USGlass Magazine•February 09, 2026•1 min read
SAFTI First added representative firm Forefront Facades to its network of sales agents, covering Alaska, Montana, Oregon and Washington. Forefront Facades also represents Oldcastle BuildingEnvelope/CRL, Keith Panel Systems, Boston Valley Terra Cotta, McGill Architectural Products and LTS Drafting and Engineering.
Forefront Facades principal Evan Maros has more than 17 years of experience in commercial construction. He began his career with a Seattle-based building envelope contractor, starting as an installer in roofing, below-grade waterproofing and architectural façade systems. In 2014, he transitioned into architectural building products as a manufacturer’s representative, joining his father’s firm and focusing on Division 7 and Division 8 solutions.
“SAFTI First is fortunate to add representation of the caliber of Evan and Michael Maros,” says Tim Nass, vice president of sales. “They bring a level of professionalism and expertise in fenestration that is expected of a representative. I look forward to seeing them develop the Pacific Northwest markets in 2026 and beyond. This is a big addition for our organization.”

USGlass Magazine1 min readSAFTI First added representative firm Forefront Facades to its network of sales agents, covering Alaska, Montana, Oregon and Washington. Forefront Facades also represents Oldcastle BuildingEnvelope/CRL, Keith Panel Systems, Boston Valley Terra Cotta, McGill Architectural Products and LTS Drafting and Engineering. Forefront Facades principal Evan Maros has more than 17 years of experience in commercial construction. He began his career with a Seattle-based building envelope contractor, starting as an installer in roofing, below-grade waterproofing and architectural façade systems. In 2014, he transitioned into architectural building products as a manufacturer’s representative, joining his father’s firm and focusing on Division 7 and Division 8 solutions. “SAFTI First is fortunate to add representation of the caliber of Evan and Michael Maros,” says Tim Nass, vice president of sales. “They bring a level of professionalism and expertise in fenestration that is expected of a representative


USGlass Magazine1 min readFrameless Hardware Company (FHC) has officially opened its Northeast Super Center in Teterboro, New Jersey. FHC officials say the 120,000-square-foot, LEED-certified facility represents a transformative expansion of the company’s national footprint, and a new resource for fabricators, glaziers and architectural partners throughout the Northeast. The complex was built to handle high volume and offer visitors a hands-on experience. “This facility changes what customers in the Northeast can expect from a supplier,” says George Principe, Super Center manager. “This isn’t just a warehouse, it’s a full-service hub designed around speed, support and accessibility. From express order pickups to project consultations, we’ve built this location to help our customers move faster, win more work and feel truly supported locally.” The Teterboro Super Center features a customer will-call center, 20 shipping and receiving docks for high-throughput order fulfillment, an architectural showroom, dedicate


USGlass Magazine1 min readHorton Automatics, a division of Overhead Door Corp., acquired Indiana-based Your Automatic Door Company (YADC), a specialist in the service and installation of automatic door products. The move expands Horton’s direct service footprint in Indiana. YADC will continue to operate under its existing name. It is a woman-owned, family-run business founded in 2014. “We are pleased to welcome the YADC team into the Overhead Door family as we expand our direct operations footprint,” says Kelly Terry, president and CEO of Overhead Door. “YADC’s high level of customer service and strong market presence provide Horton a platform for growth.” Overhead Door, based in Lewisville, Texas, provides door and access solutions for residential, commercial, institutional and industrial applications. It is a subsidiary of Sanwa Holdings Corp. of Tokyo.


USGlass Magazine2 min readHigh-rise glass buildings pose immense dangers to birds. In the United States alone, up to 2 billion birds are killed yearly due to collisions with glass, according to the . To reduce those numbers, the glass industry has fabricated specialized architectural glass and has worked with regulators to produce guides and standards. This includes the addition of “ ” in ASHRAE 189.1 and the International Green Construction Code. The addendum was approved by ASHRAE and the American National Standards Institute on Jan. 30, 2026. It introduces a new bird-friendly design requirement for building facades to promote uniformity around glazing requirements. It is written as a jurisdictional option to fit a region’s particular environment. “Research on bird-friendly glazing for collision prevention has guided the development of bird-friendly building design,” reads the addendum’s forward. “Creating visual markers on the glass at a specific spacing and geometry to interrupt reflections and transparency


