Seminar Program Opens Glass Expo Northeast™ 2009
March 25, 2009

Glass Expo Northeast™ 2009 opened this morning at the Hyatt Regency Long Island Wind Watch Hotel & Golf Club, Long Island (Hauppauge), N.Y. Attendees traveled from all across the northeastern United States to take part in the event, which includes a seminar program and a sold-out trade show.

Today's architectural seminar track featured a number of presenters focusing on timely industry topics.

USGlass columnist and USGNN.com blogger Paul Bieber, who has 30 years in the glass industry, including nine years with C.R. Laurence Co. Inc., and 21 years as the executive vice president of Floral Glass, lead the seminar titled "How A Glass Company Can Survive In The Tough Economy." Bieber talked about how to purchase high-quality glass at better rates and receive it quickly. He also discussed how companies can protect their businesses from price changes.

Deb Levy, publisher of USGlass magazine, presented "Made in China: Competition in the Glass Industry." As Levy explained, members of the glass industry have long feared that recalls of Chinese products might be headed toward the architectural glass industry. This year, it happened; in the last several months two recalls have been issued for replacement glass that was manufactured in China. Her seminar explored how to handle recalls such as these.

In addition, Bob Price of J.E. Berkowitz moderated a panel discussion on the state of the contract glazing industry. Panelists were Mike Nicklas, J.E. Berkowitz, Tom Minnon and Mark Richard, both with YKK AP, and Steven Brenner, General Glass International. The session focused on the ever-changing world of the contract glazier and some ways that the industry is evolving.

For today's final presentation, Tom Minnon, northern regional sales manager for YKK AP, talked about hurricane glazing. Points he covered included what companies need to know before bidding on a project that requires impact-resistant glazing, as well as impact-resistant glazing requirements such as applications that mandate these products, product testing; shop drawings and engineering calculations; and many others.

Following the presentations, the trade show was open to all attendees. A welcoming cocktail reception, sponsored by the Long Island Glass Association and USGlass magazine, will take place on the show floor at 6:30 this evening.

The show floor is open tomorrow from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Seminars begin tomorrow morning at 8 a.m.

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