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7 St. Thomas

Curved glass contributes to harmony between Victorian and contemporary design

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When glass helps to create a comfortable learning environment

ARO - 242 West 53rd Street

Floor to ceiling windows provide light, transparency and sweeping views of Central Park

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Our story

Just as we were in 1932, we're ready to meet the challenges of now and the future

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We strive for quality in everything we do

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Our story

About Us

An entrepreneurial spirit,
a certain foresight

We have a heritage of matching the latest technologies to people’s needs at Guardian Glass. Perhaps this is no surprise once you realize we began as a windshield glass manufacturer for Detroit’s automobile industry. Not a place to succeed without having innovative ideas, strict quality control and a relentless work ethic. Years passed until the company came under the dynamic and far-sighted leadership of William “Bill” Davidson. Bill had a vision and an unshakable will to make things happen, two other attributes we still have to this day. Which is why, on October 26, 1970, Guardian opened its first state-of-the-art float glass plant in Carleton, Michigan, becoming the first U.S. company in over 50 years to enter the primary glass market. Following this success, Guardian went on to construct glass manufacturing plants across the United States, then Europe, then globally across regions as diverse as Thailand, India, Brazil and Saudi Arabia. In 1983 we were among the first companies to develop low-emissivity (low-E) glass, with a state-of-the-art magnetron sputter coating process – helping to improve the energy efficiency of architectural glass around the world. Since then, we’ve developed many unique products and bespoke solutions for clients. Including architects, fabricators, glaziers, cladders, interior designers and homeowners. 

With its flexibility, aesthetic qualities and sustainability attributes glass has never been more essential to the world’s plans. Just as we were in 1932, we’re ready to meet the challenges of now and the future, with new thinking, products and solutions to meet the needs of all our customers –and the world at large. 

Early years
1932

Guardian Glass Company begins as a small windshield fabricator in Detroit, Michigan

Guardian Glass Company begins as a small windshield fabricator in Detroit, Michigan

Guardian Glass Company was founded in Detroit, Michigan in 1932. The company’s 20 employees produced roughly 100 laminated windshields a day in a plant on Detroit’s Lower East Side. Its only equipment was a press used for laminating glass to the interlayer; all other work was done manually. Sales during the company’s first year totaled $130,000.

Guardian adopted the logo incorporating a big G surrounding a knight on a horse. The logo represented security and protection against wind, weather and debris that Guardian windshields gave to drivers and passengers of vehicles.

During World War II, Guardian was producing millions of square feet of laminated glass for windshields in trucks, jeeps and other military vehicles. In the early 1950s, Guardian began production of curved, laminated windshields and in 1970, Guardian became the first company to enter the U.S. primary glass industry in nearly 50 years when production started at a new plant in Carleton, Mich.

Guardian’s history of progressive management, innovative thinking and steady growth continued. Today, Guardian operates plants on five continents and our products and systems grace vehicles, homes and construction projects all over the world. Our vision is to create long-term value for our customers, shareholders and society more efficiently and faster than our competitors through commercial and operational excellence and the application of Market-Based Management®.

1957

William Davidson is named president.

Early years
1932

Guardian Glass Company begins as a small windshield fabricator in Detroit, Michigan

Guardian Glass Company begins as a small windshield fabricator in Detroit, Michigan

Guardian Glass Company was founded in Detroit, Michigan in 1932. The company’s 20 employees produced roughly 100 laminated windshields a day in a plant on Detroit’s Lower East Side. Its only equipment was a press used for laminating glass to the interlayer; all other work was done manually. Sales during the company’s first year totaled $130,000.

Guardian adopted the logo incorporating a big G surrounding a knight on a horse. The logo represented security and protection against wind, weather and debris that Guardian windshields gave to drivers and passengers of vehicles.

During World War II, Guardian was producing millions of square feet of laminated glass for windshields in trucks, jeeps and other military vehicles. In the early 1950s, Guardian began production of curved, laminated windshields and in 1970, Guardian became the first company to enter the U.S. primary glass industry in nearly 50 years when production started at a new plant in Carleton, Mich.

Guardian’s history of progressive management, innovative thinking and steady growth continued. Today, Guardian operates plants on five continents and our products and systems grace vehicles, homes and construction projects all over the world. Our vision is to create long-term value for our customers, shareholders and society more efficiently and faster than our competitors through commercial and operational excellence and the application of Market-Based Management®.

