The ABC of AGC

The Belgian multinational producer of flat glass and its Italian branch have changed their language over the years, updating their vocabulary to communicate with new audiences and changing markets

The production of flat glass has some similarities to the world of ceramic tiles: the furnaces never stop, not even for Covid, and the work continues day and night. At full speed, AGC produces 600 tons of glass per day, to meet the needs of the automotive industry, construction and furnishings, naturally with different quotas from sector to sector.

Fondazione Feltrinelli, Milan
Fondazione Feltrinelli, Milan

The research and development team, with the fundamental synergy of the International Building Project directed by Roberto Galante, has contributed over the years to constant changes in the company’s role: from producer and supplier to a true partner, in closer touch with the demand side, more sensitive to evolving trends and client requirements.

Grand Hotel Victoria, Menaggio, Italy
Grand Hotel Victoria, Menaggio, Italy

This client may be a general contractor, a construction firm, an architect, a designer or a manufacturer of furniture: the first two speak a similar language, but the architect, the designer and the furniture maker belong to another world.

Generali Tower, Milan
Generali Tower, Milan

Obstacles can thus arise, also of a cultural nature. The counterparts are very different from each other, and the character of the subjects involved can lead to crisis: more than once, AGC has had to cope with the unreasonable demands of “starchitects” (where the “star” prefix may at times seem overly generous). New lands to conquer, altering the action of human resources, requiring specific types of expertise, specific sensibilities, the ability to control the chain of production and value, especially among the professional figures involved at the worksite.

Bosco verticale, Milan
Bosco verticale, Milan

The “coating on demand” service successfully deployed in 2017 for the renovation of the facades of Hotel VIU in Milan is one of the latest marketing tools of AGC, and a constant test of the company’s technical and productive capacities.

Allianz Tower, Milan
Allianz Tower, Milan

The International Building Project is a versatile unit that addresses all the sites of AGC (over 100 in Europe and Russia), absorbing various forms of expertise, observing demand, organizing and coordinating the best solutions and – in projects of a certain size – operating directly in the field.

AGC has chosen a strategic line that resembles an alphabet, where each letter on its own has little meaning, but the harmonious combinations can effectively produce a language.