10 Largest Glass Manufacturers in the U.S.A.

Mar. 07, 2024

Posted by IndustrySelect on Tuesday, August 15, 2023

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Glass manufacturers provide essential materials for different industries, including construction, manufacturing, automotive, telecommunications and consumer products. According to the latest analysis by Precedence Research, the global glass manufacturing market was valued at $178.81 billion in 2022 and is expected to be worth $312.74 billion by 2032, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.8% during the forecast period. This makes it a lucrative market to sell to.

Rising construction activity, the global consumer shift to glass over plastic, the growth of the electric vehicle market, and new demand spurred by the numerous projects proposed in the Biden Administration's Infrastructure and Jobs Act are among the many factors influencing growth in the industry.

This sector has experienced steady growth over the past few years, and there are new products and opportunities to be aware of when selling to glass manufacturers. This article will provide an overview of the U.S. glass industry and explore the sector's largest companies.

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Glass Manufacturing Sector Overview

According to data collected by MNI, compiler of the industrial data that powers IndustrySelect, there are currently 1,631 companies that make up the U.S. glass manufacturing sector in 2022.

Trends in this sector are fairly representative of manufacturing as a whole:

• 16% of glass manufacturers import raw materials, while 11% of all manufacturers do.
• 71% of glass manufacturers focus on domestic distribution, which is very close to the 70% of all manufacturers who adopt this strategy.
• 27% of glass manufacturers prioritize international distribution, reflecting the 29% of all manufacturers who export their products.

You’ll find 31% of glass manufacturers in the South and 28% in the Midwest, with Ohio being home to three of the top 10 largest manufacturers in this sector.

Looking for glass suppliers? Search, source & quote glass suppliers for free on IndustryNet.

Several trends and opportunities will help the glass manufacturing sector amid the current supply chain challenges and inflationary environment:

• Nonresidential construction projects and the automotive industry create a strong demand for flat glass products.
• Automating production is a growing trend for this sector, resulting in more effective production processes and lower costs.
• Demand is increasing for complex glass products for decorative purposes and products with specific properties.
• There are plenty of opportunities in the tech, telecommunications and energy sectors with glass fibers for fiber optic cables, protective screens for electronics and solar panels.

Read More: Who Needs to Buy What I'm Selling? Finding the Right Customer for Your Product or Service

Largest Glass Manufacturers in the U.S.

Here are the top 10 largest manufacturers in this sector.

Top CompaniesCityState Number of EmployeesGentex Corp.ZeelandMI5,000Fuyao Glass America, Inc.MoraineOH2,300Pella Corp.PellaIA2,224ViraconOwatonnaMN2,000Safelite AutoGlassColumbusOH1,600Anchor Hocking Co.LancasterOH1,200SMR AutomotiveMarysvilleMI1,085Corning, Inc., Optical Fibers Div.WilmingtonNC1,000Gallo Glass Co.ModestoCA1,000Kolbe & Kolbe Millwork Co., Inc.WausauWI1,000

About the Largest Glass Manufacturers

Gentex Corp.

This award-winning manufacturer is located in Zeeland, Mich., and employs 5,000 people. Gentex Corp. specializes in fire protection equipment and glass products for the aerospace and automotive industries. Its research department develops automation technology for cars.

Fuyao Glass America Inc.

Located in Moraine, Ohio, Fuyao Glass America Inc. has 2,300 employees and is an OEM glass supplier for major automakers. This manufacturer stands out thanks to new materials research and offers products like ultra-thin glass, coated glass and dimmable glass.

Pella Corp.

Pella Corp. is a window and door manufacturer. The company has 2,224 employees and operates from Pella, Iowa. Products include wood, fiberglass, and vinyl doors and windows for the residential construction sector.

Viracon

Viracon is an Owatonna, Minn., company with 2,000 employees. It specializes in glass products for the nonresidential construction sector, including insulating glass products, laminated glass for glazing applications, and monolithic glass for modern buildings with huge facades.

Safelite AutoGlass

Located in Columbus, Ohio, Safelite AutoGlass has 1,600 employees and offer windshield repair and replacement. This company emphasizes customer service and convenience to make auto glass repairs an easy process.

