Gulf Construction Online - WDF/Gulf Glass show set for September

Events

Gulf Glass ... the ‘one-stop shop for all things glass’.

WDF/Gulf Glass show set for September

01 August 2019

More than 11,000 participants are expected to meet in Dubai, UAE, next month for the fifth edition of the Windows, Doors and Facades Event (WDF) – the largest windows, doors and facades industry gathering in the Middle East this year.

Leading brands including Schuco, Gutmann, Orgadata, Elumatec, Reynaers, SaintGobain Vetrotech, Hueck, Emmegi, and MJ Metal have already confirmed their participation at the event, which runs from September 24 to 26 at the Dubai World Trade Centre.

The event comes amid industry forecasts of growing business opportunities in the Middle East for windows and facades industry professionals. The global facades market is expected to grow to $197.3 billion by 2025 from $165.3 billion in 2017, with the Middle East showing significant growth rates, thanks to a strong pipeline of new construction projects.

According to a recent MEED Projects report, the value of projects either in the planning stage or in the delivery stage is estimated at $2.7 trillion across the GCC.

“The demand for green buildings, solar technologies, and ecofriendly facades innovations for both new and retrofit projects in the Middle East is opening a wealth of opportunities to both local and international manufacturers across the glass, windows, doors and facades industries,” said Muhammed Kazi, portfolio event director at dmg events, the event organiser.

Over 300 exhibiting brands will showcase their products at WDF and the co-located Gulf Glass, the region’s largest glass event. The two exhibitions will run in parallel providing industry professionals a unique platform to source innovative products from around the world, discover the latest technologies, learn and network.

WDF will also offer a wide education agenda including free CPD (Continuing Professional Development)-certified workshops delivered by industry experts across the three days, and ‘The Future of Facades Summit’, a high-level conference inspiring change and embracing innovation, on September 24.

In 2018, WDF gathered more than 120 exhibiting companies from around the globe, attracting more than 6,600 visitors. Across the three days of the show, participants signed deals worth several million dollars and launched innovative products in the UAE market, like the voice-controlled Sageglass.

Gulf Glass, a premier biennial glass event in the Middle East, has also attracted participation from leading global names such as Saint Gobain, BDF Industries, Henry F Teichmann, Horn Glass Industries, Bucher Emhart Glass, BASF, Forma Glass, Lizmontagens, Asahi India and Godrej.

The ‘one-stop shop for all things glass’ will host suppliers of finished products, glass production technology and machinery, glass processing and finishing solutions, measurement, testing and control technology, tools, replacements and spare parts, as well as auxiliary equipment and fitting.

According to Kazi, the UAE is expected to witness major growth in the container glass segment in the coming years, and huge opportunities in the flat glass sector due to its versatile application in the construction industry.

Gulf Glass will also offer free CPD-certified workshops delivered by industry experts. The educational sessions include presentations on challenges in selecting the right glass solutions, managing the aesthetic of glass architecture, latest trends in the use of BIPV (building integrated photovoltaic) glass, energy-saving solutions for the glass industry, and advances in smart glass and smart tinting technologies, among others.

Dr Elmira Ryabova, president, CEO, CTO and founder of California-based Advenira Entreprises, will be presenting a workshop on ‘Non-metallic Solar Heat Control Coating for Automotive and Architectural Glass’.

Dr Ryabova is an industry leader with extensive experience in thin film technology, and is actively working with a number of top glass manufacturers across the world to enable affordable energy-saving window coating technology for modern architectural and automotive glass industries.

“We have developed UV (ultraviolet)- and abrasion-resistant solar heat control coating solutions for polycarbonate applications, such as sunroofs, aerospace, and railroads,” she said.

“While most of these projects are well under way in Europe and Asia, we feel that the Middle East should be our main focus area to introduce non-metallic solar heat control coatings.

“We firmly believe that the UAE and its neighbours will find our coatings extremely attractive, as there is no shortage of bright, hot sunny days throughout a year. Partnerships in the production of energy-saving windows, glass and polycarbonate to be supplied locally and globally is our primary goal,” Dr Ryabova added.

About her participation at Gulf Glass 2019, Dr Ryabova said: “We will be happy to share the accumulated knowledge and expertise in solar heat control coatings with all the attendees, and hope that our unique and proprietary SDN technology will pave the way for an environment-friendly, energy-efficient, and lower emission habitat for humankind.”

The last Gulf Glass in 2017 welcomed 5,500 participants and over 140 exhibitors from 22 countries.

Gulf Glass is supported by Glass Source (exclusive Glass Solutions Sponsor), Thomas Bell-Wright International Consultants (Testing & Certification Partner), and Advenira (Workshop Sponsor).