Toughened Glass Cut to Size
ABC Glass Processing
Glass Toughening Services for Trade Customers
abc Glass Processing is a specialist toughened glass manufacturer and supplier based in Portsmouth. We produced toughened glass and cut to size for glass merchants, manufacturers, specialist glass contractors, shower specialists and a variety of trade customers across the South and Southeast of England.
From our advanced factory, we cut, shape, drill, finish and toughen glass as part of our comprehensive in-house glass processing services. We can manufacture anything from individual bespoke panels to bulk production runs and regular repeat orders, with glass produced to your measurements, hard templates, technical drawings or DXF files.
Our capabilities include CNC glass cutting and shaping and waterjet glass cutting, enabling us to produce complex shapes and holes, notches and cut-outs for glass patch fittings before toughening to EN 12150 safety standard.
Toughened Glass
Over 25 years of glass toughening expertise
For more than 25 years, abc Glass Processing has supplied processed glass to businesses including glass merchants and glaziers, bathroom and shower enclosure specialists, furniture manufacturers, balustrade companies, kitchen businesses, contractors and commercial interior specialists.
Our in-house toughening facility gives us control over the process from initial glass cutting and machining through to toughening, finishing and dispatch. This makes us well equipped for bulk toughened glass orders, repeat manufacturing requirements and scheduled trade supply, as well as one-off bespoke panels.
We manufacture toughened safety glass from 4mm to 15mm thick, with panels up to approximately 2.5m x 4m. Glass options include clear, low-iron, frosted, coloured, back-painted, tinted and fluted glass.
All toughened glass is manufactured to the appropriate BS EN 12150 requirements. Heat soak tested glass is also available where the project specification requires additional assurance and safety.
For applications requiring additional safety performance, we can also manufacture toughened laminated glass.
Toughened Glass Cut to Size
Made-to-Measure Toughened Glass for Trade & Manufacturing
We specialise in manufacturing cut to size toughened glass for wide range of applications from interior glass partitions to shower screens and supply a variety of manufacturers and glass specialists in the South and Southwest of England.
We can produce square and rectangular toughened panels can from simple dimensions, and more complex shapes can be produced from customers hard templates or digital DXF files. Our advanced CNC and waterjet capabilities allow us to accurately machine holes, notches and cut-outs for hinges, handles, patch fittings and other hardware prior to toughening the glass.
Where glass edges are exposed, we can add glass edge polishing as part of the process.
We have the capacity and flexibility to produce single sheets and bulk quantities of toughened glass. For manufacturers with regular requirements, stock glass sizes and specifications can be held on file for simple and fast repeat ordering.
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Started using abc glass end of 2021. I have to say that service, delivery and quality have been excellent and, compared with our previous supplier, their prices are very competitive. Highly recommend.
Peter Briggs
ABC glass processing are a fantastic glass supplier, well organised, very helpful and competitively priced. The attention to detail and quality of glass is also second to none.
Thomas Haynes
Fantastic reliable service of quality products. Office staff are always very helpful and knowledgeable, Sarah in sales is amazing !!! Just the perfect company to deal with.
Matt Walbridge
Always a fantastic service! They go above and beyond to help you get the job done. My go to supplier for glass.
Shaun Bell
Great Company to work with, great service, quality and competitive prices. Thoroughly recommend them.
Tony Rix
Excellent – will always help if they can. Good product, good price, good knowledge.
Jules G
Just had delivered the glass to replace my staircase with glass panels. Very helpful, good value for money and delivered exactly when promised, thank you.
Darren Logan
Glass Toughening
Learn More
For more information about our glass toughening services, please view the expansion panels below or contact us.
What is toughened glass?
Toughened glass is a form of safety glass (also called tempered glass) that has been heated to a very high temperature (typically over 600°C) and then rapidly cooled with jets of air in a controlled process. This heat treatment changes the internal structure of the glass, making it significantly stronger than standard float glass.
As a result, toughened glass is typically around five times stronger than standard glass of the same thickness. Toughened glass is typically required where safety, and safety standards, require additional safety. Examples of applications include glass tables, shower screen glass, frameless glass doors and some forms of balustrade glass.
What is tempered glass?
Tempered glass is another term for toughened glass – they are the same thing. Read our in-depth guide to toughened and tempered glass.
How is toughened glass made?
The process of producing toughened glass involves several stages:
- Cutting and shaping the glass first – All cutting, drilling, polishing, and shaping must be completed before the glass is toughened, because toughened glass cannot be cut after it has been heat treated.
- Heating the glass in a furnace – The glass is heated in our Gaston toughening plant evenly to over 600°C.
- Rapid cooling (quenching) – High-pressure air is blown onto the glass surface to cool it quickly. This heating and rapid cooling hardens the surface and creates tension inside the glass, which gives toughened glass its strength.
Why is toughened glass is safer?
Toughened glass is typically 5 times stronger than glass that has not been toughened. However, one of the key benefits of toughened glass is how it breaks.
When standard glass shatters, it breaks into large sharp shards which can cause serious injury. When toughened glass breaks, it shatters into small fragments, significantly reducing the risk of serious injury. Because of this, toughened glass is classed as safety glass and is stipulated by building regulations for many applications.
Can toughened glass be cut?
No. Glass that has been toughened cannot be cut, drilled or shaped once it has been through the glass toughening process. All glass processing must be completed before the glass is toughened. This includes:
- Cutting to size
- Drilling of holes
- Shaping by routing or waterjet
- Edge polishing and beveling
If toughened glass is cut or drilled after toughening, it will shatter.
When and where should toughened glass be used?
Toughened safety glass is recommended or required when glass is:
- In doors or low-level glazing
- Used in bathrooms or wet areas
- Used in furniture or shelving
- Used in public or commercial buildings
- Used where impact risk is high
- Where stipulated by building regulations
What safety standard does your toughened glass comply to?
Our toughened glass complies with the British and European standard BS EN 121 50. For more information about this safety standard, read our in-depth article
What are the applications for toughened safety glass?
Toughened glass is commonly used in areas where strength and safety are important considerations or where stipulated by building regulations. Examples of common applications include:
- Shower screens and shower doors
- Glass doors and partitions
- Glass balustrades and balconies
- Tabletops and shelving
- Shop and office interiors
In many of these applications, building regulations require safety glass such as toughened, laminated or toughened and laminated glass.
How to order toughened safety glass
If you require glass toughening, we have the capacity and expertise to supply toughened and tempered safety glass in bulk or single sheet quantities and we are trusted suppliers to many UK bathroom, kitchen, and furniture manufacturers.
To order toughened glass we require either measurements, for simple square and rectangular glass sheets, or a hard template or digital DXF files. We can scan hard templates to produce DXF cutting files for you. If you are a manufacturer, we can hold glass specifications on file for production with regular deliveries to meet your production schedules. If you have questions about ordering toughened glass, please do contact us.
Delivery information
We operate a fleet of delivery vehicles staffed by our own drivers, ensuring the highest standards of customer and product care. Our delivery service is free, with weekly delivery routes operated throughout the south of England. Regular delivery areas are shown on the map below. We can deliver glass to areas outside of our usual delivery area for large projects. Our free delivery service accommodates both single sheets of glass and bulk orders.
abc Glass Processing, Unit 2a Dundas Close, Portsmouth, Hampshire, PO3 5RB
Email: info@abcglass.co.uk
Phone: 023 92 678 222
