Glasbranschforeningen

What Glasbranschforeningen does

Glasbranschföreningen, founded in 1934 and headquartered in Stockholm, is the Swedish national trade and employer association for the glass industry, operating under the umbrella of Svenskt Näringsliv (Confederation of Swedish Enterprise). It serves 507 member companies across four sub-sectors — glasmästerier (glass workshops), bilglasmästerier (auto glass workshops), glas- och metallentreprenörer (glass and metal contractors), and konstinramare (art framers) — plus approximately 60 associated supplier and producer companies, organized across seven regional districts. The association operates as the sole collective-bargaining counterparty for the sector, delivering labor agreements, legal and labor-law support, and advocacy through Almedalsveckan and Svenskt Näringsliv channels.

Its core offerings are structured around authorization and certification schemes (MTK-auktorisation, Auktoriserat Bilglasmästeri, Certifierad Konstinramare, Diplomerad Dörrmästare), industry training through Glasskolan i Katrineholm and the apprenticeship/journeyman/master-craftsman examination system, technical guidelines and advisory services delivered through the jointly-owned Glascentrum, the industry magazine Tidningen Glas, and a portfolio of industry events including Fasaddagen, Glasdagen, and Glasscenen at the Nordbygg construction fair. The wholly-owned subsidiary Glastjänster för Glasbranschföreningen AB provides database and web services, while Glascentrum is jointly controlled with Svensk Planglasförening. There is no proprietary technology platform in the software sense — the association's "platform" is its membership ecosystem, certification marks, and training infrastructure.

Revenue is generated primarily through recurring annual membership fees from the 507 member firms and ~60 associated suppliers, supplemented by training course fees, certification/authorization processing fees, and publication sales via the webbshop. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and is quote-based. Membership is acquired through industry events, training courses, certification programs, and direct outreach to glass-related businesses. With 11–50 staff, the association operates a lean organizational structure delivering bundled services — collective bargaining, training, certification, procurement benefits, IT/legal support — that members would struggle to assemble independently.

Name

Glasbranschforeningen

Legal name

Glasbranschföreningen

Website

https://gbf.se

Company type

Private

Founded year

1934

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Glasbranschföreningen is the Swedish national trade and employer association for the glass industry, serving 507 member companies across glass workshops, auto glass, glass/metal contracting, and art framing, plus ~60 supplier associates, through collective bargaining, certification (MTK, Bilglas, Konstinramare), training at Glasskolan, and industry advocacy under Svenskt Näringsliv.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Trade Association Services

NAICS

Glass and Glazing Contractors (23815), Glass and Glazing Contractors (238150), Automotive Glass Replacement Shops (811122)

akta.pro primary industry

Architectural Glazing & Fenestration (Curtain Wall, Windows, Storefronts, Skylights) (IMAFAMAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Interior Glazing & Glass Partitions (IMAFANAK), Glass & Glazing Repair (Single-pane, Insulated Glass Unit replacement) (HSAGAEAD)

Keywords

• Glass industry association
• Trade and employer organization
• Collective bargaining agreements
• Industry authorization certification
• Vocational training programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Stockholm

HQ country

Sweden

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership fees: Glasbranschföreningen generates revenue primarily through annual membership fees from glass industry companies including glasmästerier (glass workshops), bilglasmästerier (auto glass workshops), konstinramare (art framers), and glas- och metallentreprenörer (glass and metal contractors). Additional revenue streams include training course fees, certification/authorization fees, and publication sales.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Glasbranschföreningen is a Swedish trade and employer association for glass companies, automotive glass specialists, glass and metal contractors, and art framers. It administers authorization and certification schemes (MTK, Authorized Car Glass Workshop, Certified Art Framer, Diploma Door Master), negotiates collective bargaining agreements, runs industry training through Glasskolan i Katrineholm, and publishes the industry magazine Tidningen Glas. It co-owns Glascentrum, the joint technical and educational center for the Swedish glass industry.

