Technological innovation has always been the driving force behind Forel’s development..Over the years, we have designed machines and automated lines that have helped improve quality, productivity and reliability in flat glass processing. The technologies presented in this section represent some of the most important and significant operating units that make up Forel lines.
We entered the flat glass industry with our first low-emissivity glass washing machine. It marked our first real step into the sector, but also the beginning of an insight that would change everything: vertical glass processing.
With the first vertical system presented at a trade fair in Milan, we began a journey of continuous evolution, with the aim of making processes increasingly automated and efficient.
Verticality is not just a technical choice, but a new way of thinking about the production process. It allows us to optimise space, quality, handling and control, paving the way for a new generation of insulating glass lines.
From this point, a continuous development path began, leading Forel to redefine industry standards.
In the 1990s, we introduced automatic sealing, improving quality and productivity and opening a phase of direct engagement with the market.
At the same time, the introduction of gas presses marked an important step forward, contributing to increased performance and efficiency of production lines.
Over time, insulating glass components also evolved: spacers shifted from rigid solutions to flexible and thermoplastic profiles. We adapted quickly to this change, turning every evolution into an opportunity.
Challenges related to intellectual property protection also became part of the journey, acting as a continuous driver for deference and improvement.
“Protecting our innovations has been our duty”
Fortunato Vianello – Founder of Forel
In 1996, we introduced the vertical cutting table, anticipating a need the market had not yet clearly expressed.
An insight that resulted in a patent that reflects our approach to innovation: foresight, imagination and delivering ahead of time.
In 2003, Forel introduced the first vertical arrissing / seaming machine, marking a shift in edge processing by improving stability, safety, and speed across the entire line. Since then, this technology has been continuously refined to make the process increasingly simple, integrated and high performing.
At the same time, edge grinding has become one of the most advanced areas of development. The transition from belt processing to diamond wheels represented a significant leap forward, ensuring greater precision, consistency, and product quality.
Today, with over twenty years of proven experience and more than nine dedicated patents, edge processing represents a key area of Forel innovation: a continuously improving process designed to meet the most advanced production needs.
Our journey is not only about machines, but about people, expertise, and a shared sense of belonging. Every innovation stems from collaborative work built over time.
Today, we continue to develop solutions that are difficult to replicate without the know-how: a result driven not by chance, but by experience, dedication and teamwork.
“The result comes from the strength of unity and working together”
Stefano Salvian – General Manager of Forel