safety glass and specialty industrial applications. They received multiple business inquiries and reached several cooperation intentions.

Panjin Window Profit Insulating Glass Materials showed their Truspacer Superspacer, Super Truspacer, TBSE flexible warm edge spacer, and fire-resistant sealing strip. The Superspacer offers excellent sealing, weather resistance, and energy savings – improving IGU insulation and service life. The Super Truspacer works in various IGU production scenarios – easy installation, reliable sealing. Their products drew strong interest, and they secured multiple cooperation agreements with well-known companies.

Suzhou Innovation Ceramics exhibited fused silica ceramic rollers and 8.6-Gen float glass ceramic rollers. Their fused silica rollers have extremely low thermal expansion, excellent thermal shock resistance, and no deformation at high temperatures – suitable for horizontal tempering furnaces, reducing scratching and breakage. Their float glass rollers help reduce surface scratches and defects, improving product quality. They serve many well-known glass companies and secured multiple orders during the show.

Hangzhou Zhijiang Silicone Chemicals launched JS‑302SG – a thermoplastic warm edge sealant for IGUs. It's the first thermoplastic warm edge product in China to pass the new national IGU standard's tough tests. With very low moisture vapor transmission, it creates a strong moisture barrier when used with elastic sealants, significantly improving IGU sealing and service life. It stays stable and seals well from -40°C to 80°C, works in extreme climates, and meets EU EN1279 standards. They also showed their full range of sealing solutions for IGUs, curtain walls, and windows.

Zhengzhou Zhongyuan Silande High-Tech brought glass sealing products and solutions for curtain walls, IGUs, automotive manufacturing, and infrastructure. Highlights included MF840 two-component polysulfide IGU sealant, MF881-25 two-component silicone structural sealant, MF881 two-component silicone structural sealant, and MF910G butyl hot-melt IGU sealant. The MF910G integrates butyl, spacer, and molecular sieve – solving the problem of butyl bleed and extending IGU service life beyond 25 years.

Shandong Nengteyi Energy Technology – a national "little giant" specialist – showed low-potassium 3A molecular sieve, automated filling production lines for stainless steel warm edge spacers, an automated IGU frame assembly system, and a full-size stainless steel warm edge IGU line. Their low-potassium 3A molecular sieve has excellent adsorption performance, removing moisture and impurities to ensure IGU insulation and durability. Their full-size smart IGU line automates everything from raw material to finished product, improving efficiency and precision. Their products drew many visitors and led to multiple cooperation agreements.

Zhangjiagang Chuangdian Furnace Fans showed high, medium, and low pressure, high-temperature, and high-volume fans in six series and over 100 specifications – for glass, metallurgy, chemicals, and more. Their fans are stable, low-energy, quiet, and long-lasting – fitting various furnace sizes. Precise quality and good after-sales service have earned them broad industry recognition. They signed several fan supply contracts during the show.

Zhengzhou Yongyi High-Temperature Materials focused on furnace upgrade needs, showing a range of high-end refractories: sintered zircon, sintered zircon-mullite, sintered sillimanite, sintered AZS, chrome corundum, low-porosity clay, castables, and ramming mixes – covering all parts of a glass furnace.

Zhengzhou Yuandong Refractories has two high-end automated production lines: oxidation process and fused zirconia corundum. They produce fused cast AZS and alumina alpha-beta series refractories. These products handle high temperatures, corrosion, and extended service life – suitable for critical furnace areas. Their AZS series was a top choice for many furnace operators at the show.

Henan Yuan Dongli Refractory Technology showed zircon brick, chrome corundum brick, and calcium-free silica brick – widely used in glass furnaces to extend life and reduce maintenance. They run three shuttle kiln lines with annual capacity of 40,000 tons. Their high-purity zirconia insulating brick, with excellent thermal performance, drew strong interest.

Beijing Zhengxing Hongye Metal Materials – representing UK glass engineering firms EME and F.I.S. – showcased tin oxide electrodes, foam glass furnaces, OBC batch chargers, molybdenum electrode water cooling jackets, pushable tin oxide electrodes, oxy-fuel firing and electric heating systems, and hybrid gas/electric furnaces.

