FOREL

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.

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

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

• Insulating glass machinery
• Flat glass processing
• IGU production lines
• Glass edge processing
• PVB glass lamination

Headquarters

HQ city

Roncade

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. 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.
2. 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

Core 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

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature10 records

Partnerships

21 partnerships are on record, tiered standard and minor.

• GLASSMAK (Poland)standardChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSales 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)standardChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSales and distribution partner for Forel covering Spain and Portugal markets.
• THORNGATE SALES (India)standardChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSales and distribution partner for Forel in India.
• TGM (Japan)standardChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSales representative for Forel in Japan. Contact: Takashi Hironaka.
• OVERSEAS GLASS AGENCIES (Australia/New Zealand)standardChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSales agency representing Forel in Australia and New Zealand markets.
• DECRISTAL (Chile)standardChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSales and distribution partner for Forel in Chile.
• OSAMU (Peru/Bolivia)standardChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSales and distribution partner for Forel covering Peru and Bolivia.
• MUNIZ REPRESENTACOES (Brazil)standardChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSales representative for Forel in Brazil.
• IDELIS (Baltic States)standardChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSales and distribution partner for Forel in Lithuania and Baltic States region. Contact: Daiva Citaviciené.
• GLASMIK (Balkan States)standardChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSales partner for Forel covering Balkan States region. Contact: Aleš Sobočan.
• NBH INDUSTRIES / NBH TECHNIC (Vietnam)standardChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSales and technical representative for Forel in Vietnam. Contact: Jone Nguyen.
• ARVIS (Albania)standardChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSales representative for Forel in Albania.
• GLASSEXPER (Turkey)standardChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSales and distribution partner for Forel in Turkey.
• IMROGLASS (Romania/Hungary)standardChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSales representative for Forel covering Romania and Hungary markets.
• GRAND MINATOR PROMOTIONS (Cyprus)standardChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSales and marketing partner for Forel in Cyprus.
• MOTECH MACHINERY SERVICE (Thailand)standardChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSales and service partner for Forel in Thailand.
• ADAEZE TRADING (South Africa)standardChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSales representative for Forel in South Africa.
• CASA FIGINI (Argentina/Uruguay)standardChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSales representative for Forel covering Argentina and Uruguay markets.
• PROVIGLASS (Mexico)standardChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSales and distribution partner for Forel in Mexico.
• ITS Academy Machina LonatiminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational institution partnership. Forel welcomed students from the ITS Academy Machina Lonati, demonstrating community engagement and workforce development collaboration.
• Local Suppliers & Network (Italy)standardStrategic or Co-development PartnerForel 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

Broad 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

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/forel-spa

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about FOREL