Guardian Steps into Interior Glass with Launch of New Market Segment
June 14, 2011

With the launch of its new InGlass segment, Guardian is providing a portfolio of interior glass options, including colors, patterns and textures.

NeoCon, which is underway at the Merchandise Mart in Chicago, isn't a venue where you'd typically find a primary glass manufacturer exhibiting. Guardian Industries, however, chose the venue to debut its new InGlass business segment, created to provide the design community with a complete package of tools and products for their interior projects-using glass. From backpainted and patterned glass, to their new line of Berman Glass editions, Guardian is taking a strong step toward reaching the interior design community.

The company says InGlass brings together Guardian's entire interior product line to allow designers and others the opportunity to experience the variety of glass in one place. The portfolio allows interior designers to choose from a variety of interior glass options that can not only make a design statement, but also offer performance characteristics, such as comfort, safety, energy conservation, reduced maintenance and more.

Diane Turnwall, market segment director of interiors for Guardian, said the launch saw a lot of interest from those attending NeoCon.

"This is the first time we've packaged everything together," explained Turnwall. "And the response so far has been really positive."

Also part of the InGlass segment, Guardian announced its new partnership with Joel Berman Glass Studios, through which it will be producing the Berman Glass editions line of glass textures. The partnership was created as a way to bring the glass textures to interior designers, products and glass systems manufacturers, as well as glass shops as a quick ship/"ready-to-wear" program. Guardian will produce these Berman Glass editions at its Richburg, S.C., float glass plant.

Joel Berman is excited about the partnership and said since his company is small, working with a large company, such as Guardian, will help make their glass accessible on a wide basis.

Some of the benefits Berman noted are that the glass is readily available, well priced, well made and high-quality.

"Plus, Guardian's distribution model is something we could never do on our own," said Berman. "This is a wonderful collaboration."

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