With more than 10,000 construction projects currently active in the GCC, the demand for glass and glass related products is booming, making Dubai the regional hub for global manufacturers to meet and do business, said experts at a key industry event in Dubai.

Gulf Glass 2017, the largest flat and container glass event in the region, opened its doors yesterday and will run until tomorrow (September 27) at the Dubai World Trade Centre. Over 140 exhibiting brands from 27 countries are taking part in it.

It is co-located with FM Expo, The Big 5 Outdoor Design & Build Show and Windows, Doors & Facades Event, where educational sessions and free to attend CPD-certified workshops by acclaimed experts offer valuable insights to attending industry professionals.

German exhibitor Jan Ziesak, the sales director of Cerion Laser, said: "Just look outside: it’s full of facades and glass everywhere, which we can process and decorate; there are immense opportunities here."

The company has sold its first glass processing machinery in Saudi Arabia four months ago, and predicts the UAE market to soon become a major one for the international glass business.

"Bringing the latest in laser technology to process glass with both surface marks and subsurface engraving, Cerion Laser promises low production costs and unprecedented opportunities for decorative glass that the outdated sandblasting techniques cannot provide. “Glass is the new artwork for interior design and building materials," stated Ziesak.

Indeed, today a wide range of glass solutions are being used by architects and interior designers in the region.

“From shower products with decorative or satin glass, to anti-slip floor products, to the latest satin mirrors,” Turkish exhibitor Yourglas is exporting its entire range of glass solutions to the UAE.,

"We export in 55 countries, from Canada to New Zealand, but the Gulf region is a special market for us, where we have many ongoing projects and clients," said Alkim Tatli, the sales and marketing manager of the company.

Chinese exhibitor, SGU Glass Technologies Company, said the UAE and GCC markets were doing great, and there was a lot of potential in the region.

"That’s why we brought our machines to Gulf Glass, which actually attracted big crowds to our stand," remarked  company representative Jennifer Xun.

The 2.5m wide and 3.6 m long glass grinding machine on display is one of the many products SGU Glass Technologies is exporting to UAE based glass processing companies, which then supply glass to the contractors in the construction sector, she revealed.

More than just a decorative solution for the building and interior design industries, however, glass is a major packaging material that is also 100 per cent recyclable.

At Gulf Glass, Technical Supplies and Services Company (TSSC) is presenting its new range of PEL Bottle Crushers and the first national closed-loop glass bottle recycling programme.

"When empty bottles are returned to the bar or service area, they can be easily inserted into the bottle crusher instead of being thrown into waste bins to be managed at a later stage, stated its brand manager, Erickson Daiz.

"Empty glass bottle waste should be recognised as a valuable recyclable commodity," he added.  

Talking about how the innovation enables highly functioning glass construction and assembly, Markus Plettau, the regional market leader EMEA Dow Performance Silicones, will deliver a presentation on the last day of the show tomorrow (September 27), assessing the latest trends in modern architectural designs with invisible bonding.

Gulf Glass is a major event for all things glass: it hosts suppliers of finished products, glass production technology and machinery, glass processing & finishing solutions, measurement, testing & control technology, tools, replacements and spare parts, as well as auxiliary equipment and fitting.-TradeArabia News Service