Anchor Hocking Co.

Anchor Hocking Co. is a Lancaster, Ohio, company with 1,200 employees that offers timeless glass household products. Its product catalog includes bakeware, drinkware, storage products, and other kitchen essentials.

SMR Automotive

SMR Automotive makes mirrors for the automotive industry and develops camera technology to improve blind spot visibility. This Marysville, Mich., company has 1,085 employees.

Corning Inc. Optical Fibers Div.

Corning Inc. played an instrumental role in the development of fiber optics. The Wilmington, NC, company is still a major player in the telecommunications market for glass products and has 1,000 employees.

Gallo Glass Co.

Gallo Glass Co. is an eco-friendly manufacturer that uses sustainable and innovative techniques to make wine and spirits bottles. It's located in Modesto, Calif., and employs 1,000 people.

Kolbe & Kolbe Millwork Co. Inc.

In Wausau, Wisc., Kolbe & Kolbe Millwork Co. Inc. specializes in windows and doors. Its products go beyond glass to include windows and door trim and hardware for residential construction projects. The company has 1,000 employees.

Selling to Glass Companies?

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Editor's Note: This post was originally published in December 2020. It has been updated to reflect new statistics and trends in the U.S. glass manufacturing sector.

We can’t go throughout our day without coming into contact with some sort of glass. It’s in our buildings, in walls, windows, and fiberglass insulation. Specialty glass is in our cars, used to prevent large shards of glass from forming in the case of an accident. Glass is found in our homes, our mirrors, furniture, laptops, televisions, dishes, and decorations. Not to mention, the glass that you probably touch every day on your smartphone. You may even be wearing glass to help you read this article.

Then there is the glass we don’t think about in our day-to-day life, like bullet-proof glasses, glass tools and containers in laboratories, glass made to be building exteriors, and the glass that is used in technology, making up the tiny bits and pieces that make our machines work, like camera lenses and copiers.

Despite all of its uses, the majority of us are unaware of who makes our glass products and where they come from.

To alleviate the confusion, we’ve compiled a list of the top ten glass suppliers in the world.

Beijing Glass Group
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2021 Annual Revenue: $80.44 billion

Headquartered in, you guessed it, Beijing, this company comes from the Peking Glass company, which was founded in 1940. This company produces industrial and technical glass as well as eyewear, and quartz and silicon materials. They also produce photovoltaic cell components, which are the parts that make up solar panels and allow us to transform sunlight into energy. Information on their revenue and number of employees was not available, and because of this, we have put them at the bottom of our listing.

Glass manufacturers supply us with millions of modern-day products and solutions, those we can take for granted, and those we do not even think about. So, next time you look in the mirror, wash a dish, or roll down your car window, take a moment to mentally thank the glass manufacturers of the world.
Saint Gobain

2022 Annual Revenue: $56.47 billion

Many glass companies have been around for relatively long periods, but the oldest one on our list is Saint Gobain, which was originally founded in 1665 and is currently headquartered in Paris, France.

It got its start as a mirror manufacturer, and it is known for having supplied the mirrors in the famous Hall of Mirrors in the Palace of Versailles.

Today, they own several brands of glass, which create building materials, such as windows and walls, as well as car windows and windshields. They have been immensely successful, and annually they bring in about $48 billion (USD) in revenue, making them the leader in glass manufacturing around the world.

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PPG Industries

2022 Annual Revenue: $17.652 billion

Originally known as the “Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company,” PPG has been creating glass products since 1883. As you may have guessed, it was founded in Pennsylvania, which makes it the leader in American glass manufacturing. They are particularly known for their headquarters ’ architecture, which gives it the appearance of a gothic glass castle.

By 1900, PPG had significantly diversified the products it offered, and today they produce paints, coatings, chemicals, optical products, and fiberglass, in addition to glass. With over 47,000 employees, PPG is a Fortune 500 company and brings in around $15 billion annually.

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AGC

2021 Annual Revenue: $15.28 billion

This global glass manufacturer is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, and was founded over a century ago in 1907. It was Japan’s first manufacturer of sheet glass.