USGlass Magazine1 min readThe Detroit Metro Airport received new security measures two weeks after a driver crashed through a glass door at McNamara Terminal and hit a Delta ticket counter. Video shows the vehicle turn right and speed toward the departure terminal abruptly, crashing through a set of glass doors and slamming into the ticket counter. Six people were injured, and the driver was arrested. The incident prompted a review of safety measures. Those measures include the installation of dozens of 9,000-pound concrete barricades. “I’ve been with the airport for 27 years, and what occurred on January 23 at the McNamara Terminal is unprecedented,” says Wayne County Airport Authority CEO Chad Newton in a statement following the incident. “It has definitely changed our security posture.” Newton notes that the terminal featured design elements aimed to prevent a crash, but they “turned out to be inadequate to stop the car.”


USGlass Magazine1 min readTim Bushaw was named CEO of LiteSentry, Softsolution and Strainoptics. He is tasked with leading operations in the United States and Europe. Company officials say Bushaw brings 25 years of experience leading teams in industrial automation. Throughout his career, he has worked with manufacturers to better understand how they use inspection and process-control systems on production floors and use those insights to improve products and services. “Tim’s experience in automation and his focus on customer partnership align with our mission,” says company president Gary DiDio. “He understands what fabricators need: systems that deliver value, support they can count on and partners who know their business.” Officials say that Bushaw will focus on three areas in his new role: customer partnerships, product and technical leadership, operations and service. LiteSentry, Softsolution and Strainoptics develop inspection systems for the glass industry, including distortion measurement, surface and an


USGlass Magazine2 min readGlass Expos™ continue to bring high-quality trade shows, educational seminars and technical conferences directly to regional markets across the country. By hosting events close to home, Glass Expos make it easier than ever for glass and glazing professionals to stay informed, connected and competitive without the need for extensive travel. Two major events are scheduled for 2026, offering targeted education, valuable networking and access to leading suppliers serving multiple segments of the glass industry. Registration is now open for the Tri-State area’s premier event for glass professionals as Glass Expo Northeast™ celebrates 30 years of bringing the industry together. Attendees are invited to join hundreds of industry peers for two days of in-depth educational sessions, meaningful networking opportunities and a dynamic exhibit floor. Over leading suppliers and manufacturers will be on site showcasing the latest products, technologies and services designed to support today’s glass p


Retrofit Magazine2 min read, a manufacturer of electrical, lighting, data network and energy management solutions that light, power and connect everyday spaces, is celebrating the 120th anniversary of its founding this year. Established in 1906, Leviton began as a small tinsmithing business founded by Isidor Leviton, where he produced mantle tips used for gas lighting. Since those humble beginnings, Leviton has grown from a single-product manufacturer into a global leader delivering comprehensive solutions across electrical wiring devices, lighting and controls, data networking and energy management. Today, Leviton products are found in homes, commercial spaces such as offices and healthcare facilities, data centers, schools, industrial environments and more – supporting safe, reliable, and increasingly connected spaces. “For 120 years, Leviton has been guided by a clear vision – to transform potential into possibility. From electrifying homes in the early 1900s to enabling today’s data-driven world, our journey


The Surface Design Awards 2026 promises to once again uncover and celebrate the very best in design excellence, offering a global platform for groundbreaking projects and product design. The 2026 awards underwent a refresh, introducing a new process that saw a panel of distinguished judges, each selected for their specialist knowledge and expertise, evaluate entries across ten updated categories. These updated categories were devised to reflect the most innovative projects and products that improve how designers approach materiality. The esteemed judging panel brought together respected voices in the design industry including Muyiwa Oki – President RIBA, Tina Norden – Principal at Conran & Partners, Arthur Mamou-Mani – Director of Mamou-Mani, Seetal Solanki- Founder and Director of Ma-tt-er, Barbara Chandler- Founder of Green Grads, Oscar Pearce- Co-Founder of Design Burger, Michael Grubb- Founder of Michael Grubb Studio and Tim Bowder-Ridger- Principle and Partner at Conran and Pa


