Swisspacer has been a pioneer in warm edge technology for more than 20 years. In addition to high-quality products, the company also provides excellent service for the processing industry. They also see themselves as trailblazers to further establish the warm edge internationally with customers and partners as well as all other players in the value chain.
Interview with Matthias Bach, the CEO of Swisspacer, a manufacturer of energy-efficient components for windows and part of the Saint-Gobain Group. He has been working for many years on the economic evaluation of energy efficiency in the existing building stock.
A brief description of the company and its activities
Matthias Bach: Swisspacer, part of the Saint-Gobain Group, develops and manufactures Warm Edge spacer bars for insulating glass units. These components reduce heat loss at the glass edge and contribute to the thermal performance, durability and comfort of window and façade systems.
The company was founded in Switzerland and operates globally in more than 90 countries. In addition to spacer systems, Swisspacer supports insulating glass, window and façade manufacturers with technical service, digital calculation tools and automation-related solutions aimed at stable and efficient industrial production.
What are the main areas of activity of the company?
M.B: Swisspacer focuses on the development of Warm Edge spacer systems designed for reliable thermal performance and consistent quality in serial production. The portfolio also includes functional solutions such as pressure equalisation systems for insulating glass units, which reduce mechanical stress and support long-term performance.
A further area of activity is technical service and process support. This includes on-site audits, optimisation of machine and tooling parameters and assistance in stabilising production processes. In parallel, Swisspacer develops automation concepts to support industrial manufacturers facing labour shortages and increasing productivity requirements. Sustainability-related aspects are addressed through verified environmental data and lifecycle assessments.
What’s the news about new products/services?
M.B: Swisspacer has introduced Swisspacer Ultimate | Nyxé, a Warm Edge spacer based on the established Swisspacer Ultimate. The product contains 33 percent recycled pre-consumer material and maintains the same thermal performance level. Life cycle assessment results indicate a reduction in carbon footprint of approximately 20 percent compared to the previous generation. External verification for the Environmental Product Declaration is in progress.
In addition, Swisspacer has launched a Re:cycling Service for the return of pre-consumer production offcuts. The service is integrated into existing logistics processes and enables material recovery while reducing disposal costs and CO₂ emissions.
To address productivity requirements in industrial manufacturing, Swisspacer is introducing an automated processing solution for spacer frame production. The system is designed for large-scale insulating glass manufacturers and enables frame production in approximately 18 seconds with minimal operator intervention.
Swisspacer is also expanding its manufacturing footprint with a new production site in India, scheduled to start operations by the end of 2025.
What are the ranges of products/services?
M.B: The product range comprises Warm Edge spacer systems for insulating glass units, pressure equalisation solutions such as Swisspacer Air and decorative spacer options for architectural applications. These products are supported by technical services, digital calculation tools and automation concepts for industrial insulating glass production.
What is the state of the market where you are currently active?
M.B: Swisspacer serves insulating glass manufacturers, window producers and façade builders operating under increasing regulatory requirements for energy efficiency, rising cost pressure and labour shortages. Demand is shifting towards solutions that deliver stable performance under continuous industrial production conditions.
Europe remains a key market due to established energy efficiency standards. Growth is also observed in North America and Asia, driven by regulatory developments, energy costs and increased demand for verified environmental data. The role of system components such as Warm Edge spacers is increasingly recognised in overall window and façade performance.
What can you tell us about market trends?
M.B: Energy efficiency remains a central driver, reinforced by regulatory requirements and energy prices. At the same time, lifecycle-related CO₂ data and environmental transparency are becoming standard decision criteria, particularly in larger projects.
Manufacturers are increasingly investing in automation to compensate for labour shortages and to stabilise output. Process reliability under real production conditions is gaining importance. Spacer systems are evolving beyond purely passive components and are increasingly developed with additional functional contributions to the insulating glass system.
What are the most innovative products/services marketed?
M.B: Current innovations include Swisspacer Ultimate | Nyxé with recycled material content and unchanged thermal performance, Swisspacer Air for pressure equalisation in insulating glass units, the Re:cycling Service for pre-consumer material recovery and automated processing solutions for high-productivity insulating glass manufacturing.
What estimations do you have for the end of 2025?
M.B: By the end of 2025, Swisspacer expects further international expansion, supported by the new production site in India. Demand for high-performance spacer systems is expected to remain stable, alongside increased adoption of automation solutions and greater emphasis on verified environmental data. Development activities will continue to focus on functional enhancement of spacer systems and further reductions in lifecycle-related CO₂ emissions.
Photo Credits: Swisspacer