They are known for producing automotive glass, specially made to break into smaller pieces, to avoid serious injury due to sharp edges in the event of a crash. Asahi also produces electronic materials, fiber optics, flat glass, and glass-based construction materials.

They are also the main competitor of Gorilla Glass, with their version of smart device glass, known as Dragontrail. Annually, they bring in $11 billion in revenue, and they employ over 51,000 employees.

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Corning

2022 Annual Revenue: $14.189 billion

Founded in 1851, Corning, Inc. has been operating for nearly two centuries. Headquartered in Corning, New York, they manufacture specialty glass, ceramics, and advanced optics, as well as glass for the automotive industry.

One of their products is probably in your pocket right now. Apple approached Corning in 2005, asking them to create a thin yet tough glass for their upcoming product, the iPhone. Gorilla Glass was the result, and it is now used on billions of smart devices worldwide, including mobile phones, laptop displays, and television screens.

Because of this lucrative deal, Corning, Inc. brings in approximately $12 billion annually, allowing them to employ 52,000 workers.

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Nippon Sheet Glass Co.

2022 Annual Revenue: $5.230 billion

Also headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, Nippon Sheet Glass was originally founded in 1918. Today, they sell to 130 countries, and worldwide they employ almost 27,000 people. Annually, they obtain around $5 billion in revenue.

They specialize in building and automotive glass, which make up around 90% of their annual sales. The remaining 10% is comprised of their special glasses, an umbrella term used to describe a collection of unique markets, such as glass displays and products used in printers and copiers. They also supply architectural glass, which is used in construction, as well as in the solar energy sector.
Vitro

Annual Revenue: $2.1 billion

Virto is based in San Pedro Garza García, Nuevo León, Mexico, and they are the largest glass manufacturer in that country. Founded in 1909, this company has stood the test of time. Their website claims that they are “the largest glass manufacturer in the Western Hemisphere and the largest glass producer in North America.” They serve their flat glass to the majority of Latin America.

Their products range from glass containers, such as those used in dishware and food packaging, automotive, and architectural glass, and machinery, equipment, and chemicals. Their revenue amounts to $2.1 billion annually, and worldwide they employ around 15,000 people.
Pilkington

2021 Annual Revenue: $593.4 million

Originally founded in 1826, this glass manufacturer has been a subsidiary of Nippon Sheet Glass since 2006. However, their sales are so substantial, for this list, we decided to view their revenues separately. They are headquartered in Lancashire, England, and have become a major supplier of toughened automotive, aerospace, and building glass across the world.

Their acquisition by NSG was a deal made out of necessity. Their competitor, Asahi Glass Co. owned around 25% of the global market at the time of the deal. On their own, neither company could compete, but together, they would dominate an equal share of the market. Today, both of the companies make a combined $9.5 billion, making them a more fearsome competitor to Asahi, which makes $11 billion.

Annually, Pilkington receives $4.5 billion in revenue, and they employ around 24,000 people worldwide.

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Cornwall Glass

2021 Annual Revenue: $37 million

Established in 1978, Cornwall Glass is one of the younger companies on our list, and they are by far the smallest, with just 128 employees. They don’t even have their own Wikipedia page. However, this family-owned company is included on this list due to its high revenue, of around $37 million annually. Despite their size, their accomplishments in the industry have earned them a place on this list, among the big dogs of the industry.

Their success could be the result of their diverse product offerings, including mirrors, ceramics, and heat-strengthened glass, as well as windows, shelving, decorative glass, and doors.
Guardian Service Industries

2022 Annual Revenue: N/A

Based in Auburn Hills, Michigan, this American glass manufacturer was established in 1932 and has an annual revenue of $4 billion. It was founded as a windshield manufacturer, however, today they make float glass, fiberglass insulation, and other building materials for construction and automotive markets. They also create insulated, laminated, and tempered glass products.

They employ 14,000 people worldwide, and they specialize in creating glass for construction and transportation purposes. They pride themselves on creating architectural glass that is energy-efficient, meaning glass that is a good insulator and glass that makes it easier to heat and cool buildings. They sell to over 150 countries.