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

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

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

L'articolo GlassBuild America 2026: Sandblasted Glass Gains Further Ground in the U.S. Market proviene da Fratelli Pezza.

Over the past few years, the glass processing industry has undergone significant transformation. Contemporary architecture, interior design and contract projects increasingly require customized glass surfaces, larger formats, sophisticated decorative effects and manufacturing processes capable of delivering consistent quality and repeatable results.

In this context, glass sandblasting has evolved far beyond a simple surface finishing technique. It has become a versatile manufacturing process that allows glass processors to control transparency, privacy, aesthetics and functionality, creating solutions for shower enclosures, office partitions, balustrades, doors, façades, mirrors and a wide range of interior design applications.

Meeting these new market demands requires not only advanced equipment, but also deep process expertise. With this vision, Fratelli Pezza will participate in the two leading international glass industry exhibitions in 2026: GlassBuild America, taking place in Las Vegas from 23 to 25 September, and Glasstec, held in Düsseldorf from 20 to 23 October.

Two exhibitions, two markets, one shared vision

Although they serve different geographical markets, GlassBuild America and Glasstec provide valuable insights into the future of the global glass industry.

In North America, demand continues to grow for decorative and functional glass used in residential and commercial construction, particularly for privacy applications and customized architectural projects. In Europe, Glasstec remains the world’s leading exhibition for glass manufacturing technologies, bringing together machinery manufacturers, glass processors, architects and industry professionals who shape the future of glass processing.

For Fratelli Pezza, participating in both events means engaging directly with different production needs, understanding emerging market trends and presenting technologies developed to help manufacturers improve quality, efficiency and production flexibility.

GlassBuild America 2026: Process expertise and application-driven solutions for the North American market

Fratelli Pezza’s participation at GlassBuild America will focus on technical discussions with glass manufacturers and processors operating in the North American market.

Rather than exhibiting machinery, the company will showcase real-world applications, innovative processing solutions and the latest developments designed to improve productivity, quality and flexibility in glass sandblasting.

This approach reflects Fratelli Pezza’s growing presence in the United States, where two MISTRAL 260 EV+ automatic glass sandblasting systems have recently been installed, supporting manufacturers producing architectural and decorative glass in large format.

→ Read the dedicated article about Fratelli Pezza at GlassBuild America 2026.

Glasstec 2026: Showcasing the complete glass sandblasting process

At Glasstec, Fratelli Pezza will present its complete ecosystem of technologies developed through more than fifty years of experience in glass sandblasting.

Visitors to Hall 16 – Stand A26 will have the opportunity to see automatic and manual sandblasting machines, while also exploring the technologies and expertise that contribute to consistent processing quality: masking systems, software, abrasives, permanent glass marking and surface protection treatments.

Rather than presenting individual products, the company will demonstrate how high-quality sandblasting results depend on the effective integration of every stage of the production process.

→ Discover what Fratelli Pezza will showcase at Glasstec 2026.

MultiShading: Expanding the creative possibilities of automated glass sandblasting

The company’s most significant innovation for 2026 is MultiShading, a new technology developed to extend the creative capabilities of automated glass sandblasting.

MultiShading makes it possible to create:

• multidirectional shading effects;
• multiple opacity levels on the same glass panel;
• smooth transitions between transparent and satin-finished areas;
• complex decorative patterns produced automatically with high repeatability.

These capabilities open new opportunities for applications including shower enclosures, privacy glass, office partitions, decorative panels, backlit mirrors, balustrades, architectural glazing and interior design.

Beyond its aesthetic advantages, MultiShading has been developed to simplify production by reducing the number of processing steps traditionally required to achieve sophisticated decorative effects.

More than machinery: A complete process approach to glass sandblasting

Professional glass sandblasting is not defined solely by the machine used. Consistent results depend on the successful combination of process design, materials, production parameters and application expertise.

For this reason, Fratelli Pezza has developed an integrated approach covering every stage of the process, including automatic and manual sandblasting machines, dedicated software, masking materials, abrasives, permanent marking solutions, protective surface treatments and technical consultancy.

This integrated methodology enables glass processors to handle increasingly demanding applications while maintaining high quality standards, production consistency and repeatable results.

Meet Fratelli Pezza in 2026

FAQ

L'articolo Fratelli Pezza at the Leading International Glass Trade Shows in 2026: An Integrated Approach to Professional Glass Sandblasting proviene da Fratelli Pezza.