USGlass Magazine3 min readA bankruptcy bid by a defunct glass company to avoid paying the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT) Pension Plan around $1.6 million was rejected by a United States Court of Appeals Fourth Circuit panel. According to Judge James Harvie Wilkinson III, Florida Glass of Tampa Bay Inc., which dissolved in 2017, sought to “use a quirk of bankruptcy law to avoid paying what it owes [to] a multi-employer pension plan.” IUPAT initially filed the lawsuit in 2023 after it sent a formal notice and demand in 2022 for $1.577 million of withdrawal liability. IUPAT’s pension fund is a multiemployer pension plan regulated by ERISA and the Multiemployer Pension Plan Amendments Act of 1980 (MPPAA). While Florida Glass did not fight the amount, it argued that the suit was filed too late, extending past the six-year statute of limitations after IUPAT’s pension fund filed a claim in 2016. A lower court previously rejected Florida Glass’ statute of limitations defense. The Fourth Circu


USGlass Magazine1 min readGlass Expo Hawaii (GEH) ’26 is underway. The event, which returns after two decades, officially opened its doors on Wednesday with tours of local businesses, a pre-session glass workshop, optional sightseeing tours and a luau dinner. The show ramps up on Thursday with multiple geared toward architectural and auto glass professionals. The trade show opens as well, culminating in a cocktail party in the afternoon. GEH runs until Friday. lass magazine and USGNN subscribers can receive free admission to the seminars and the show floor by registering onsite or online with the registration code . Fees will still apply for optional events. See the for complete details. Parking for day visitors (not staying overnight) is free and can be validated at the GEH registration desk.


USGlass Magazine1 min readThe abstract deadline for the 2026 World Congress has been extended to March 1. The event will take place Sept. 28 – Oct. 2, 2026, at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh. According to Façade Tectonics Institute (FTI) officials, abstracts can address various façade-related themes, including façade design, engineering, modeling, systems and innovation, glass and glazing, sustainability, resilience and more. FTI’s Peer Review Committee evaluates all abstracts and determines which are accepted for paper submissions. Submissions will also undergo a two-stage blind peer-review process by the FTI’s Scientific, Technical and Artistic Review Committee, composed of more than 100 industry and academic leaders. Submissions must be 350 words or fewer, and one image is allowed. At least one author per accepted paper must register and pay the discounted author registration fee. FTI membership is required to submit. Presentations will be delivered live in person at the World Congress. Click to le


USGlass Magazine1 min readFreMarq Innovations announced a partnership with Alpen to assist Alpen’s thin glass technology within FreMarq’s Zero•Net curtainwall framing systems. According to FreMarq officials, the combined technologies support up to R-10-level whole-assembly performance. Officials explain that the center-of-glass performance assumptions often fail to reflect how glass performs once installed in a frame, while high performance is frequently viewed as requiring premium systems. As part of the partnership, FreMarq and Alpen aim to improve whole-assembly performance and help energy savings, comfort and return on investment expectations. “High-performance glass delivers its full value only when the frame performs at the same level,” says Renea Frederick, FreMarq president. “By pairing Alpen’s thin glass technology with Zero•Net framing, we improve the performance of the glass at the assembly level. That alignment allows projects to achieve meaningful thermal results and do so at a cost that challenges


Retrofit Magazine3 min read’s annual National Sales Seminar, held Jan. 18 through 20 at Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center in Nashville, Tenn., welcomed more than 2,000 guests representing more than 300 authorized Duro-Last roofing contractor companies. The highly anticipated event was packed with educational sessions, networking, company news and product announcements. Many contractors were also celebrated for their outstanding work and accomplishments throughout 2025. “The energy surrounding the National Sales Seminar is always something special,” said Duro-Last President Darren Schulz. “This year’s event in Nashville gave us the perfect setting to celebrate the World’s Best Roofers and share a look at the exciting innovations our teams are bringing to the industry in 2026. The spirit of creativity across Duro-Last continues to grow, and it was powerful to see contractors respond to the forward-thinking solutions that will help advance commercial roofing in the years ahead.” Duro-Last’s 2025 Contr


USGlass Magazine1 min readThe Fenestration and Glazing Industry Alliance (FGIA) released an updated specification offering guidelines intended to identify design considerations when designing multiple-cavity insulating glass units (IGU). The specification also covers the evaluation of the manufacturing process, as well as addressing the quality requirements of the sealed space of a multiple-cavity IGU. , “Design Considerations for Multiple-Cavity Insulating Glass Units,” was last updated in 2013. The document aims to guide the design, fabrication and use of multiple-cavity IGUs within the fenestration industry. “Demand for increasing energy-efficient fenestration products continues to rise,” says Amy Becker, FGIA glass products specialist and staff liaison for the Design Considerations for Multiple Cavity IGUs Task Group. “One method for addressing this demand is by increasing the number of cavities in an IGU. This method, while effective, can create new challenges. These guidelines are therefore intended to as