1957

William Davidson is named president.

1968

Company goes public and changes name to Guardian Industries Corp.

1969

Permaglass acquisition adds Millbury, Ohio, plant.

1970
1970

First float glass plant begins operations in Carleton, Michigan

First float glass plant begins operations in Carleton, Michigan

Guardian’s defining moment. With no experience building a float glass plant and many obstacles ahead, William Davidson called on his team of engineers to defy the odds and build a modern, state-of-the-art facility in Carleton, Michigan. The plant totaled 275,000 square feet with a pull of 350 tons per day.

Heat up of the furnace started in August 1970, and the first Guardian glass was pulled later that month. At the official dedication on October 26, Davidson told the assembled industry, community, civic and government leaders that, “It is Guardian’s intention to truly be a glass company of the future, matching the properties of the product to the needs of the people, and it is with that in mind that we are entering the glass manufacturing field.”

1973

Second float line launches in Carleton, Michigan. This is the only Guardian plant to have two furnaces under one roof.

1970
1970

First float glass plant begins operations in Carleton, Michigan

First float glass plant begins operations in Carleton, Michigan

Guardian’s defining moment. With no experience building a float glass plant and many obstacles ahead, William Davidson called on his team of engineers to defy the odds and build a modern, state-of-the-art facility in Carleton, Michigan. The plant totaled 275,000 square feet with a pull of 350 tons per day.

Heat up of the furnace started in August 1970, and the first Guardian glass was pulled later that month. At the official dedication on October 26, Davidson told the assembled industry, community, civic and government leaders that, “It is Guardian’s intention to truly be a glass company of the future, matching the properties of the product to the needs of the people, and it is with that in mind that we are entering the glass manufacturing field.”

1973

Second float line launches in Carleton, Michigan. This is the only Guardian plant to have two furnaces under one roof.

1974

Guardian adds fabrication capability with acquisition of Glass Guard Industries in Webster, Massachusetts.

1974

Upper Sandusky, Ohio, automotive glass fabrication plant begins operations.

1980
1980

Corsicana, Texas float glass plant begins operations.

1981

Guardian expands into Europe with launch of float glass plant in Bascharage, Luxembourg

Guardian expands into Europe with launch of float glass plant in Bascharage, Luxembourg

The Bascharage, Luxembourg float glass plant was Guardian’s first in Europe and set the stage for worldwide expansion.

Luxembourg’s central location between Belgium, France and Germany gave the company ready access to Europe’s most important glass regions.

A small number of U.S. trained managers and technicians moved to Luxembourg to assume leadership roles within the plant. Guardian wanted to show its European employees the possibilities of working in a new and exciting environment, for a company that intended to lead the way in Europe as it had in the U.S. In a careful process of give-and-take, Guardian learned how to function as a European company while a European workforce learned how to function as part of the Guardian team.

Guardian’s move shook up the glass establishment and the company was later dubbed the "raging bull" in Europe by the Financial Times.

In 2016, Guardian celebrated 35 years in Luxembourg with the official opening of its new offices in Bertrange.

1980
1980

Corsicana, Texas float glass plant begins operations.

1981

Guardian expands into Europe with launch of float glass plant in Bascharage, Luxembourg

Guardian expands into Europe with launch of float glass plant in Bascharage, Luxembourg

The Bascharage, Luxembourg float glass plant was Guardian’s first in Europe and set the stage for worldwide expansion.

Luxembourg’s central location between Belgium, France and Germany gave the company ready access to Europe’s most important glass regions.

A small number of U.S. trained managers and technicians moved to Luxembourg to assume leadership roles within the plant. Guardian wanted to show its European employees the possibilities of working in a new and exciting environment, for a company that intended to lead the way in Europe as it had in the U.S. In a careful process of give-and-take, Guardian learned how to function as a European company while a European workforce learned how to function as part of the Guardian team.

Guardian’s move shook up the glass establishment and the company was later dubbed the "raging bull" in Europe by the Financial Times.

In 2016, Guardian celebrated 35 years in Luxembourg with the official opening of its new offices in Bertrange.

1982

AIRCO acquisition in Carleton, Michigan, adds new coating facility strategically located across the street from float glass plant.

