GlassBuild America 2025
The future of glass and fenestration is built here
GlassBuild America: The Glass, Window & Door Expo, the biggest glass industry trade show in North America, will welcome 550 exhibitors Nov. 4-6 in Orlando, Florida, this year. Housed in the South-North Exhibit halls of the Orange County Convention Center, visitors will be able to peruse hundreds of products in over 230,000 square feet of space.
GlassBuild at a Glance
- 571 total exhibitors
- 234,900 square-foot show floor
- 163 international exhibitors
- 114 first-time exhibitors
A New Location for GlassBuild, and a New President and CEO for the National Glass Association
As exhibitors and attendees gear up for the new location in Orlando, Lakisha A. Woods, the new president and CEO of the National Glass Association, is also looking forward to seeing her first GlassBuild. “I’m really eager to get my feet on the ground, walk the aisles and meet our customers and attendees and hear what they think,” says Woods in an interview with Katy Devlin, vice president of content and programming for the NGA.
Other industry leaders are looking to leverage the new location to find a new market or to connect with existing customers more easily.
“The Florida market is massive, and I’m looking forward to meeting local companies that haven’t made the traditional pilgrimage to Atlanta or Vegas,” says Andrew Haring, chief marketing officer, Frameless Hardware Co.
“Hosting GlassBuild in Orlando this year is a great opportunity to gain new perspectives from East Coast customers,” says Crista Tekstra, vice president of marketing, CRL. “GlassBuild is all about the people. We love to make new connections and meet old friends. We also learn a lot, always finding new ways to better service our customers.”
“We are really looking forward to another fresh atmosphere for the show,” says David Harris, product manager, American Renolit.
“It’s energizing to be part of an event where the full value chain—from material suppliers to finished product manufacturers—come together to exchange ideas and drive the industry forward,” says Derek Fielding, vice president of strategic marketing and business development, ODL Inc.
Tariffs create uncertain economic environment
Ahead of the show, leading fenestration companies named uncertainty in the economic landscape as a major challenge for the larger industry.
“One of the biggest challenges in the overall market remains the uncertainty everyone is experiencing. Lots of things are pulling on consumer confidence and that leads to more uncertainty,” says American Renolit’s Harris.
Mike Biffl, vice president of sales and marketing for Sturtz Machinery Inc., says that uncertainty around costs, direct and indirect, has caused challenges across many industries, at least partly due to the tariffs implemented this year, which “has an impact on window fabricators’ ability to plan accurately for costs of raw materials, equipment and general facilities requirements. This has slowed investments and stalled projects while companies waited for some level of certainty for at least the next year.”
“The last couple of years have been a challenge with interest rates, rising costs and a general feeling of uncertainty leading to a flat housing market,” says Steve Lang, executive vice president and CFO, GED Integrated Solutions. However, he does see improvement on the horizon. “With tariffs beginning to be resolved, prospects of future interest rate reductions, along with the recently passed One Big Beautiful Bill Act, we see some rising optimism in the industry. The opportunity to immediately deduct your CapEx purchase for tax purposes should help motivate the industry to continue to invest in their production capabilities.”
Manufacturers continue to automate
Many industry leaders say they see a continued trend toward automation in fenestration manufacturing, for a variety of reasons.
Marco Patermann of Continental says that an uptick in retrofit is partly driving demand for automated solutions. “A lot of the windows installed in the 1970s and 1980s are now up for replacement and thus there is a need again for more architectural shapes, especially in the replacement market,” he says.
“We’ve noticed a trend in automatization for the manufacturing of architectural shaped windows, as the demand for fully automatic profile bending equipment is increasing.”
Lack of labor also continues to increase adoption of automation, says Sturtz’s Biffl. “An unstable workforce in many parts of the country has led to more window manufacturers seeking ways to maintain or grow production without increasing head count,” he says. “Moving away from old, manual equipment to the latest technology and automation is how many companies are dealing with the current labor market.”
Speaking to fenestration solutions, ODL’s Fielding says that they’ve seen increased demand for multifunctionality. “One of the biggest shifts we’re seeing is a growing expectation that products must perform well on multiple fronts,” he says. “It’s not enough to deliver in just one category. Whether it’s energy efficiency, privacy, code compliance, aesthetics or ease of use, buyers are looking for solutions that do more without compromise.”
Carrie Scheetz of Quanex also says that energy efficiency continues to shape fenestration trends. “Energy efficiency is still on top of the list with building codes pushing for more sustainable construction. Triple-pane insulating glass and thin-glass triples are still at the forefront.”