Product overview

Glasbranschföreningen is a Swedish trade and employer association for the glass industry, offering a portfolio of authorization/certification systems (MTK, Authorized Car Glass, Certified Art Framer, Diploma Door Master), industry publications (Glas magazine), and technical services (Glascentrum). The organization provides education and training programs through Glasskolan in Katrineholm, apprenticeship systems, and professional examination services. Member companies can access technical guidelines, sustainability support, legal advice, and procurement guidelines through the association.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Glas (branschtidning): The industry magazine covering glass in architecture and construction.
• Glasskolan i Katrineholm
• Glascentrum
• MTK-auktorisation
• Glaspriset och Glaspärlan

Products and services

• MTK-auktorisation (MTK Authorization) Authorization system for companies working with glass and metal parts in buildings, ensuring correct installation and product selection for Swedish building projects.
• Auktoriserat Bilglasmästeri (Authorized Car Glass Workshop) Certification for automotive glass businesses meeting quality and competence standards for vehicle glass replacement and repair services.
• Certifierad Konstinramare (Certified Art Framer) Professional certification for picture framers demonstrating competence in framing techniques and preservation standards.
• Diplomerad Dörrmästare (Diploma Door Master) Certification for door professionals specializing in production and installation of door systems.
• Utbildning och kurser (Education and Training) Comprehensive training programs delivered through Glasskolan i Katrineholm, including apprenticeship education, professional certification courses, journeyman tests (yrkesprov), and master craftsman credentials (gesällprov) across glass, automotive, metal, and framing disciplines.
• Glascentrum (Glass Centre) Technical and training center jointly owned by Glasbranschföreningen and Svensk Planglasförening, providing guidelines for selection and installation of glass and metal components in buildings and technical advisory services to the industry.
• Tidningen Glas (Industry Magazine) The industry's trade magazine providing news on architecture, design, health, environment, and technology in the glass sector.

Quantifiable outcome

• Balkonginglasning can extend balcony lifespan by up to tens of years and reduce heating costs by up to 10%

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Svenskt Näringsliv (Swedish Enterprise)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlasbranschföreningen is a member organization within Svenskt Näringsliv, the Swedish Enterprise confederation. This membership provides the association with broader industry representation, policy advocacy support, and access to the wider employer community network.
• Glass EuropeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean collaboration through Glass Europe, the European glass industry organization, for international knowledge sharing and policy coordination on EU-level regulations affecting the glass industry.
• FR2000minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFR2000 is a certification body for quality, environment, and occupational health & safety. The association promotes FR2000 certification among members for integrated management systems.
• GlascentrumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlascentrum is the glass industry's technology and education center, jointly owned by Glasbranschföreningen and Svensk Planglasförening. It develops guidelines for glass and metal installation and provides technical training to increase industry knowledge.
• CCBuildminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCCBuild is a platform for circular construction. The association partners with CCBuild to help members participate in circular economy initiatives and sustainable building practices.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• National Glass Association (US): Largest North American trade association for the glass industry, providing training, certification, and advocacy. Comparable as a multi-segment glass trade body, though operating in a substantially larger and more fragmented market.
• AMEWAS / Finnish Glass Association (Lasiliike ry): Finnish glass industry trade association. Small Nordic peer performing similar employer/trade body functions in an adjacent national market, useful as a comparable for member scale and service mix.
• Bundesverband Flachglas (BF): German flat glass and glazing contractor association. Closest functional equivalent in another market, performing similar trade body, technical guidance, and member advocacy roles for the German glass industry.
• British Glass: UK glass industry trade association representing manufacturers and processors. Comparable trade/employer body operating in a single national market with similar advocacy and standards functions.

Broad incumbents

• Sveriges Byggindustrier: Swedish employers' association for the broader construction industry, also part of Svenskt Näringsliv. Comparable as a collective bargaining and industry advocacy body, but with a wider construction sector scope beyond glass.
• Glass Europe: European-level federation of glass industry associations in which GBF participates. Represents the broader European glass manufacturing and processing industry, overlapping with GBF's remit on policy and standards at the EU level.

Direct peers

• Svensk Planglasförening: Swedish flat glass industry association jointly owning Glascentrum with GBF. Closest direct counterpart within the same national glass ecosystem, focused on flat glass manufacturers and processors versus GBF's contractor/workshop membership.
• Installatörsföretagen: Swedish employers' association for technical installation contractors (including glass-related trades). Comparable as a Swedish Svenskt Näringsliv member organization providing collective bargaining, training, and member services to specialty trade contractors.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks4 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/glasbranschforeningen
• Facebookfacebook.com/glasbranschforeningen

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries2 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 Glasbranschforeningen