GlassBuild America 2026: Sandblasted Glass Gains Further Ground in the U.S. Market
The North American glass market is undergoing a phase of profound transformation. Contemporary architecture increasingly favors larger glazed surfaces, interior design calls for customized solutions, and decorative glass is now considered a design element capable of combining aesthetics, functionality, and privacy.
The spread of large curtain walls, the expansion of commercial and hospitality spaces, and the growing attention to surface customization are reshaping the role of glass within architectural projects.
In this context, the role of glass sandblasting is evolving too. No longer a simple surface treatment, but a technology capable of enhancing the final product through permanent finishes, decorative effects, and increasingly sophisticated applications. For fabricators, the challenge is no longer just achieving a high-quality aesthetic result, but ensuring its repeatability across industrial production, even when working with large panels destined for architecture or interior design.
This is precisely the context for GlassBuild America 2026, the leading trade event dedicated to glass and fenestration in the United States. From September 23 to 25, in Las Vegas, manufacturers, fabricators, designers, and technology suppliers will come together to discuss the trends reshaping the industry and the most effective solutions to meet new market demands.
GlassBuild America 2026 at a Glance
đź“Ť Where: Las Vegas, Nevada (USA)
📅 When: September 23–25, 2026
🏠Event dedicated to: glass, windows/doors, and facades
🤝 Fratelli Pezza focus: technical discussions on glass sandblasting and the opportunity to visit installed systems in the United States
đź“Ť Booth: ITA Pavilion, BOOTH 1259
🎟️ How to attend: registration for GlassBuild America 2026 is open on the fair’s official website (Early Bird rate until August 6). The event takes place at the Las Vegas Convention Center – West Hall.
Glass Sandblasting in the USA: A Market That Rewards Quality, Automation, and Expertise
The evolution of architectural glass is also changing the way production processes are designed. Panel sizes are growing, demand for customization is rising, and accepted tolerances are shrinking — making reliable, repeatable processes that integrate easily into modern production lines essential.
To meet these needs, North American fabricators are increasingly turning to technologies that reduce manual intervention, improve process repeatability, and maintain high quality standards even in customized production. In this scenario, technology is only one of the factors determining the final result: the quality of masking, the choice of abrasives, the correct definition of process parameters, and control of the entire process affect finish quality just as much as the machine itself.
For this reason, more and more companies are looking for partners capable of transferring application expertise, not just supplying equipment.
Fratelli Pezza: A Growing Presence in the United States
The evolution of the North American market is also reflected in Fratelli Pezza’s growing presence in the United States.
Over the past year, the company has installed two MISTRAL 260 EV+ automatic systems, dedicated to processing large panels of architectural and decorative glass, with further installations already planned before the end of the year. These applications show how the American market too is investing in technologies capable of delivering high productivity, consistent quality, and process repeatability — features that are now essential for handling increasingly complex production.
Founded in 1970, Fratelli Pezza today has more than 5,000 machines installed worldwide — a wealth of experience that translates, for the U.S. market, into direct technical support and industrially tested solutions, not just equipment supply.
MultiShading: The Technology Behind the Added Value
The concept of “high-value-added sandblasting” mentioned at the outset finds a concrete answer in MultiShading, the technology developed by Fratelli Pezza for the MISTRAL EV+ series of automatic sandblasting machines. The system makes it possible to create vertical, horizontal, diagonal, or concentric gradients with millimeter precision, managed via touchscreen interface and repeatable at scale — a capability that directly answers the growing demand, in the U.S. market, for customized large-format decorative glass without sacrificing production repeatability.
Beyond the Trade Show: From Booth Discussions to On-Site Experience
GlassBuild America will be an opportunity to explore Fratelli Pezza’s solutions and discuss the needs of industry professionals.
For companies interested in learning more about the technology, the conversation started at the show can continue after the event too. Thanks to its numerous installations across North America, Fratelli Pezza can, when possible, put interested companies in touch with clients who use its automatic glass sandblasting systems every day.
Talking with those who use the technology daily provides direct, concrete feedback. Furthermore, where the client company is available, a follow-up visit to the facility may be arranged, to see the systems in operation in a real production environment.
Beyond the Machine: The Value of the Glass Sandblasting Process
Glass sandblasting is the result of a balance between technologies, materials, and expertise.
Achieving uniform, repeatable, high-quality finishes requires attention to every stage of the process: from process design to the choice of masking film, from abrasives to operating parameters, through to surface protection and production time optimization.
This is the philosophy that has guided Fratelli Pezza alongside glass processors for more than half a century, providing not only automatic systems and manual sandblasting cabinets, but also consumables, software, permanent marking systems, technical consultancy, and application know-how. An integrated approach that allows customers to develop new applications, improve production efficiency, and ensure consistent results over time.
Meet Fratelli Pezza at GlassBuild America 2026
From September 23 to 25, 2026, Fratelli Pezza will be at GlassBuild America to meet manufacturers, fabricators, and industry professionals interested in exploring the latest developments in glass sandblasting and discussing the opportunities offered by the North American market.
GlassBuild America will be an important opportunity to share experiences, explore new applications, and discuss the challenges reshaping glass processing. In an ever-evolving industry, the ability to integrate reliable technologies, application expertise, and production process optimization is an increasingly decisive factor for companies’ competitiveness. Booth: ITA Pavilion – BOOTH 1259
FAQ
GlassBuild America 2026 will be held from September 23 to 25, 2026, in Las Vegas, Nevada (USA). The event is North America’s leading trade show dedicated to the glass, window/door, and facade industries.
GlassBuild America brings together glass manufacturers, fabricators, window/door builders, designers, and technology suppliers from across North America. The event is a key reference point for understanding market developments, discussing new glass applications, and discovering the most innovative technologies for industrial processing.
While no machines will be on display at the show, Fratelli Pezza can arrange, subject to client availability, visits to U.S. companies that use its automatic glass sandblasting systems every day. Seeing the machines in operation within a real production environment offers the opportunity to concretely assess their performance, productivity, and application possibilities.
The North American market is increasingly oriented toward applications for architectural and decorative glass, such as office partitions, glass doors, interior design elements, privacy glass, bird-friendly glass, facades, and large customized surfaces. The growing demand for quality and customization makes reliable, repeatable processes essential.
Visitors will be able to speak with Fratelli Pezza specialists about automatic and manual sandblasting technologies, masking materials, abrasives, software, permanent glass marking, surface protection, and optimization of the entire production process, identifying the solutions best suited to their production needs.