Activities
GlassFibreEurope companies make a significant contribution to the welfare of the citizens in Europe by enabling innovation, creating quality of life and facilitating resource and energy efficiency as well as climate protection. Around 9,000 people are employed by 8 companies in the EU-27 and 1 company in Turkey.
GlassFibreEurope represents one of the smallest sectors of the glass industry in terms of tonnage, but the products have a high value to mass ratio. This sector covers the manufacture of continuous glass filaments. Production of continuous filament glass fibre is distinct from the manufacture of glass fibre insulation, which is made by a different process and is generally termed "glass wool".
GlassFibreEurope member's produce continuous filament glass fibre. Globally this is by far the leading reinforcement being used in composites. In tonnage terms, glass fibre represents, besides resins, over 80% of the raw materials used worldwide in composites. The European industry's share in this global volume represents approximately one third and consists of European-made high performance and quality products delivered by GlassFibreEurope member companies to European converters. There is tremendous potential of glass fibre reinforced composites to further replace traditional materials, such as metal, wood and concrete in order to benefit from glass fibre's light weight and high energy efficiency.
The main markets for glass fibre reinforced composites are automotive and transportation, wind energy, agriculture, building and construction, communication, electrical and electronic, sport and leisure.
