History of U profile Glass Development in China
The development of U profile glass in China began with technology introduction and localized innovation, evolving from a state of technological blankness to a global leader over more than three decades. Its evolutionary path can be divided into the following key phases:
I. Technology Introduction and Localization Breakthrough (1990s–2000s)
China's exploration of U profile glass started in the late 1970s, but it failed to form industrialization capacity due to technological gaps. In 1996, Yunnan Jiahua New Wall Glass Co., Ltd. (formerly Kunming Chuang'an) secured approval from the State Development Planning Commission and introduced China's first U profile glass production line from Germany, filling the gap in domestic architectural profile glass. In the early stage, equipment relied on imports, production processes followed German standards, and products were mainly used in industrial workshops and other scenarios with high requirements for structural strength.
After more than a decade of technology absorption, Yunnan Jiahua realized the localization of core equipment in the 2000s, developed production lines with independent intellectual property rights. Its product quality surpassed that of similar German products, and costs were reduced by more than 30%. In 2000, the industry standard U profile glass for Building (JC/T 867-2000) was issued, marking that China's U profile glass production entered a standardized stage.
II. Technological Upgrading and Application Expansion (2000s–2010s)
1. Performance Optimization and Multifunctional Integration
Breakthroughs in energy-saving technology: Through processes such as Low-E coating and insulated glass units, the heat transfer coefficient (K-value) decreased from the initial 4.95 W/(㎡·K) to below 2.35 W/(㎡·K), meeting the energy-saving standards for hot-summer and cold-winter regions. The prestressed tensioning technology developed by Jiangxi Apajins enabled the deflection of 12-meter-span U profile glass to be controlled within L/400, far exceeding industry standards.
Enhancement of safety and decorativeness: The application of laminated and tempered glass processes increased impact resistance to 3 times that of ordinary glass. Processes such as colored glazing and embossing endowed products with rich decorative effects. In 2010, the Chile Pavilion at the Shanghai World Expo adopted curved colored-glazed U profile glass curtain walls, becoming a landmark project.
2. Environmental Protection and Sustainable Development
Resource recycling: Enterprises such as Yunnan Jiahua increased the recycling rate of waste glass to 70%. The annual production of 600,000 square meters of U profile glass could handle 10,000 tons of waste glass.
Green building certification: Due to its high light transmittance (88% for single-layer glass) and low energy consumption, U profile glass was included as a bonus item in China's Green Building Assessment Standard, promoting its popularization in public buildings.
III. Global Competition and Standard Leadership (2010s–Present)
1. Technological Breakthroughs and Market Expansion
High-end technological breakthroughs: Curved forming technology enabled projects such as the Ningbo Museum to achieve double-curved effects, with the yield rate increasing from 75% to over 90%. The integration of smart dimming films and building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) technology transformed U profile glass from a single lighting material into an energy conversion carrier.
Global market pattern: China has become the world's largest producer of U profile glass. In 2024, its export volume reached 865,000 square meters, covering markets in Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Europe. The unit price is 2.8 times that of ordinary flat glass. Products of Yunnan Jiahua entered the local German market, breaking the monopoly of European enterprises.
2. Policy Drive and Standard Upgrading
Policy support: The dual-carbon strategy and green building policies have promoted the large-scale application of U profile glass in photovoltaic buildings and urban renewal. Cities such as Shanghai and Shenzhen have provided financial subsidies of up to 300 yuan per square meter for ultra-low energy consumption buildings using U profile glass.
Standard leadership: The new version of the industry standard (JC/T 867-2025) was implemented in 2025, setting higher requirements for indicators such as dimensional deviation and bending resistance, and driving the industry toward high-quality development.
IV. Future Trends
Technology integration: Combining with the Internet of Things (IoT) and AI to develop smart U profile glass systems with self-cleaning and adaptive dimming functions. Zhejiang Xiangjie Green Building has launched U-shaped photovoltaic glass, integrating photovoltaic power generation and LED display functions.
Circular economy: Further increasing the recycling rate of waste glass and exploring the full-life-cycle carbon footprint management. Yunnan Jiahua plans to achieve 100% waste glass recycling by 2027.
Global layout: Relying on the Belt and Road Initiative to export technology and production capacity to emerging markets such as Southeast Asia and Africa, and promoting the internationalization of Chinese standards.
From filling technological gaps to leading the global market, the rise of China's U profile glass industry is not only a progress in materials science but also the result of the synergy between policy guidance, enterprise innovation, and market demand. Its future development will be deeply integrated into green buildings and the new energy revolution, continuing to lead the low-carbon transformation of building materials.
