It all started in 1883
Vitro Architectural Glass (formerly PPG Glass) is the largest glass producer in the Western Hemisphere, backed by two globally proven legacies in commercial glass manufacturing.
The foundations of two historic glass companies began to take shape. Over the next century, both companies would evolve to become glass industry leaders in their own right—ultimately coming together as one.
1883
THE BEGINNING
The Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company is founded as the first plate glass plant in the U.S. 25 years later, in 1909, Vidriera Monterrey—a glass containers plant that would grow to become Vitro—also begins operations.
1934
SOLEX® GLASS
Solex® glass —now Solexia® glass—is introduced as the world’s first “environmental” glass.
1945
TWINDOW® GLASS
Twindow® is introduced as the first successful double-paned insulating glass.
1964
SOLARBAN® GLASS
PPG introduces Solarban® glass as one of the first coated glasses designed to reflect solar heat and reduce air conditioning use.
1971
MEXICO STOCK EXCHANGE
Vitro is listed on the Mexico Stock Exchange.
1983
FIRST MSVD SINGLE SILVER GLASS
The first MSVD single silver glass for residential windows is introduced as part of PPG’s Sungate® family of glass products.
1989
ADVANCES IN PERFORMANCE
PPG’s first double-silver solar control low-e glass is introduced, helping enhance year-round comfort in homes and buildings while saving on heating and cooling costs.
1991
THE VITRO GLASS MUSEUM
The Vitro Glass Museum (MUVi) opens its doors to record, preserve and promote the history of glass.
1996
VITRO COLOMBIA
Vitro launches Vitro Colombia to produce and distribute flat glass in South America.
2000
SOLARBAN® 60 GLASS
The world is introduced to Solarban® 60 glass, the first double-silver vacuum- temperable low-e glass that allowed for post-manufacturing fabrication.
2005
SOLARBAN® 70XL GLASS
Solarban® 70XL glass (now Solarban® 70 glass) is introduced, featuring the world’s first triple-silver, low-e coating.
2008
A SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE COMPANY
Vitro earns “Socially Responsible Company” label from the Mexican Center for Philanthropy.
2015
SOLARBAN® 90 GLASS
Solarban® 90 glass, the first ever quad-silver-coated glass, is introduced as PPG’s highest performing solar control low-e glass to-date.
2016
FORMULATED FOR THE FUTURE
PPG Flat Glass is acquired by Vitro S.A.B. de C.V., maintaining the proven products, plants, people and processes that made the company an industry leader.
2017
ENVIRONMENTAL PRODUCT DECLARATIONS (EPDS)
Vitro Glass becomes the first North American glass manufacturer to publish third-party-verified, product-specific Type III Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) for its flat glass and processed glass products.
2022
VACUMAX™ VACUUM INSULATING GLASS (VIG)
VacuMax™ VIG is manufactured with Solarban® 70 solar-control, low-e glass and offers wall-like R-values up to R20.
2023
VITRO X™ INNOVATION PARTNERSHIPS
Vitro Architectural Glass launched Vitro X™ Innovation Partnerships, a strategic partnership program focused on identifying and developing inspired solutions to existing and future challenges in the glass industry.
2023
PARTNERSHIP WITH FIRST SOLAR
Vitro Architectural Glass announced a partnership with First Solar, America’s largest fully vertically integrated solar manufacturer, to manufacture glass for the company’s advanced thin film photovoltaic (PV) solar panels.
2024
SUNGATE THERML™ GLASS
Sungate ThermL™ glass is designed for use on the interior surface of an IGU and dramatically improves U-values when paired with a Solarban® solar control low-e glass on the second surface.
2024
LOW EMBODIED CARBON (LEC) STANDARDS
In 2024, the General Services Administration (GSA) announced standards for low embodied carbon (LEC) products. Based on its latest EPD results, all Vitro Architectural Glass products from all plants meet the Top 20% (“Most Preferred”) LEC material category.e.
