THE ART OF MAKING GLASS
THE ART OF MAKING A GLASS SHOWER
Creating a mesmerizing piece of flat glass is an intricate and demanding process that requires a high level of skill, precision, patience, machinery, and space. It's a true art form that goes through multiple stages before it reaches its final form of a finished shower.
​
The initial step in the process, although often considered straightforward, is the procurement of the raw materials. At Chicago Glass Factory, we have meticulously developed relationships with some of the world's premier glass manufacturers through a rigorous process of experimentation and refinement. These manufacturers are known for their emphasis on quality, elimination of impurities, innovation, and their ability to deliver a flawless raw material such as what we use: German engineered DiamondBlue float glass.
UNLOADING
Upon receiving the glass, the next step in the process is the unloading of the materials. While unloading may be considered a simple task in other industries, in the glass industry it is a complex and specialized process.
Specialized machinery such as heavy-duty cranes or specialized forklifts equipped with attachments specifically designed to handle the weight of the glass, often over 5,000 pounds, are required for safe and efficient unloading.
MEASURING AND CUTTING THE GLASS
The subsequent step in the process is measuring and cutting the glass. At our factory, we specialize in frameless glass, thus accuracy is of the utmost importance. While machines may have a tolerance of up to 1/4 inch, projects such as showers require precision up to 1/32nd of an inch, making manual cutting the preferred method.
Our team of skilled craftsmen, who are designated specifically for this task, utilize ultra-precision techniques to ensure that the glass is cut to perfection. One small mistake could result in the glass breaking, thus the utmost care and attention is given to this critical step in the process.
CUTOUTS, HOLE, AND HINGES
With the glass cut to size, the next step is to add any intricate designs, patterns, shapes, holes or hinges as required. This phase of the process is a delicate one, requiring the use of highly specialized machinery, and with a degree of fragility, as the glass can be prone to breakage. To achieve the highest level of precision and accuracy, a CNC machine with a waterjet is employed to create the cutouts before the glass is expertly polished to perfection.
POLISHING THE GLASS
Next, the glass undergoes a double polishing process. First, it is smoothed and seamed to eliminate any sharp edges that could pose a danger later on. Next, the glass is polished once more, this time using imported Italian machinery, which imbues it with the stunning and smooth edges that are the hallmark of our glass showers.
TEMPERING
With the polishing process completed, the next step is to undergo the crucial process of tempering. This process imbues the glass with strength and durability by heating it to extremely high temperatures, and then rapidly cooling it, a process known as quenching. This is executed using state-of-the-art machinery. The quenching process causes the surface of the glass to compress, while the core remains in tension, resulting in a state of compression on the surface and tension on the core. This makes the glass far more resistant to breakage and impact, ensuring not only its strength but also safety, as tempered glass breaks into small, rounded pieces rather than sharp shards. It is important to note that this process makes the glass 4-5 times stronger than annealed glass and safe for your bathroom.
AND THAT'S HOW A BEAUTIFUL PIECE OF GLASS IS MADE.
