Al Yusuf Thermoglass, a leading manufacturer of insulated glass units (IGU) in the kingdom, is looking forward to make a strong debut at the gulfBID, with its latest range of architectural glass for high-rise buildings.

“Some of the products that will be exhibited at the show will include our recently introduced IGU ranges comprising Cool-Lite ST from St Gobain and the SunGuard High Performance glass range from Guardian,” says company managing director Basim Al Yusuf.
Cool-Lite ST is a solar control glass, which blocks up to two-thirds of heat by reflecting it to the outside. The product that can be used in conservatory roofs or south-facing patio doors helps keep the interior considerably cooler during the summer. The glass has a thin coating on one face which provides an attractive appearance and reduces glare from direct sunlight, says Al Yusuf.  This product is described as being ideal for building facades and comes in different shades of green (ST408, ST420, ST436), silver (ST108, ST120, ST136), and blue (STB420, ST708, ST740). It is a high-performance product that exceeds thermal energy norms in the kingdom.
The SunGuard High Performance series delivers medium to high visible light transmission and moderate reflectivity along with maximum energy savings that meet or exceed thermal energy norms, says Al Yusuf. The glass is available in seven low-emissivity coatings to choose from, in both clear and green substrates: Light Blue 63, Neutral 61, Neutral 50, Neutral 40, AG 50, AG 43, and Royal Blue 40.
“Although this is our first participation at the exhibition, we are confident that the event will be much stronger than the previous shows,” he says. “We will also use the exhibition to organise a seminar that will help contractors, architects and specifiers from the region understand how to choose the best glass solutions for today’s buildings.”
The two new IGU ranges are expected to have a strong demand in the several high-end projects that are at various stages of completion in the kingdom, Al Yusuf says.
“Apart from product samples, we will also have a running presentation that will focus on the capabilities of our facilities and our expertise,” he says.
Established in 2003 as part of the Al Yusuf Group with a small team of 17 employees, Al Yusuf Thermoglass has grown over the years from being a dealer in glass and mirrors to a leading processor and manufacturer of insulating and tempered glass in Bahrain.
With a staff-strength of 78 employees, the company says that it is continually looking to improving on its core strengths – that of manufacturing quality IGUs – which will help it, remain at the sharp end of competition.
Having recently completed the expansion of its facility in Tubli, Bahrain, Al Yusuf Thermoglass is looking forward to continue its drive further with the aim of establishing itself as one of the major manufacturers of IGU’s in the kingdom and beyond.
“The expansion has allowed us to increase our production capabilities by a big margin and also manufacture a wide range of high-quality thermoglass units,” he says.
The BD1.8 million ($4.79 million) facility, which now has a 5,000 sq m working area and a warehouse of 2,000 sq m, allows Al Yusuf to produce 800 sq m of glazed units on an average shift, giving it a maximum capacity of up to 2,400 sq m of glass on an average day.
At the facility, the company has invested in state-of-the-art machinery from Germany, Austria, Italy and Greece, says Al Yusuf. “Currently, the Lisec cutting line that we have is the Jumbo size, which can cut sheets of glass in sizes of up to 6 m by 3.7 m.”
Apart from this, the company has also invested in a 4,800 by 2,440 glass tempering line from Tamglass Finland, an insulating glass unit production line, vertical washing machines, bi-component sealant machines, spacer fabrication machines, abrasive belt grinding machines, sand-blaster machines, flat-bed staining plotter, straight-line bevelling machines, a variable-angle 10-wheel polishing machine and a double-head automatic drilling machine, among others.