FOREL
FOREL is an Italian industrial machinery manufacturer that designs, produces, and services integrated equipment for flat glass and insulating glass unit (IGU) processing, serving glass fabricators and facade contractors in approximately 70 countries.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1976
- HeadquartersRoncade, Italy
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What FOREL does
FOREL, founded in 1976 by Fortunato Vianello and headquartered in Vallio di Roncade, Italy, designs, manufactures, and patents industrial machinery for flat glass and insulating glass unit (IGU) processing. The family-owned company (FOREL SPA UNIPERSONALE) operates two production factories totaling approximately 30,000 square meters between Treviso and Venice, employs roughly 280 people, and sells its machinery in approximately 70 countries through a combination of wholly-owned sales subsidiaries (Forel North America, Forel UK & Ireland, Forel North Europe GmbH, plus a Canada presence) and a network of over 20 sales agents and distributors. Its customers are predominantly glass processing companies — ranging from SMB fabricators to enterprise-scale producers — that manufacture double, triple and quadruple-glazed units, PVB-laminated safety glass, and large-format architectural panels for fenestration and facade contractors.
The company's technological foundation is its vertical glass processing architecture, pioneered in 1978 with the first vertical washing machine for low-emissivity glass. FOREL's portfolio forms an integrated production system covering the full IGU workflow: vertical cutting and storage, vertical edge grinding (Art. EM), drilling and milling (Art. DM), PVB lamination, vertical washing, and complete IGU assembly lines configurable for rigid, flexible (T-Spacer), and thermoplastic spacer frames. Notable proprietary subsystems include the Sorting System Art. SS (introduced 2015), which provides buffer management and routing of semi-finished glass between production stages, and the SR HT automatic sealing robot with non-stop dosing for polyurethane and structural silicone. The High Tech Jumbo line supports oversized architectural panels up to 6000x3300 mm with double/triple/quadruple glazing and shaped/stepped units. FOREL holds 33+ active patents, with 9+ dedicated to vertical edge processing alone.
Revenue is generated primarily through one-time capital equipment sales of full production lines and individual machines, supplemented by recurring after-sales services — installation, technical assistance, spare parts, and training — delivered through a 24/7 help desk staffed by internal engineers. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed. The company has progressively transitioned toward direct sales in priority markets (USA in 2013, UK & Ireland in 2022, Northern Europe in 2025) while maintaining an agent/distributor layer for secondary geographies. In 2024, FOREL invested €18 million in a new 9,000 m² production building at its headquarters, expanding capacity by approximately 40%. Leadership transitioned across two generations under CEO Riccardo Vianello, alongside General Director Stefano Salvian.
FOREL firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- FOREL
- Legal name
- FOREL SPA UNIPERSONALE
- Website
- https://forelspa.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1976
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- FOREL is an Italian industrial machinery manufacturer that designs, produces, and services integrated equipment for flat glass and insulating glass unit (IGU) processing, serving glass fabricators and facade contractors in approximately 70 countries.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
FOREL industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Industrial Glass Processing Machinery
- NAICS
- Other General Purpose Machinery Manufacturing (3339)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Glass Fabrication & Processing Services (Cutting/Edging/Drilling/Polishing) (IMADAHAI)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Insulating Glass Units (IGUs) & Double/Triple Glazing (IMADAHAC)
Keywords
Where FOREL is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Roncade
- HQ country
- Italy
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices5 records
Markets served
FOREL business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Operations, Personnel, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Industrial Machinery Sales: Forel generates revenue primarily from the sale of flat glass and insulating glass processing machinery, including production lines, individual machines (sorting systems, edge processing, washing, lamination), spare parts, and accessories. The company also generates revenue from installation, technical assistance, and training services associated with its machinery. Revenue is generated through direct sales (own subsidiaries) and a global network of agents and distributors.
- After-sales Services (Service & Spare Parts): Revenue from technical assistance, maintenance interventions, spare parts supply, and training services. The company operates a dedicated Help Desk that prioritizes incoming calls to internal engineers managing technical interventions around the clock. Services are available globally through own subsidiaries and partners.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels5 records
FOREL product offering
Product offeringCore offering
FOREL designs, manufactures, and patents industrial machinery for processing flat glass into insulating glass units (IGU/double glazing). Its portfolio spans vertical glass washing machines, vertical edge processing equipment (arrissing, grinding, polishing, drilling/milling), PVB lamination lines, automated sorting/buffer systems, and complete IGU production lines configurable for rigid, flexible, and thermoplastic spacers, supported by installation, technical assistance, spare parts, and training services.
