City Glass, a leading provider of glass and aluminium solutions in Bahrain, has cemented its position as a key player in the sector through its recent expansion and innovations that have created a stir in the market.

This expansion has been instrumental in enhancing its operational capabilities, enabling the company to expand its offerings both in the decorative and fire safety sectors along with architectural glass solutions.

“The expansion, in line with the vision of the management, equips City Glass with a competitive edge by meeting sustainable and diversified project requirements without compromising on schedule,” Sayed Mohamed Al-Alawi, Executive Manager of City Glass, tells Gulf Construction in an exclusive interview.

Al-Alawi ... revolutionary innovation.

Innovations

A notable milestone for City Glass has been the introduction of the Vitro-Jet I Series of digital glass printers in its operations. This technology, described as a “revolutionary introduction in glass design”, allows architects and designers to integrate multi-colour designs and images into glass, transforming its architectural aesthetics.

“Customers are excited by this revolutionary innovation as it expands the design possibilities, providing architects with versatile solutions for external and internal applications, that can withstand local environmental conditions,” he says.

City Glass has also made waves with the launch of AllClear, the first locally produced fire-rated glass in Bahrain. Launched in the second quarter of 2024, AllClear has been hailed for its safety and design flexibility as it overcomes the limitations of traditional wire-mesh glass. “It mitigates the risks associated with traditional wire-mesh glass, such as exposed wires in the event of glass breakage due to unexpected incidences such as impact, while meeting international safety standards,” Al-Alawi explains.

Commenting on the market response to the product, he says: “The market response has been encouraging, with AllClear addressing challenges like long lead times and limited design options, thus enabling projects to meet their schedule.  This is because fire-rated glass had to be imported as finished products in the dimensions required prior to introduction of AllClear.

City Glass has supplied to prestigious projects such as the Muharraq Long Stay Care Centre.

“AllClear provides the ultimate in design flexibility, enabling architects to combine large clear view areas with maximum fire protection and safety.”

However, developing the product in Bahrain came with its own set of challenges, according to Al-Alawi.

He explains: “Being the pioneer in introducing the technology in the kingdom, it was challenging to source the quality raw materials and machinery required to produce the product. With safety and compliance with local and international standards being the key priorities, testing was a huge task as the specific facility is not available in the region. However, under the company’s able and expert leadership, we have overcome these challenges to develop and launch the product after all necessary tests and certifications.”

AllClear is highly suitable for use in partitions and fire exit doors as per the Bahrain Civil Defence guidelines, and can be used in commercial and residential buildings including shopping malls, schools, hospitals and high-rise buildings.

City Glass’s officials at Big 5 Global in Dubai.

The product has already been installed in prestigious projects such as the Sheraton Hotel, Ministry of Interior, Al Sahel Resorts, and the Address Hotel.

City Glass plans to maintain its leadership through continuous innovation and a focus on customer satisfaction. “We always strive to explore and adopt latest developments and believe that continuous learning is important for a sustainable growth,” Al-Alawi remarks.

In line with this strategy, the company is looking at introducing innovative solutions in collaboration with industrial leaders to enhance the thermal insulation of hermetically-sealed glazing units, with warm-edge spacers and inert glass chambers. In addition, City Glass is also keen to expand vertically and is in discussions to introduce energy-efficient façade solutions, he reveals.

City Glass can offer tailored solutions for projects in the region.

Markets

Al-Alawi notes that City Glass is actively targeting the GCC market, with a particular focus on Saudi Arabia.

“Following City Glass’s recent expansion and expanded product portfolio, it was selected by Tamkeen to represent Bahrain at Big 5 Global exhibition in Dubai. Furthermore, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry facilitated our participation in the Gulf Manufacturing exhibition in Doha. These opportunities allowed us to showcase our capabilities to a wider audience, resulting in positive feedback. Currently, we are actively engaged in a number of high-profile projects, where we are working on providing the most suitable and effective solutions to meet the complex requirements of each,” Al-Alawi states.

Paul ... wide acceptance of products.

City Glass’s Commercial Manager Renish Paul says City Glass has also participated in the Windoorex 2024, an exhibition for glass, aluminum, windows, doors and facades held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where it was quite surprised by the wide acceptance of its products, especially in the decorative and fire-rated sector.

“This exposure generated many enquiries and gave us a deeper insight into the potential our products have in the Saudi market. The strategic location of our facilities in Bahrain and our fully-equipped logistical team have spurred our ambitions to explore the potential to its fullest extent,” Paul says.

Sustainability is a cornerstone of City Glass’s strategy. Collaborating with Bahrain Polytechnic, the company has implemented energy conservation measures while offering students industrial exposure.

City Glass prides itself on its tailored solutions. “The expertise of our employees distinguishes us from others in delivering solutions rather than just products. We work closely with customers to understand their specific needs and ensure their satisfaction,” Al-Alawi says.

As competition intensifies, City Glass is focused on automation and leveraging industrial trends to maintain its edge. “We recorded a reasonable improvement this year and remain committed to achieving the highest level of customer satisfaction, which is our key competitive advantage,” Al-Alawi concludes.