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One of the world's most advanced highly automated manufacturing facilities for vacuum insulating glass has been established in Lodelinsart. "The facility is a prime example of a new generation of industrial glass production. We started in 2019 with a pilot line, essentially Generation 1.0, are now at Fineo 3.0, and already have Fineo 5.0 in the pipeline for the future," explains Stefan Lips, Sales Director Europe for Fineo. “We are still at the beginning of a revolution, but are very excited to see this innovation take place in the world of glazing”, he adds.

The Fineo industrial expansion targets more competitive pricing and a broader product portfolio: more solar coatings and new variants covering all segments from restoration to new construction. Available glass formats range from 0.01 square meters up to 1,600 x 3,000 mm. The new line hosts top-notch new technologies and features. Among them, a key technological advance lies in vacuum evacuation at lower temperatures. This has reduced the production cycle from twenty to fifteen hours, with a perspective of reaching ten hours. As a consequence, production capabilities will logically increase. 

 

Fineo is a new generation of insulating glass with a vacuum layer just 0.1 mm thin between two glass panes. Unlike other vacuum glazing products, there is no evacuation opening, causing less visual disruption. During the vacuum process, the glass edge is hermetically fused to ensure permanently high insulation values without maintenance, high daylight transmission, whilst highlighting the slender character of façades. “This vacuum glass offers thermal insulation comparable to that of triple glazing. However, it is much thinner, a quarter of the thickness of triple glazing, and lighter, at around half the weight. Fineo also enables a significant reduction in the thickness of new frames and windows, thereby drastically reducing the quantities of raw materials required. These properties lower CO₂ emissions, both during production and in operation," emphasizes Jerome Goubau, Fineo General Manager.

The manufacturing process is the reverse of conventional insulating glass. In a cleanroom, the so-called motherboard, a large plate measuring 1,605 x 2,500 mm, is divided into the required pane sections, fully evacuated and sealed. Since no valve is integrated into the glass, the entire surface area is available. Only then is the glass cut.

A further distinction: conventional insulating glass consists of glass, aluminium, butyl and polysulphide. Fineo is made entirely from ceramic materials, 100 percent recyclable and circular. All components can be returned to the glass furnace. "I won't live to see the end of the service life of the panes we produce today. If Louis XIV had had Fineo available for Versailles, the glass would still have its original insulation value today," says Jean-Charles Dumont, Operations Manager.

 

 

Given the climate and economic challenges, and with a focus on user comfort, there is no doubt that Europe’s vast building stock will need to renovate its glazed surfaces. Many of these buildings are poorly insulated, and it is difficult to retrofit them with thicker insulating glass. Conventional multi-pane insulating glass quickly reaches its limits: profiles are often too slim, and load-bearing capacity and weight become problematic. Fineo vacuum glass achieves the thermal performance of triple glazing at significantly reduced thickness and weight, offering a precise response to these requirements. 

"Thanks to its slim edge seal and versatility of form, Fineo is the ideal solution for glass replacement in the restoration and renovation of historic windows. Beyond that, the advanced vacuum glazing technology opens a clear market opportunity in new construction," explains Stefan Lips, Sales Director Europe for Fineo by AGC. On the strength of its proven benefits, vacuum insulating glass is continuously gaining market share from conventional insulating glazing solutions.

 

 

Energy labels are becoming stricter, and circularity and durability are moving to the centre of tenders and planning decisions. An analysis of this market trend has led Fineo's management to position the brand as “the greenest” among glass insulation solutions. Indeed, Fineo is the only vacuum insulating glass produced in Europe. With an in-house coating facility on site, special products such as Fineo Solar Control solar protection glass, Fineo Acoustic sound insulation glass, and fire-rated variants in combination with Pyrobel fire protection glass can also be produced, enabling thinner fire protection solutions than previously possible. The float glass production facility in Moustier is located nearby, meaning AGC manufactures the float glass, coats it on site, and processes it into Fineo vacuum glass without lengthy transport. Fineo can rely also on AGC commitment to further reduce the product's environmental footprint through the growing use of cullet as a recycled raw material, the electrification of production, and an increasing share of renewable energy.

Fineo’s willingness to lead the way in sustainability is reflected through certifications, recently obtained by the brand. It is the first vacuum insulating glass product to have obtained an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) verified by an external third-party (INIES), achieving an outstandingly low value of 18.9 kg CO₂ equivalent per square meter in its low-carbon variant. Fineo is also the only one to have obtained the EPD from the “Nationale Milieu Database” (NMD, which is highly demanded by the construction industry in Netherlands. Regarding the lifespan of the product, long-term testing further confirms thermal and acoustic performance of more than sixty years.

 

 

Fineo was the world's first VIG manufacturer to obtain CE marking (ETA 20/0048) and holds all relevant local approvals: aBG from the DIBt in Germany, Avis Technique (CSTB) in France, BCRG in the Netherlands, and ATG in Belgium. "No other supplier can say the same. But one thing must be kept in mind: a certificate is not a test report. What counts is whether a product can be delivered consistently and at scale. Fineo can," adds Clement Lemoine, Head of Product & Marketing. For specifiers and architects, this means greater planning certainty, simplified compliance documentation, and faster approval processes.

With the new line, Fineo is now accessible to all customers, with no minimum quantities or exclusivity barriers. The product range now covers free shapes and is compatible with all common frame types. Beyond production, Fineo is positioning itself as the leading knowledge and service platform for the entire value chain, from installers and distributors to architects and building owners. Digital tools such as the Fineo Configurator already support planning and specification today. "This is not a promise for the future. It is already reality. AGC is not talking about an expansion. AGC makes it real," says Lips.