tempered glass
Tempered glass production – safety, durability, and modern design
Tempered glass (ESG) is the most commonly used type of safety glass. The tempering or pre-stressing process takes place in a tempering furnace, where the glass is heated to approximately 650 °C and then rapidly cooled. This heat treatment causes physical changes within the glass that enhance its bending and breaking strength, as well as its resistance to external temperature fluctuations.
For over four decades, Rákosy Glass has been producing custom-sized tempered glass, which is up to four to five times stronger than regular glass.
Our products are suitable for all architectural, industrial, and interior design applications – with short lead times and manufactured in Hungary.
Why is tempered glass special?
Glass is inherently fragile because its structure is unable to absorb mechanical energy. During tempered glass production this weakness is eliminated. Heat treatment az üveg felületén nyomófeszültség, belsejében tensile stress inside which significantly increases its strength.
The advantages of tempered glass:
- up to 4–5 times greater bending strength,
- resistance to thermal shock and temperature fluctuations,,
- safe breakage pattern – shatters into small, blunt-edged granules,
- optical clarity and excellent aesthetics.
Step-by-step: How tempered glass is made
Rákosy Glass’s state-of-the-art NorthGlass tempering furnace ensures the quality and precision of tempered glass.
Production process:
- 1. The glass is cut to size and polished.
- 2. The glass is then heated to 650 °C and rapidly cooled.
- 3. The internal stress formed during cooling gives the glass its exceptional strength.
Types of tempering: ESG and TVG
Tempered glass (ESG)
Thanks to rapid cooling, high surface compression develops in the glass, resulting in exceptional strength. ESG is ideal for safety railings, canopies, walkable glass structures, and shower enclosures.
Előfeszített üveg (TVG)
Slower cooling reduces the internal stress of the glass, while still making it stronger than non-tempered glass. Its break pattern falls between that of fully tempered and untreated glass: it breaks into smaller pieces than regular glass, but not as finely as tempered (ESG) glass.
Which type to use should always be determined based on the specific architectural context, the method of installation, and the expected mechanical demands on the structure.
Applications of tempered glass
Tempered glass can be used in a wide range of applications where both safety and design are equally important:
- Glass railings and glass walls
- Glass shower enclosures and shower screens
- Walkable glass floors and glass canopies
- Windows, glass sliding doors, and shopfronts
- Curved glass structures and glass staircases
- Glass tabletops, glass wall claddings, and furniture glass
- Glass fireplace doors, oven glass panels, and industrial heat-resistant glass surfaces
Size limitations and technical specifications
- Minimum size: 200 × 300 mm
- Maximum size: 2850 × 6000 mm
- Thickness: TVG: 4, 6, 8, 10 mm, ESG: 4, 6, 8,10, 12, 15, 19 mm
- Shapes: flat, curved, laminated, insulated
- Production: custom sizes, short lead times
Processing and further fabrication
Tempered glass cannot be cut or drilled after tempering, as the internal stress would immediately be released, causing the glass to shatter.
Certain processing steps are done before tempering, while others take place afterward. For example, ceramic printing is always done before tempering, as the print must be fired onto the glass.
Laminating and the production of insulated glass units are carried out after tempering.
Structures made from tempered glass are not only safe but also offer outstanding aesthetics, making them ideal as decorative design elements as well.
Tempered glass from Rákosy Glass
Rákosy Glass Kft. offers the production of tempered and heat-strengthened glass in large sheet sizes, including curved designs.
info@rakosyuveg.hu | +36 70 377 8213
Frequently Asked Questions
Why can’t tempered glass be cut?
The stress distribution created during tempering would be lost, causing the glass to break into small pieces.
How much stronger is tempered glass?
On average, it has 4–5 times greater bending and compressive strength than standard glass.
What thicknesses are available?
Sizes: TVG: 4, 6, 8, 10 mm, ESG: 4, 6, 8,10, 12, 15, 19 mm
Could it be ordered in laminated or insulated form?
Yes, tempered glass can be laminated afterward or integrated into an insulated glass unit.
Following the custom cutting, grinding and other requested processing of glass, we heat treat it. Tempering or pre-stressing occurs in a tempering furnace, where we heat the glass to an approximate temperature of 650 °C, followed by sudden cooling. As a result of the heat treatment, physical changes occur to the glass, improving its flexural and breaking strength characteristics, as well as its resistance to external temperatures.
After the heat treatment, by performing additional work processes, there is an opportunity to manufacture glued safety glass (ESG VSG or TVG VSG), and multi-layered heat insulation glass structures as well.
Alongside the manufacture of tempered (ESG) quality product, it is possible to manufacture heat-strengthened (TVG) quality glass structures as well. The type to be employed must always be defined on the basis of the given architectural environment, the manner of the installation of the glass, and the subsequent utilization of the structure.
With the help of our new tempering furnace, first fired up in 2020, we are able to manufacture tempered and heat-strengthened curved glass alike.
TYPES OF USE
- railings
- canopies, walkable slabs
- certain elements of doors and windows, sliding doors
- stairs
- spatial separator walls, shower cabins
- curved glass structures
- furniture glasses, coverings
- heated glass structures
- other glasses subject to excessive stress
SIZE LIMITATIONS
- Minimal size: 200 x 300 mm
- Maximum size: 2850 x 6000 mm
- Tempered/heat-strengthened size limitations in case of curved glass vary
Top technologies in Glass Processing
Precision and quality in every single product
Why
choose us?
Rákosy Glass only makes unique glass products tailored to your needs.
We boast decades of experience and numerous industry awards as a guarantee of quality.
We deliver your projects on time and to the highest standards, thanks to our on-site manufacturing.
With the help of our modern machines and advanced techniques, we undertake even the most complex and creative glass processing tasks.
With our environmentally conscious production processes, we contribute to the sustainability of architectural projects.