1982

Guardian celebrates 50th anniversary.

1990
1990

Guardian launches joint venture float glass plant in Maturín, Venezuela.

1991

Oroshaza, Hungary, float glass plant starts operations.

1990
1990

Guardian launches joint venture float glass plant in Maturín, Venezuela.

1991

Oroshaza, Hungary, float glass plant starts operations.

1992

Guardian acquires Consolidated Glass & Mirror Company in Galax, Virginia, expanding fabrication capabilities.

1992

Guardian enters Asia with the launch of the Nong Khae, Thailand, float glass plant.

2000
2000

Guardian opens float glass distribution centers in Veracruz, Mexico, and Cartagena, Colombia.

2000

Guardian Science & Technology Center opens in Carleton, Michigan

Guardian Science & Technology Center opens in Carleton, Michigan

In 2000, Guardian opened its Science & Technology Center, one of the most sophisticated and comprehensive glass laboratories in the world. Since that time, STC has launched scores of new products and received hundreds of new patents.

President and CEO William Davidson had the vision to direct and lead this change. In a view of the future to employees he said, “For the last 20 years, Guardian has been in a capital expenditure phase, building float plants at a rate of nearly one every year. We need to begin looking at the plants we have and finding ways to make them more profitable. We can only become more profitable through change, and that is the direction in which this company is headed. Therefore, I have two challenges for each of you. First, continue to be the low-cost producer of your products. Second, pursue the development of further downstream operations and more new products. As a company, we need to exploit our current capabilities and competitive advantage, while at the same time, develop new capabilities. It is these new capabilities that will see Guardian through the inevitable moment when our old capabilities no longer provide an advantage. We must either evolve as a company or fall behind.”

The cornerstone of Guardian’s new direction was the establishment of the Science & Technology Center to unify and coordinate critical aspects of product and process innovation. The location across the street from a float glass plant was selected so the company did not grow out of touch with the realities of day-to-day operations. The Science & Technology Center had two overriding objectives: provide Guardian innovated products to offer its customers and develop efficient manufacturing processes that increase quality by reducing customer costs.

2000
2000

Guardian opens float glass distribution centers in Veracruz, Mexico, and Cartagena, Colombia.

2000

Guardian Science & Technology Center opens in Carleton, Michigan

Guardian Science & Technology Center opens in Carleton, Michigan

In 2000, Guardian opened its Science & Technology Center, one of the most sophisticated and comprehensive glass laboratories in the world. Since that time, STC has launched scores of new products and received hundreds of new patents.

President and CEO William Davidson had the vision to direct and lead this change. In a view of the future to employees he said, “For the last 20 years, Guardian has been in a capital expenditure phase, building float plants at a rate of nearly one every year. We need to begin looking at the plants we have and finding ways to make them more profitable. We can only become more profitable through change, and that is the direction in which this company is headed. Therefore, I have two challenges for each of you. First, continue to be the low-cost producer of your products. Second, pursue the development of further downstream operations and more new products. As a company, we need to exploit our current capabilities and competitive advantage, while at the same time, develop new capabilities. It is these new capabilities that will see Guardian through the inevitable moment when our old capabilities no longer provide an advantage. We must either evolve as a company or fall behind.”

The cornerstone of Guardian’s new direction was the establishment of the Science & Technology Center to unify and coordinate critical aspects of product and process innovation. The location across the street from a float glass plant was selected so the company did not grow out of touch with the realities of day-to-day operations. The Science & Technology Center had two overriding objectives: provide Guardian innovated products to offer its customers and develop efficient manufacturing processes that increase quality by reducing customer costs.

2000

Guardian develops the SunGuard® series of coated glass products for commercial applications

Guardian develops the SunGuard® series of coated glass products for commercial applications

This would later become Guardian SunGuard® advanced architectural glass

2002

Czestochowa, Poland, float glass plant begins operations.

2010
2012

Rostov, Russia, float glass plant begins operations.

2012

Koch Industries invests in Guardian Industries.

2010
2012

Rostov, Russia, float glass plant begins operations.

2012

Koch Industries invests in Guardian Industries.

2013

Ron Vaupel named President and CEO of Guardian Industries Corp.

2013

Custom Glass Solutions by Guardian is established to serve diverse transportation segments in North America.

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