Product overview
FOREL manufactures industrial machinery for flat glass and double glazing (insulating glass unit/IGU) processing. The product portfolio centers on vertical glass processing technology and forms an integrated production system: it encompasses cutting and storage solutions, vertical washing machines, vertical edge grinding (Art. EM) and drilling/milling (DM), PVB lamination equipment, and complete insulating glass production lines available in multiple configurations (rigid spacer, flexible spacer/T-Spacer™, thermoplastic spacer). Supporting these are specialized subsystems including the Sorting System Art. SS for automated logistics and buffer management, the Stock Selector Art. ST, and automatic sealing robots (SR HT). FOREL also offers comprehensive after-sale services including machinery installation, technical assistance, spare parts, and training. The vertical approach to glass processing is the company's core technological differentiator.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Insulating Glass Production Lines Complete production lines for manufacturing insulating glass units (IGU/double glazing), available in multiple spacer configurations for residential and commercial glass processors.
- Insulating Glass Lines - Rigid Spacer IGU production line configured for rigid spacer frame applications, used by glass processors producing standard double and triple glazing.
- Insulating Glass Lines - Flexible Spacer (T-Spacer)
Quantifiable outcome
- 40% increase in production capacity at headquarters following new 9,000 m² facility expansion.
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use FOREL
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
FOREL technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature10 records
FOREL partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
21 partnerships are on record, tiered standard and minor.
- GLASSMAK (Poland)standardSales and distribution partner for Forel in Poland. Contact: Adam Makarowski. Operates as part of Forel's global network covering approximately 70 countries.
- SOLUTEC GLASS (Spain/Portugal)standardSales and distribution partner for Forel covering Spain and Portugal markets.
- THORNGATE SALES (India)standardSales and distribution partner for Forel in India.
- TGM (Japan)standardSales representative for Forel in Japan. Contact: Takashi Hironaka.
- OVERSEAS GLASS AGENCIES (Australia/New Zealand)standardSales agency representing Forel in Australia and New Zealand markets.
- DECRISTAL (Chile)standardSales and distribution partner for Forel in Chile.
- OSAMU (Peru/Bolivia)standardSales and distribution partner for Forel covering Peru and Bolivia.
- MUNIZ REPRESENTACOES (Brazil)standardSales representative for Forel in Brazil.
- IDELIS (Baltic States)standardSales and distribution partner for Forel in Lithuania and Baltic States region. Contact: Daiva Citaviciené.
- GLASMIK (Balkan States)standardSales partner for Forel covering Balkan States region. Contact: Aleš Sobočan.
- NBH INDUSTRIES / NBH TECHNIC (Vietnam)standardSales and technical representative for Forel in Vietnam. Contact: Jone Nguyen.
- ARVIS (Albania)standardSales representative for Forel in Albania.
- GLASSEXPER (Turkey)standardSales and distribution partner for Forel in Turkey.
- IMROGLASS (Romania/Hungary)standardSales representative for Forel covering Romania and Hungary markets.
- GRAND MINATOR PROMOTIONS (Cyprus)standardSales and marketing partner for Forel in Cyprus.
- MOTECH MACHINERY SERVICE (Thailand)standardSales and service partner for Forel in Thailand.
- ADAEZE TRADING (South Africa)standardSales representative for Forel in South Africa.
- CASA FIGINI (Argentina/Uruguay)standardSales representative for Forel covering Argentina and Uruguay markets.
- PROVIGLASS (Mexico)standardSales and distribution partner for Forel in Mexico.
- ITS Academy Machina LonatiminorEducational institution partnership. Forel welcomed students from the ITS Academy Machina Lonati, demonstrating community engagement and workforce development collaboration.
