Glass & Glass Product Manufacturers
Industry Profile Report
Dive Deep into the industry with a 25+ page industry report (pdf format) including the following chapters
Industry Overview Industry Structure, How Firms Opertate, Industry Trends, Credit Underwriting & Risks, and Industry Forecast.
Call Preparation Quarterly Insight, Call Prep Questions, Industry Terms, and Weblinks.
Financial Insights Working Capital, Capital Financing, Business Valuation, and Financial Benchmarks.
Industry Profile Excerpts
Industry Overview
The 1,400 glass manufacturers in the US produce glass products, including flat glass, containers, glassware, housewares, and specialty glass, and process glass via coating, laminating, tempering, and shaping to give the glass specified or regulated properties. The industry is concentrated with the 20 largest firms controlling 65% of revenue.
Volatile Energy Costs
Fluctuations in the price of natural gas and other fuels can have a significant impact on the glass industry’s operating costs.
Recycled Raw Materials
Manufacturers can use cullet (recycled glass) to make new glass products while reducing their energy costs and emissions.
Industry size & Structure
The average glass and glass product manufacturer employs 46-47 workers and generates $19 million annually.
- The average flat glass manufacturer operates out of a single location, employs about 92 workers, and generates about $43 million annually.
- The average manufacturer of other blown or pressed glass operates out of a single location, employs about 32 workers, and generates $9 million annually.
- The average container manufacturer operates out of 1-2 locations, employs about 183 workers, and generates about $121 million annually.
- The glass manufacturing industry consists of about 1,400 firms that employ about 78,800 workers and generate about $27.6 billion annually.
- The industry is concentrated with the 20 largest firms controlling 65% of revenue.
- About 63% of establishments have fewer than 20 employees.
- Large US companies include Owens-Illinois, Owens Corning, Libbey, Anchor Hocking, Apogee, and American Fiber Green Products.
Industry Forecast
Glass & Glass Product Manufacturers Industry Growth
Coronavirus Update
Apr 26, 2022 - Incentivizing Bird-Friendly Glass
- Legislation pending in the US Senate would require the Federal General Services Administration (GSA) to incorporate relevant features and strategies to reduce bird fatalities into newly constructed, acquired, or substantially altered public buildings. The bill, S. 791, known as The Federal Bird Safe Buildings Act, also mandates that GSA develop a related design guide and annually certify its use. A billion birds a year are estimated to be killed by collisions with buildings. Passage of the bill would result in the promotion of high-performance glazing solutions to mitigate bird collisions.
- The war in Ukraine is impacting the global glass supply and US manufacturers with operations in Russia and Ukraine. Europe, in particular, is feeling the pinch. Europe’s glass supply originates from four or five big producers, one of which has several factories in Ukraine. Rising materials costs, supply chain issues, strain on the glass supply from production of glass vials for COVID vaccines, and increasing demand for glass as a substitute for plastic bottles have created a dramatic shortage on the global level, according to Euronews. Citing sanctions against Russia, US-based Guardian Glass in April 2022 announced it will close two glass plants there.
- Glass manufacturers added capacity in 2021 and are planning expansion and investment in 2022, according to an annual survey by the National Glass Association and GANA. In 2021, firms primarily added capacity by purchasing capital equipment (81% of respondents), launching new product lines (41%), adding facilities (16%), and acquiring other firms (3%). In 2022, fewer firms plan to invest in capital equipment (71%), but more expect to launch new product lines (50%), add locations (24%), and make acquisitions (12%).
- Firms are making use of technology to improve operations. 68% of firms surveyed by the National Glass Association and GANA reported automating some part of their manufacturing process in 2021 and 79% used more software for plant optimization. A majority of firms plan to automate process in 2022 and use more software. Labor shortages coupled with high demand are forcing glass manufacturers to increase efficiency via technology in order to fulfill orders.
- The glass container manufacturing segment of the industry is struggling to keep up with demand for bottles. Factors creating the situation include greater consumption of alcoholic beverages, diversion of materials for vaccine vial production, labor shortages, and a relatively-low glass recycling rate of 31%. US manufacturers are not able to fully supply customers and imports of glass bottles are encountering delays at bottlenecked ports here and abroad. Some customers are looking for alternatives to glass, such as plastic pouches, which could impact long-term demand if customers stay with lightweight, flexible pouches. Aluminum cans are also in short supply.
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