Innovation from Every Angle
Beyond finding solutions on the show floor, attendees and exhibitors can once again enjoy insights for every segment of the industry at GlassBuild. From Main Stage programming and podcast interviews to a hands-on skills challenge, GlassBuild 2025 is the place to find new ideas for your business.
Get educated at the Main Stage
The GlassBuild America Main Stage will host three days of industry insights, networking and industry celebration, conveniently located on the show floor at Booth #27108. Open to all attendees, this dynamic hub is presented by the National Glass Association and sponsored by MyGlassClass.com, Glass Magazine and Window + Door. Programming spans the full spectrum of the glass and fenestration industry, with sessions for glaziers, fabricators, suppliers, architects and more.
Preview some standout sessions below and check out the full schedule for up-to-date programming.
Blueprint for Collaboration Breakfast: Celebrate the 2025 Glass Magazine Awards | Nov. 4. All are welcome to celebrate the 2025 Glass Magazine Award winners during a breakfast and award presentation at the GlassBuild Main Stage. As part of the Blueprint for Collaboration program for architects, the award presentation will offer insights on the projects and products that push the envelope of what glass and glazing can do. Hear about the glass and glazing innovations that provide performance and aesthetic solutions required by architects and owners. Meet the project team winners and see what’s possible with glass.
Industry Forecast | Nov. 4. Get expert insights on market trends and economic outlooks from Connor Lokar of ITR Economics.
People + Profits | Nov. 4–5. Learn how to build safer, more profitable businesses with actionable strategies tailored to today’s challenges.
Family Business Breakfast | Nov. 5. Family businesses come together for a networking breakfast followed by a special Main Stage session about exit planning and succession in family-run companies from experts at Beacon Exit Planning.
Window & Door Industry Update | Nov. 5. Join Chris Beard of John Burns Research and Consulting for a deep dive into the current conditions and temperature of the window and door market. Featuring data from the Window & Door Market Survey, an exclusive partnership with JBREC and Window + Door and the NGA, Beard will share current market conditions, analyze year-over-year data and trends, and share where the residential fenestration industry has been and where it’s likely to go.
Women in Glass + Fenestration | Nov. 6. A powerful morning of mentorship, networking and inspiration hosted by Stefanie Couch of Grit Blueprint, featuring breakfast, speakers and facilitated networking focused on mentorship and building connections. The event is open to all.
Test your skills on the show floor
Attendees will have the opportunity to participate in the IG Fabrication Challenge, hosted by the Fenestration and Glazing Industry Alliance. Modeled after the IG Fabricators Workshop, which addresses best practices for fabricating and testing insulating glass units, the challenge will focus on ensuring proper sealant mix and identifying flaws in insulating glass units.
Attendees will be eligible to win a Free Fundamentals of Insulating Glass online education package.
Window Cast and Glass Cast host sessions on the LIVE! At GlassBuild: Podcast Stage
The official podcasts of GlassBuild, Window Cast and Glass Cast will again record live from the show floor on the LIVE! At GlassBuild: Podcast Stage. Window + Door and Glass Magazine’s editorial staff will welcome leading glass and fenestration leaders to discuss the latest trends and industry news, as well as share their thoughts on the larger economic and business landscapes ahead.
Discover solutions at the Industry Pavilion
GlassBuild association sponsors, the National Glass Association and the Fenestration and Glazing Industry Alliance, will offer solutions members need at the Industry Pavilion, Booth #27096.
Visitors can ask NGA staff about its advocacy efforts and technical knowledge and resources. Booth visitors can also find insights on NGA’s industry-specific education opportunities for the current and future workforce through MyGlassClass.com—a collection of three different training paths for glass installers, fabricator personnel and glazier apprentices.
FGIA returns as association sponsor of this year’s GlassBuild, joining NGA in the Industry Pavilion. This year, FGIA will also participate in the new GlassBuild Skills Challenge. Their technical experts will test participants’ knowledge to help them offer better installations and insulating glass products.
Finish in the Fast Lane at the GlassBuild After-Party
After walking the show floor, finding leads, scoping out solutions and attending learning sessions, GlassBuild welcomes exhibitors and attendees alike to finish the race at the “GlassBuild-in-the-Fast-Lane” After-Party as the show accelerates toward a return to Las Vegas in 2026. Food, drinks and fun will be on hand for this gathering at the end of the third day of the show. Registration is required, and ticket proceeds go to the NGA Foundation.