- Local Suppliers & Network (Italy)standardForel collaborates with a network of local businesses and suppliers near its Treviso headquarters, strengthening the local industrial supply chain and maintaining the 'Made in Italy' production quality.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves10 records
Expansion highlights6 records
FOREL competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Intermac (Biesse Group): Biesse Group brand specializing in glass and stone processing machinery, including cutting, edging, and drilling equipment. Intermac serves the same flat-glass processor customer base as Forel but operates as part of Biesse's broader multi-material machinery portfolio.
- Bystronic AG: Swiss-based global supplier of machinery for sheet metal and glass processing. While Bystronic's glass segment is smaller and less specialized than Forel's, it operates in adjacent material-processing machinery and serves some of the same customers with broader capital-equipment offerings.
Direct peers
- Lisec Group: Austrian-headquartered global leader in flat glass and insulating glass processing machinery. Lisec directly competes with Forel across IGU lines, cutting, sorting, and edging equipment, and is the most comparable peer by product breadth and customer base.
- Glaston Finland Oyj: Finnish publicly-listed manufacturer of glass processing machinery, including IGU lines, tempering, and laminating equipment. Glaston competes head-to-head with Forel in IGU and lamination, with broader product scope including automotive glass.
- Bottero Group: Italian manufacturer of glass processing machinery with a long heritage in cutting, edging, drilling, and IGU equipment. Like Forel, Bottero is Italy-based and serves flat glass processors worldwide, with significant overlap in product offering.
- Hegla GmbH & Co. KG: German manufacturer of flat glass processing machinery including cutting lines, sorting systems, and IGU production equipment. Hegla's sorting and IGU products are direct functional alternatives to Forel's Art. SS Sorting System and High Tech IGU line.
- Mappi International S.r.l. Italian manufacturer of glass tempering furnaces and related thermal processing equipment. Mappi competes with Forel indirectly at the integrated glass processor customer level, and together the two offer complementary machinery to the same buyer profiles.
- Schiatti Angelo S.r.l. Italian manufacturer specializing in glass edge processing, drilling, milling, and washing machinery. Schiatti directly overlaps with Forel's vertical edge processing (Art. EM) and drilling/milling (Art. DM) product categories for flat glass processors.
Others
- CMS Industries (SCM Group): Italian manufacturer of machining centers for advanced materials including glass, stone, and metal. CMS is adjacent to Forel in glass processing machinery with overlap in drilling/milling applications, but its primary identity is broader material-processing capital equipment.
- Benteler International AG: Global industrial group with automotive and steel-tubing operations. Benteler is a thematic reference rather than a direct competitor; it represents the broader European industrial-machinery customer ecosystem Forel sells into via large glass-processing accounts.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
FOREL social profiles
Digital presenceFOREL financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
FOREL leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
FOREL subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries3 records
FOREL funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
FOREL M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about FOREL
What does FOREL do?
FOREL designs, manufactures, and patents industrial machinery for processing flat glass into insulating glass units (IGU/double glazing). Its portfolio spans vertical glass washing machines, vertical edge processing equipment (arrissing, grinding, polishing, drilling/milling), PVB lamination lines, automated sorting/buffer systems, and complete IGU production lines configurable for rigid, flexible, and thermoplastic spacers, supported by installation, technical assistance, spare parts, and training services.
Is FOREL a public or private company?
FOREL is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was FOREL founded?
FOREL was founded in 1976. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is FOREL based?
FOREL is headquartered in Roncade, Italy, in the Europe region.
How does FOREL make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Industrial Machinery Sales are the primary driver. The others are after-sales Services (Service & Spare Parts).
Who are FOREL's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Intermac (Biesse Group) and Bystronic AG. Direct peers are Lisec Group, Glaston Finland Oyj, Bottero Group, Hegla GmbH & Co. KG, Mappi International S.r.l. and Schiatti Angelo S.r.l.. Others are CMS Industries (SCM Group) and Benteler International AG.
Does FOREL have an API?
No public API is recorded for FOREL.
What industry is FOREL in?
FOREL's product category is Industrial Glass Processing Machinery. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMADAHAI, Glass Fabrication & Processing Services (Cutting/Edging/Drilling/Polishing), with a secondary code of IMADAHAC, Insulating Glass Units (IGUs) & Double/Triple Glazing. Its NAICS code is 3339.