01 October 2005

Austria–based Lisec – known to be the world’s largest manufacturer of equipment for the architectural glass processing industry – has played a crucial role in helping the Middle East gain its status as a frontrunner in the glass industry.

“The first insulating glass factories in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait were supplied by Lisec in 1983, when we first entered the Middle East market,” said managing director Karl Gartner. “This was followed by our first supplies to the UAE in 1990. Today, there are more than 150 glass processing facilities backed by Lisec to support the enormous growth in the region.” The increasing number of Lisec – supplied factories offered international companies locally – produced insulating glass in a region where it was hitherto imported. The Middle East is now the frontrunner in the glass industry and some of the latest developments introduced worldwide were launched first in the region – innovations produced by the local market with the support of companies like Lisec,” Gartner claims.
Gartner continues: “Unlike in the past when glass presented a number of limitations to be the designing skills and creativity of architects, in recent years, glass has proved to be the key element in the design of more creative and challenging structures as is apparent in the number of architectural marvels such as the Burj Dubai and other projects that the Middle East now boasts.
“The requirements for intricately-designed shaped glass for the new Dubai International Airport were met by Lisec’s newly–developed state-of-the-art water-jet processing centre that can process glass shapes quickly and efficiently. This is thanks to the fact that Lisec continues to make substantial investment in research and development (R&D) to develop new technologies to support sophisticated architecture and the high demands from the glass industry. Its R&D expenditure for 2004 was 12 million Euros ($14.6 million).” says general manager Philip Soares. Founded in 1961 in Hausmening, Austria, Lisec has grown to become the leading international manufacturer of equipment for the architectural glass processing industry. “The company’s vision is focused on developing new concepts and technologies to handle complex glass types effectively,” continues Soares. “As a pioneer in the insulating glass industry, Lisec targets energy efficiency in modern building design which is a crucial issue worldwide.”
The development of insulating glass during the first oil crisis in 1973 proved to be major breakthrough for the glass industry, resulting in the widespread use of the product and hence a proliferation of glass processing industries. Lisec has catered to glass processing projects in more than 90 countries worldwide, supported by 54 offices and integrated service networks.
The small Dubai representation facility it set up in 1990 grew to become Lisec’s regional office (Lisec Middle East Limited Fze) in 1999 and is located at the Dubai Airport Free Zone.
“Apart from selling machines and imparting technical know-how and training, our primary goal is to be in close proximity to our clients and strengthen local service local service,” says Soares. “At the centre, 34 Lisec employees guarantee efficient support, and on-time service with an in depth knowledge in electronics, electrical and mechanical engineering. Lisec also runs a spare parts distribution centre with a multi-million-dollar spare parts stock. Individual machines such as silicone bonding machines are stored locally to be able to cater to the high demand and eliminate waiting periods.”`
Lisec’s glass-industry focused software development centre in Dubai develops software products for production, order control and online service via satellite, which are successfully utilized worldwide and extensively in the Middle East.
“Lisec Middle East has proved to be the most successful satellite office in the Lisec group and expansion plans are under way to accommodate and service the high demands and expectations of the region,” Gartner concludes.

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