International heavyweights bring cutting-edge equipment and solutions

Lisec – a global leader in glass processing equipment – centered its exhibit around the theme "360° Full-Process Glass Processing Solutions." Their main launch was the "Universal Spacer Smart IGU Line," which breaks through the limitation of single-type spacer processing. It flexibly handles rigid spacers, Superspacers, thermoplastic flexible spacers – any type – for IGU production with unequal cavities. Full digital CNC control delivers high sealing precision, smooth flow, and stable output – combining flexibility with efficiency. It meets the custom IGU needs of both commercial and residential applications, solving the pain points of multi-type IGU production. The line drew massive interest from both local and overseas customers.

Glaston focused on warm-edge energy saving and ultra-thin glass processing. Their new "ULTRA TPS® Ultra-Thin Warm Edge IGU Line" is designed for efficient production of ultra-thin warm-edge IGUs – capable of processing triple- or quadruple-pane TPS® IGUs with 0.5mm inner panes. The line solves the problems of fragile ultra-thin glass and high precision requirements – improving yield and performance. It reduces window and curtain wall thickness and weight by 30% while keeping the same U-value and long-term sealing – easing frame loads, supporting retrofit double-pane replacements, and improving comfort. Industry sources say China's first ULTRA TPS® line is already in the discussion phase.

MKU (Meichuan) – a specialty lubricant manufacturer founded in 1956 – showed various specialty lubricant solutions for the glass industry. Their formulas give them a strong edge. Their glass lubricants work in tempering furnaces, IGU lines, cutting equipment – improving efficiency, reducing wear, extending equipment life, and lowering both maintenance and energy costs. Their technical team offered custom lubrication solutions on-site, earning wide recognition.

Other international players also showed impressive technology:

Bottero brought the Titan Evo 4.0 high speed double-edge straight-line edging machine – precise, efficient, supports long continuous runs.

Grenzebach launched an ultra-thin glass solution with a gentle conveying system to avoid scratches, closed-loop cutting pressure control for clean cuts and breaking, support for multiple grades simultaneously, and efficient stacking for scratch-prone glass.

Kömmerling focused on its Koedispace 4SG lightweight solution – the Ultra Thin 4SG System – which significantly reduces IGU weight.

SORG presented a full glass furnace lifecycle solution, including EME batching systems and cullet recycling – helping plants save energy and reduce emissions.

Zeiss focused on AI-powered optical inspection – smart defect detection, real-time capture, classification, and data analysis.

Keraglass (first-time exhibitor) showed its "Vision" tempering furnace, "Decoglass" printing system, and "Klass" automation – covering tempering, laminating, printing, handling, warehousing.

Summary and outlook: 40 years of momentum – a new chapter begins

The 35th China Glass Exhibition wasn't just a successful event. It also marked 40 years of the show itself – a chance to look back at how China's glass industry evolved from imitation and scale to genuine innovation and quality.

Three clear themes stood out this year:

Green and low-carbon is now a shared industry goal. Companies are rolling out energy-saving, eco-friendly, recyclable products and solutions – aligned with global carbon reduction targets.

Smart manufacturing is accelerating. AI, IoT, online inspection are integrating deeply with glass production and processing. Unmanned lines and smart detection are becoming common – boosting efficiency and quality control.

High-end and diversified is the new direction. Ultra-thin glass, flexible glass, solar glass, specialty glass – all are pushing into new applications like renewable energy, electronics, and aerospace.

From an industry perspective, the show clearly demonstrated China's innovation capability and growth potential. Domestic companies have made huge strides in core technology, product quality, and supply chain integration – gradually breaking foreign dominance in high-end segments. At the same time, global collaboration is getting tighter, with companies sharing technology and resources to advance together.

Looking ahead, as carbon reduction targets deepen and emerging industries grow fast, the glass industry will face both new opportunities and challenges. On one hand, the push for green, low-carbon innovation will only get stronger – driving energy savings, emission reductions, and circular economy across the whole production chain. On the other hand, smart and high-end will be the core directions. Companies will invest more in R&D, break through key technologies, upgrade glass products to multifunctional, high-value solutions, and expand into new energy, electronics, and high-end manufacturing.

Forty years in, the journey continues. China Glass will keep playing its role as a platform and bridge – fostering technical exchange and business cooperation, supporting high-quality development in China's glass industry, and helping the global glass sector move toward a greener, smarter, higher-end future.