Manufacturing Technology
Finnish Engineering · Est. 1870
Helsinki, Finland · Nasdaq GLA1V

The precision that makes
vacuum glass possible.

Every VIG Horizon panel is manufactured on Glaston tempering lines, the world standard for flat glass precision. Glass flatness is not a secondary specification. For vacuum insulated glass, it is the fundamental enabling requirement.

155
Years of Finnish glass engineering heritage
130+
Countries where Glaston equipment operates
Feb 2026
Official Glaston–Leadus cooperation announced
Glaston — 155 Years of Innovation

From Finnish forest to
world glass standard.

Glaston did not start as a glass company. It started as a forest and paper operation in the Finnish rapids country — and through 155 years of continuous reinvention, became the company that sets the precision standard for glass tempering on every continent.

1870

Founded at Kyröskoski Rapids, Finland

Hammarén & Comp established operations at the Kyröskoski rapids in central Finland, initially focused on forest industry and paper production. The foundation that would become Glaston was built on Finnish engineering precision and a culture of bold industrial development.

Origins · Kyröskoski, Finland
1907

First international exports

The company begins exporting products beyond Finland's borders — establishing a pattern of international industrial reach that would define the company across the following century. Innovation and internationalization become permanent characteristics.

Milestone · Export-led growth begins
1980s

Strategic pivot to flat glass tempering

Acquisitions focused increasingly on glass processing technology. The company begins specialising in flat tempering technology and its development — the discipline that would become its global calling card. The transformation from diversified industrial to specialist glass technology accelerates.

Strategic shift · Glass processing focus
2007

Glaston Corporation officially formed

After two decades of transformation, Glaston Corporation is formally constituted — specialising exclusively in glass processing technologies. Listed on Nasdaq Helsinki (GLA1V). Glaston organises the Glass Performance Days (GPD) conference, the industry's leading international technical forum.

Corporate · Nasdaq Helsinki · GLA1V
2019

Acquisition of Bystronic Glass

Glaston acquires Bystronic glass, the Swiss-German glass processing company — further extending its capabilities across the full glass processing value chain. Glaston's technology portfolio now covers tempering, laminating, bending, and insulating glass production lines.

Acquisition · Bystronic Glass, Switzerland–Germany
2026

Official Glaston–Leadus VIG Cooperation Announced

In February 2026, Glaston and Leadus formally enter into cooperation to advance vacuum insulating glass manufacturing. The partnership brings together Glaston's world-leading tempering technology and Leadus's VIG process expertise — directly enabling the glass that VIG Horizon Inc. supplies to Canadian fabricators.

Partnership · February 25, 2026 · Source: glassonweb.com
The Physics of VIG

Glass flatness is
not optional for VIG.

A conventional insulating glass unit tolerates small surface imperfections because the gas fill is forgiving. Vacuum insulated glass is not forgiving. The two panes are separated by only 0.2mm of vacuum — held apart by ceramic micro-dot spacers that are less than 1mm in diameter.

If the glass surface undulates by even a fraction of a millimetre across the panel area, the spacers cannot maintain uniform contact. The vacuum seal fails to distribute pressure evenly. Over time, that translates to stress concentrations, edge seal failure, and vacuum loss — destroying the unit's thermal performance permanently.

This is why Kimmo Kuusela, EVP at Glaston, stated directly in the cooperation announcement: "We are at the forefront of tempering technology, delivering world-class flatness in tempered glass. This is a key enabler for efficient and reliable VIG production."

0.2mm Vacuum Gap
The tolerance between panes — less than the width of a human hair
Ceramic Micro-Dot Spacers
0.5–0.8mm diameter, placed at 25–40mm grid spacing
What Happens When Glass Isn't Flat
Uneven spacer contact → stress concentration → seal failure → vacuum loss
GLASTON FLAT — CORRECT TEMPERED LOW-E — FLAT · 4mm VACUUM 0.2mm TEMPERED GLASS — FLAT · 4mm ✓ EVEN VACUUM · STABLE SEAL NON-FLAT GLASS — REJECTED UNEVEN SURFACE — BOWING UNEVEN PRESSURE → STRESS POINTS ✗ SEAL FAILURE RISK
The Equipment

Glaston FC500 —
the world benchmark.

The Glaston FC500 is the flagship flat tempering furnace, used by premium architectural glass manufacturers in over 130 countries. It is the machine that makes world-class flatness possible at industrial scale — and the platform on which Leadus produces the glass in every VIG Horizon panel.

LOADING Raw tempered glass enters on roller bed Glass substrate HEATING Controlled ramp to ~680°C ∿∿∿ Uniform IR heating iControL monitoring PRECISION QUENCH The flatness moment — Glaston's key advantage SIMULTANEOUS TOP+BOTTOM Uniform air pressure = glass stays flat iCONTROL™ Glaston's intelligent monitoring system IR Real-time flatness verification OUTPUT VIG-ready flat glass SGCC A Certified
3.8mm
Thinnest glass the FC500 can temper
130+
Countries where Glaston furnaces operate
Feb 2026
Official Glaston–Leadus VIG cooperation
0.40
U-value achieved — TÜV Rheinland confirmed
Announced February 25, 2026 · glassonweb.com

Glaston and Leadus
join forces.

Glaston is at the forefront of tempering technology, delivering world-class flatness in tempered glass. This is a key enabler for efficient and reliable VIG production. By bringing together Glaston's leading tempering technology and Leadus's expertise in vacuum glass processing, the companies can push the development of VIG solutions forward.

Kimmo Kuusela — EVP, Sales & Service EMEA & APAC, Glaston Corporation
Glaston Corporation
Helsinki, Finland · Est. 1870 · Nasdaq GLA1V
×
Leadus Technology
Hebi, Henan, China · SGCC #9744 · IGCC #6076
=
VIG Horizon Inc.
Montréal, QC · Your Canadian certified source
What This Means for Canadian Projects

Finnish precision.
Canadian delivery.

Every panel already certified

The Glaston–Leadus cooperation is not aspirational — it is the production reality behind Leadus's SGCC #9744 and IGCC #6076 certifications. Every panel VIG Horizon Inc. brings to Canada was produced on this platform, and carries the full certification documentation to prove it.

15-year vacuum warranty is real

A 15-year vacuum seal warranty is only credible if the glass flatness is controlled at the manufacturing stage. Glaston's iControL monitoring system verifies flatness in real time during production — the data that underpins the warranty and the TÜV Rheinland U=0.40 result.

Specifiable for architects and engineers

The Glaston provenance gives architects, building scientists, and structural engineers the manufacturer pedigree to include VIG in project specifications with confidence. Not "vacuum glass from China" — Glaston-process glass on Leadus platforms, sourced through VIG Horizon Inc. in Canada.

Next Step

Ready to specify
Glaston-tempered VIG?

Contact VIG Horizon Inc. for a complete specification package — including TÜV Rheinland thermal data, SGCC #9744 certificate, and CAN/CGSB 12.1-2022 compliance documentation. Bilingual English and French.