The mirror shows man its reflection, but he is not just a face – the shadow of existence that has changed every moment. So the mirror is a regular companion of every woman's life. But the men who do not look at themselves in the mirror are very few on earth. On one surface of the glass is made of aluminum or silver, the magic of this magical object. Basically the glass is a transparent, flexible and non-sweatless unclean solid substance.
It was used in human life by looking at the face in the mirror. However, in the evolution of time, it has got a new form with the touch of technology and art. At one time there was only one furniture in the life of the glass woman; Now it has entered the deep of the daily life of the people and made it permanently. The use of glass has expanded from the home-to-house toes to the building structure.
Once the window and door of the house were made of wood, then the domination increased the glass. But that too is the past. In the new era, glass is being used in the construction of the walls of the house. These walls are playing an important role in enhancing safety and beauty not only to protect the flow of light and air. So today the apartment, houses, commercial buildings or offices – all the cases have become an inevitable component of windows, doors, outer walls and divisions.
In addition, the versatile use of glass is also clear in daily service. From the common vehicles of mass transit to luxury personal and commercial vehicles, the beauty and effectiveness of the glass has increased the beauty and effectiveness.
In addition, electronic products; Such as fridge, television and gas stove, bowl, vase, frame, bottle, jar, water glass or paperweight – what is not made of glass! In the course of time, the glass has expanded through decorative and versatile use beyond the boundaries of its requirements. Today, this transparent object has become united with human life to show charisma. In almost every country of the world, this glass has become an integral part of the lives of all people.
With this growing use, the country's glass industry has reached a new direction today. At one time, about 5 percent of the glass that had to be imported, is now almost equal to that demand in the country. This capacity of the glass industry is not only stopped to meet the needs of the country, but the basis of the emergence of new companies in the expansion of the industry has strengthened it.
Amir Hossain, managing director of PHP Flot Glass Industries, said the government's policy support has increased the production capacity of the glass industry, resulting in exports. Even though the country's demand is increasing, the production capacity of domestic factories is capable of meeting it. Specialized glass is now being made in the country and the glass industry has become an important sector in the country's economy, whose future is bright.
Glass in the building: transparent solution of modern construction
The use of glass in the building is the main reason for its transparency. It ensures natural light flow in addition to stopping the dust entering the inside of the building. Although first used in the window, the glass has become one of the main elements of the outside building due to availability and affordable value.
In the construction of brick or concrete, where multiple materials, lots of money, time and labor are needed, glass construction is relatively easy. It is ready to only set and clean the finish of the finishing material. Glass has become especially popular for business buildings for this convenience.
How is the glass made
Glass is an industrial product, which is made of sand melting. Islamic glass workers made this process easier. Currently the glass is made of silica, soda, dolomite, limestone, feldspar, sodium nitrate and coal powder. General glass and crystal glass are available in the market of Bangladesh, where ordinary glass has green color and crystal glass is quite clear. The thickness of the glass is usually 5 to 12 millimeters and the glass panel is used up to 20 millimeters outside the building.
Glass type and use
Colorful reflection glass is commonly used in apartments and commercial establishments; Which enters adequate lighting as well as ensuring privacy. It protects the eyes from more sunlight and reduces the requirements of the window screen. Double glake glass is used in the apartment, but it will not only prevent heat, but also reduce the noise pollution and will help to save electricity. At the same time, it gives more security because it is not fragile. Laminated glass is effective in increasing the durability and security of the building, even though it looks like ordinary glass in the eyes. Sunlight resistant glass enters the natural light in the house, but keeps the heat of the sun, so the house is cold. Acoustic glass is used to prevent sound, which makes the environment calm and comfortable. And if you want to make the house aesthetic, you have to choose a designed glass. All these types of glass brings a touch of artistic not only in modern architecture.
The capacity of production in the country
According to the Bangladesh Glass Merchant Association, there is a demand for 5 tonnes or 1 lakh square feet of glass per day in the country. And every day, 1 ton or 1 lakh square feet of glass is being produced. Once upon a time, 4 major factories in Kalurghat in Chittagong – Osmania Glass Sheet, Messrs Elias Brothers (MEB), Akiz & Bashir Group, Nasir Glass, PHP floating glass and AB Glass Industries were glass industries. Currently, Ottoman and MEB factories are closed, but the glass produced in four factories is sufficient to meet the demand. According to the sectors, Akiz and Nasir Group produce a total of 5 tonnes of glass per day. The remaining 5 tonnes are produced in PHP floating glass and AB Glass Industries.
Bangladesh Glass Merchant Association president Mohammad Hossain Alamgir said the demand for glass or glass in the country is increasing at a rate of 3-5 percent every year. Of these, 5 percent of the glass is used in the construction of housing and buildings, 20 percent of the industrial sector packaging and furniture, 20 percent photoframe and other work, and the remaining 5 percent are used for other purposes.
Market size
According to the information provided by the Bangladesh Glass Merchant Association and vendors, the price of the glass is millimeter and according to the standard, the square foot is from Rs. If an average of 5 rupees is estimated, the price of glass produced in the country is around Tk 1 crore, which is more than Tk. Meanwhile, the value of the imported glass is around Tk. 5 crore, so the total amount of glass market in the country is more than Tk.
Yet import
At one time, the entire glass market in Bangladesh was dependent on import. However, since domestic companies started production, the amount of import has started to decrease rapidly. At present, only 8-20 percent of the country's glass demand is being imported, where 5 percent of the glass was once imported. Chittagong port is the largest glass import. Especially in the financial year, when 1 lakh 20 thousand tonnes of glass was imported. Since then the amount of import has been gradually decreasing. At present, more than 3,000 tonnes of glass is imported every year in the country, with a market value of more than Tk.
At present, the industry is importing more glass, especially for electronic products and cars. Most of the glass comes from China and some are imported from Taiwan, Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia. However, entrepreneurs are hoping that the import of these glasses will be reduced in the future.
Being exported
About $ 1 million worth of glass is exported from Bangladesh every year, which has increased gradually since 20 years. However, in the first half of this year, exports decreased by 5 percent and in December it decreased by about 5 percent. The PHP family started exporting in the 21st, but Nasir is currently at the top of the Float Glass Industries. In 2021-27, Bangladesh exports a glass of $ 1.8 million from Bangladesh to $ 1.3 million, which has dropped to $ 1.8 million in 2021-27. 12 percent of exports go to India and Nepal. In addition to Sri Lanka, Bhutan and some Africa; Such as Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya are also being exported. The United Arab Emirates has also been added as a new market.
Increasing investment potential
Large companies, including Pran-RFL, are interested in entering the glass market in the country. They are already making tempered glass, especially for furniture and electronic products. Asked about this, Kamruzzaman Kamal, director (marketing) of Pran-RFL Group, said that Pran-RFL Tamped Glass was making furniture and electronic products. Demand for electronic products is increasing, so we want to expand investment. In addition, we also plan to create a float glass, which is a little behind for some reason.
Challenge to have
One of the major challenges in the glass industry is to continue production for 12-5 years. If the factory is closed, the furnace will be damaged and new investment will be made. For this, the factory has to store three to six months raw material. All raw materials are to be imported except silica sand in the country. Because of this, the cost of production is high. The risk of investment is high. However, the raw materials are available in China, so they keep the cost of less time and the cost of production is low.