Introduction
The GlassTrend organisation is a consortium of worldwide operating industries and institutes working in the field of glass and glass production. The name GlassTrend is an acronym of Glass Technology Research & New Developments and the association aims to co-ordinate research and development activities to improve the competitive strength of glass industries, its suppliers and customers.
The purpose of GlassTrend is to identify the needs and requirements for improved and innovative production technologies for the whole glass industry in the broadest sense and to define and coordinate research and development activities which fulfil these requirements.
Glass Trend strives to make basic/fundamental knowledge related to glass science and glass technology accessible for the industries and to derive from this basic knowledge, innovative technologies applicable in industry and to find practical & feasible solutions for production & glass quality problems.
Main topics of interest : Glass Melting and Furnace Technology, Application & Glass Processing.
GlassTrend was founded in the summer of 2001. The membership is currently 46 companies (2016). Amongst these members are the world’s main glass industries, producing domestic glass, container glass, flat glass, speciality glasses, fibre glasses and insulation wool; plus suppliers of raw materials, refractory materials and industrial gases; research and technology groups and glass furnace design/engineering companies. Each member company is represented in the GlassTrend Council.
The annual membership fee is 4000 EURO/year per company (2016).
The GlassTrend organization has a budget of approximately 180 KEuro/year for organizing workshops or seminars such as 2-days topical workshops twice or three times per year. Some seminars or conferences are organized with other established organizations, such as the German Glass Society (DGG), International Commission on Glass, Association of Italian Glass Technologists (ATIV), Glass Manufacturing Industry Council in USA (GMIC).
The GlassTrend member companies are represented in the Council, which meets 2 times a year. The Council determines the focus of subjects, activities and events, such as the annual agenda of seminars, conferences, courses and selection of R&D projects. The GlassTrend Council members are asked to complete questionnaires each 3 years to investigate the needs for R&D and topics for seminars and education.
The Council Meetings are prepared by two boards: the General Managing Board and the Advisory Board.
Managing board
General Managing Board
Tasks: proposal of annual program of events, determining the annual membership fee, prepare new activities of Glass Trend, establishing up-to-date constitution rules.
Advisory Board
Tasks: Develop & determine the program of seminars, selection & reviewing papers, new subjects for R&D, study tours, organizing inquiries.
General Managing Board
Advisory Board