Expanding capabilities for larger glass and demanding coatings
“We had a clear need for larger tempered glass that our subcontracting network simply couldn’t deliver. In addition, we wanted the ability to process glasses with different coatings and meet the growing domestic demand for striking, impressive glass architecture,” says Kari Lilja, Managing Director of Lasiluoto.
Lasiluoto’s reputation and offering in Finland and surrounding countries have been growing for the past 85 years. “We’re a family business founded by my grandfather,” says Lilja. Today, the business is run by the third generation – Kari Lilja and his sister, Marjut Jokinen.
Lasiluoto started out as a traditional glass shop. When it later moved into the insulating glass sector, the company selected an insulating glass line by Lenhardt, which became Bystronic and later continued under the Glaston brand. As a result, Lasiluoto and Glaston have had a long partnership.
As time went on, the company’s strategy evolved, and Lasiluoto chose to focus on projects featuring more distinctive glass structures and large windows. “We are no longer a bulk factory for one-by-one-meter windows. Other companies can do that more efficiently,” Lilja continues.
Moving into large tempered glass
For about 10 years, Lasiluoto considered its next move. Procuring the exact products the company wanted to offer its customers was becoming very challenging. In addition, the team lacked the ability to efficiently process glasses with different coatings. That’s when they decided it was the right moment to invest in their very first tempering line and bring these capabilities in-house.
Lilja and his sister were convinced by a conversation with Glaston’s salesperson. “We looked at other competitors, but in the end, we chose Glaston. To be honest, it was the only realistic option for us. Plus, going with a Finnish company was very important – and a key factor in this investment,” Lilja says.
“Once the decision was made, the process went surprisingly quickly,” he adds. In March 2025, Lasiluoto became the first company in Finland to install Glaston’s FC Series E with Autopilot. The line is known for delivering exceptional glass quality and energy efficiency, especially in jumbo sizes.
Autopilot – the deciding factor
He goes on to say that Glaston’s Autopilot was the deciding factor for the investment. “Without Autopilot, we probably wouldn’t have invested at all,” Lilja notes.
“Since this was our very first tempering furnace, we had no in-house expertise in tempering glass. For us, it was crucial to have the support of Autopilot so that we could take the furnace immediately into production without spending six months learning by trial and error,” he says.
Autopilot is Glaston’s smart automation feature that minimizes operator involvement. It streamlines production and optimizes resources from day one.
Straightforward training
Lasiluoto’s operators were very satisfied with the smooth, straightforward training they received from Glaston at Glaston’s factory in June 2025. In August, Glaston arranged another three days of technical support for the team.
“We have also decided to visit Glaston’s facilities in Tampere to learn more about the entire tempering process and how we can take greater advantage of the line,” Lilja says.
Glass looks exactly the same
Shortly after the line’s startup, Lasiluoto began see results. “The furnace was already in heavy use. We achieved a very high level of quality and have even won some new projects that we would not have been able to bid for without this investment,” Lilja says.
Lilja goes on to describe the new tempering output. The coatings remain intact, and even the largest sheets that they temper come out straight, which is extremely important for Lasiluoto, since they then further process the glass on their insulation line.
“If the glass isn’t straight after tempering, it’s impossible to use it in insulated glass units,” he explains.
“Actually, it’s a funny process in that way. You feed glass into the tempering machine, and it comes out looking exactly the same. Which is precisely what you want. Nothing visible happens to the glass during the process,” Lilja says.
Looking to the future
Lasiluoto is already planning ahead. “The new FC Series E was really just the first step. Of course, we have to stay realistic and move forward step by step,” Lilja says.
He points out that the use of safety glass is increasing and demand for larger panes with different functional properties is growing.
“We’re seeing a growing trend toward more striking and impressive glass in architecture – and glass that can withstand our harsh climate conditions in the North,” he says. “Now that we’re equipped with the best tempering line with the ability to automatically select the proper production recipes, we will be able to unlock more opportunities for delivering unique, jumbo-sized tempered glass.”