The Highs and lows of industry
There is something uniquely powerful about seeing the Australian window and glass industry at its very best. Across the country, this year’s awards entry finalists are once again showcasing projects that demonstrate the exceptional capability, creativity and technical expertise within our sector. From every state, we have entries for buildings that use glass and window systems not simply as functional elements, but as defining features of architectural intent. Projects that harness daylight, manage energy, create connection to place, and ultimately elevate the built environment. The award dinners this year will be a genuine celebration of what our industry can achieve when design, manufacturing and installation come together as intended. (Tickets for all state and national award dinners are available to book now.) These awards matter because they reflect an industry capable of delivering world‑class outcomes under some of the most demanding performance requirements in the world.
However, these celebrations sit in sharp contrast to findings that should concern every participant in our industry. As outlined in the news item below, recent market testing of window systems supplied into the Australian market has identified products that are, quite frankly, not fit for purpose and which undermine the collective effort to deliver compliant, high‑performing systems. These are products that do not meet the performance expectations required under Australian Standards, and in most cases call into question their suitability for use in Australia at all.
The juxtaposition is clear. On the one hand, we are celebrating projects that represent the very best of our industry. On the other, we are seeing evidence that substandard products continue to enter the market, undermining confidence and eroding the integrity of the sector. This is not simply a technical issue. It is a market failure; the actions of a few create an uneven playing field for those businesses that invest in compliance, testing and quality assurance. It shifts risk onto builders, developers and ultimately consumers. And it threatens to erode the reputation of an industry that, as the awards demonstrate, is delivering exceptional outcomes.
The awards remind us of what “good” looks like. Sadly, the actions of a few also remind us of the pressing need for accountability and a genuinely level playing field. Bridging that gap is now the critical task ahead. The long-term success of this industry will not be defined by its best projects or indeed its worst actors, but by the consistency with which all products and participants meet the standard expected of them. I, together with the AGWA Board, remain firmly committed to fostering, supporting, and delivering that level playing field, and to ensuring a clear and confident future for our industry.
Clinton Skeoch
Executive Director & CEO