UPVC, Glass & Glazing
The Glass, UPVC & Glazing industry is continually evolving to meet increasing demands around performance, sustainability, manufacturing efficiency and regulatory compliance. As a result, businesses frequently undertake development activities aimed at overcoming technical challenges associated with product design, material performance, production processes and automation, many of which may qualify for R&D Tax Incentives where the outcome is not readily achievable using existing industry knowledge or techniques.
This can include the development of new glazing products, improvements to thermal, acousticor structural performance, advancements in manufacturing processes, automation integration, proprietary product development and the resolution of complex quality or production challenges. Projects often involve overcoming uncertainties relating to material behaviour, coating performance, process control, machinery adaptation production efficiency, sustainability objectives or compliance with evolving industry standards.
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How our skillset can help you claim.
Innovation within the glass and glazing industry is often driven by the need to improve performance, increase manufacturing efficiency, enhance sustainability credentials and meet increasingly demanding customer and regulatory requirements.
Our team works closely with technical, operational and manufacturing personnel to identify genuine technological advances being pursued, establish the baseline level of industry knowledge and demonstrate where scientific or technological uncertainties existed. We help capture the iterative development work undertaken, the testing and validation activities performed and the evidence generated throughout the project lifecycle.
The result is a clear, robust and defensible technical narrative supported by a structured costing methodology, helping businesses maximise the value of their claim while remaining fully compliant.
Project Examples
Projects may involve developing and integrating new automation technologies to improve production throughput, product quality and operational efficiency. Technical challenges often arise when introducing robotic systems, automated handling equipment, inspection technologies or new production workflows that must interact reliably with existing manufacturing processes. Development activities typically include system design, testing, workflow optimisation and iterative refinements to overcome integration issues and achieve consistent, repeatable production outcomes.
Development work may focus on improving glass processing techniques to enhance product performance and manufacturing reliability. This can include introducing edge deletion capabilities, optimising cutting methodologies or improving coating removal processes where existing techniques fail to consistently achieve required adhesion, quality or durability standards. Projects commonly involve structured trials, process parameter optimisation and validation activities to establish a stable and commercially viable manufacturing process.
Projects may seek to develop new thermal toughening methodologies or resolve quality issues associated with changing glass compositions and material specifications. Technical uncertainties often arise where established furnace settings fail to achieve the required strength, optical quality or production stability. Development activities typically involve extensive process trials, thermal profile experimentation root-cause investigations and iterative recipe development to establish a repeatable manufacturing process capable of delivering consistent product performance.