USGlass Magazine1 min readVietnam’s Ministry of Industry and Trade will place temporary anti-dumping duties on some colorless float glass products from Indonesia and Malaysia. Ministry officials say that an investigation into dumped imported goods from Indonesia and Malaysia found that the illegal imports have caused significant and evident damage to Vietnam’s glass industry. They note that the volume of imports of the dumped goods has increased by more than 61.8% year-on-year, even after the investigation started. As a result of the findings, the Ministry will apply provisional anti-dumping measures to prevent the rapid increase in imports of colorless float glass from Indonesia and Malaysia. Those measures include anti-dumping duty rates ranging from 15.2% to 63.4%. reports that the tariffs are expected to begin on February 13 and will be in place for 120 days.


USGlass Magazine1 min readDarryl Bradshaw has joined Accura Systems Inc. as a senior estimator. Bradshaw has been an estimator for Vistawall and Oldcastle BuildingEnvelope Inc. (OBE acquired Vistawall in 2007), where he estimated major projects, including custom-installed skylights “In 1984, a young draftsman walked into my office at Vistawall with a stack of die drawings from Western Extrusion,” says Mike Rubner, Accura president. “He asked, ‘What do you all do here?’ That simple question was the beginning of a long and successful career. He worked ‘on the board’ as a draftsman until 1985, when he moved into CAD. He was quite talented at design and worked his way into a sales and estimating role until about 1991, when he learned to estimate. I couldn’t be happier that he once again asked me, ‘What do you all do here?’ and I said, ‘custom unitized curtainwall. Welcome aboard.’ We at Accura are fortunate to have Bradshaw join our team.”


USGlass Magazine2 min readBPL Enclosure and Seal Building Enclosure are merging. Officials say the move aims to strengthen both building enclosure organizations by expanding technical expertise, geographic reach and overall capacity. The combined company will operate 14 offices nationwide, including in Texas, Georgia, Minnesota, Colorado, Michigan, Wisconsin, Ohio, Alabama, Tennessee, Virginia and North Carolina. The merged companies will offer a range of building enclosure consulting and engineering services, including building enclosure design, commissioning and development, along with construction consulting, enclosure development and design support, air and vapor barrier consulting, field performance testing, façade engineering and more. “BPL Enclosure has built a strong reputation, and their core values align closely with those of Seal Building Enclosure,” says Russell Raymond, partner at Seal. “In BPL, we found a team of professionals whose culture, ethics and commitment to quality mirror our own. Togethe


Set in a green and tranquil environment, the hotel blends contemporary elegance with understated sophistication. The interiors of the guest rooms and public areas are designed by internationally acclaimed Belgian architect Olivier Dwek, whose vision brings together natural textures, soft tones and modern craftsmanship. With a beautiful wooden staircase, organic materials and warm wood finishes throughout the rooms create a serene connection with the surrounding landscape. The hotel comprises 150 thoughtfully appointed rooms, including 30 suites and 12 junior suites, many with private terraces and expansive views across the rolling hills and an adjacent golf course, reinforcing the hotel’s position as a unique destination immersed in nature. The hotel’s restaurant is designed by Will Erens, an authority in contemporary eclectic restaurant design and features a trendy bar area and outside terrace. It is the perfect spot for locals and hotel guests seeking tasty lunches and long dinners.


Retrofit Magazine2 min readand have partnered to integrate Perry Weather’s onsite weather monitoring and alerting platform directly with the Eyrus worksite intelligence platform. On a typical job site, weather safety is a manual “game of telephone.” Safety directors often juggle consumer phone apps and radio calls, hoping critical warnings reach the right crews in time. This reliance on distant, generalized weather data is slow and leaves firms exposed to unnecessary liability. This integration eliminates that lag by syncing Perry Weather’s onsite hardware with Eyrus’s workforce intelligence. When onsite sensors detect a threat, such as lightning within 10 miles or a dangerous heat threshold, the system bypasses the manual chain of command to instantly alert every worker currently checked into the site. Construction teams don’t need another generic weather forecast; they need to know exactly when to stop work and, more importantly, when it’s safe to start again. By connecting onsite sensors to Eyrus’s communicat
