Our
History
From a 900m² factory and a team of three in July 2010 to Australia's first SentryGlas® Quality Network certified laminator — over a decade of milestones, machinery, and growth.
The Timeline
July 2010 — Tough Glass secures a 900m² factory at 14 Achievement Way, Wangara WA and commences business operations. January 2011 — new production machinery arrives and commissioning takes place; Tough Glass employs its initial team of three. September 2011 — on the back of a strong WA economy, the customer base grows rapidly thanks to service and lead times. April 2012 — the first commercial project is secured: shower screens for transportable homes.
June 2013 — the first Intermac CNC is commissioned; processing times for heavyweight glass drop from 5 days to 3, aligning with the strategy of reducing lead times. August 2013 — rapid sales growth prompts the move to a 3,600m² factory at 16 Prestige Parade, Wangara WA, lifting production volume and product range. January 2014 — operations commence from the new factory with heavy investment in state-of-the-art production equipment and facilities.
June 2015 — Kolbe Systems is engaged to implement its continuous quality and process development program. July 2015 — new machinery enables the supply and processing of larger glass panes for builders and architects. February 2016 — Tough Glass goes green, installing over 380 solar panels generating more than 100kW. March 2016 — work begins with Toyota (TSSC Australia) on an integrated production system delivering high-quality glass at low cost with shorter lead times.
April 2017 — the first low pressure autoclave in Australia is commissioned, enabling custom laminated panels to be produced in-house. July 2017 — the Tough Glass family reaches over 50 employees. September 2017 — a second furnace is commissioned to increase tempering capability. May 2018 — further trucks join the expanding delivery fleet. August 2018 — ToughSwitch™ switchable privacy glass joins the custom laminate range.
June 2019 — first production orders for ToughSwitch™, installed throughout Perth buildings including Curtin University. August 2019 — a new IGU line is commissioned; ToughECO™ insulated glass units with high-performing super spacers join the range. April 2020 — Kuraray approves Tough Glass as a SentryGlas® Quality Network Laminator — the first glass processor in Australia to receive the certification. September 2020 — edge deletion modifications enable soft coats in the IGU range, paving the way for ToughECO™ Plus.
December 2020 — the decade milestone: from a team of 3 to over 60 staff, celebrated in the Swan Valley with four 10 Year Service Awards presented. March 2021 — custom lamination builds are designed, developed, and tested for cyclonic regions; ToughStorm™ officially launches as the newest product in the custom laminate range.
The next chapter is being processed.
Continual investment in machinery, people, and process is what turned three employees into WA's supplier of choice — and it hasn't stopped.