Company Profile
Vitro Architectural Glass is the largest float glass producer in the Americas, manufacturing a range of industry-leading, energy-efficient products, including Solarban®, Sungate® and Starphire Ultra-Clear® glasses. Vitro’s newest product, VacuMax™ Vacuum Insulating Glass (VIG), delivers thermal insulation performance that is 2-4 times better than conventional insulating glass and up to 14 times better than monolithic glass. Delivering an R-value of R14+, tempered VacuMax™ VIG integrates with any glazing system to maximize insulation performance. Committed to sustainable manufacturing processes and products, Vitro also operates one of the world’s largest glass research and development facilities in Pittsburgh and four residential glass fabrication plants in Canada. Upholding the values of “Together, We See Further,” Vitro strives to realize the power of partnership to ensure that projects meet or exceed ever-evolving sustainability expectations as well as glass requirements.
Product Categories
Products & Information
Starphire Ultra Clear® Glass
Starphire Ultra-Clear® glass by Vitro Architectural Glass (formerly PPG glass) is 87 percent less green than ordinary clear glass and offers pure, undistorted transmitted color—with absolutely no grays or yellows. With its signature azure blue edge, Starphire® glass maintains its clarity and true color transmittance even at thicknesses up to 19 millimeters (¾-inch). In fact, the surface clarity of Starphire® glass becomes more apparent as the glass gets thicker.
From offices to homes, Starphire Ultra-Clear® glass is the perfect canvas for dynamic interior design. Express colors and patterns in their purest forms. Evoke luxury on doors, shower enclosures and more. Even in heavy thicknesses, Starphire® glass transmits 90 percent of available visible light—and, unlike its imitators, its signature blue edge is maintained when the glass edge is exposed.
For exteriors, use Starphire Ultra-Clear® glass to create extraordinary, colorful façades and distinctive spandrels and infuse interiors with pure, vibrant daylight. Starphire® glass also can be used to achieve bird-safe designs with acid-etched patterns and to create design entrances and storefronts that feel bright, open and welcoming—even with extra heavy glass.
Only Starphire Ultra-Clear® glass allows views so brilliant, you’ll forget the glass is even there.
VacuMax™ Vacuum Insulating Glass (VIG)
VacuMax™ vacuum insulating glass (VIG) by Vitro Architectural Glass (formerly PPG glass) integrates with any traditional (and even non-traditional) glazing system to maximize insulation performance. With an R-value of R14⁺, VacuMax™ VIG is the ultimate in thermal glazing, delivering R-values close to those of a traditional wall.
VacuMax™ VIG units consist of two lites of 4 millimeter glass separated by a non-leaded proprietary metal seal and a vacuum space. The unit’s slim construction and light weight allows it to be incorporated into virtually any traditional glazing system, window frame or curtainwall application. Tempered VacuMax™ VIG units can be used alone as nominal ¼-inch glass to replace monolithic (single-pane) glass or as a substitute for the interior lite in any double- or triple-glazed insulating glass unit (IGU), where it forms a second airspace and creates a hybrid IGU.
Any glass configuration — from a simple monolithic lite of clear glass to a double-glazed IGU with a Solarban® low-emissivity glass coating on the #2 surface and a bird-friendly pattern on surface #1— can benefit from remarkable performance improvements with VacuMax™ VIG. Consider VacuMax™ VIG for exterior glazing applications that require extraordinary performance, including renovations, new construction, office buildings, educational institutions, hospitality and healthcare facilities.