New Zealand

Glasshape Ltd

The New Zealand based company Glasshape specialises in custom glass solutions on board superyachts, and in their history have been involved in some of the most innovative projects in the industry. Richard Duckworth speaks with us about these projects and the company’s experiences at the METSTRADE.<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" scrolling="no" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/0Ieax1hn4Zs" width="560"></iframe>SuperYacht Times will be present at the show hosted in the Amsterdam RAI from today until the show’s conclusion on 19th November. By SYT

Live from METS: Innovative glass solutions from Glasshape

Currently enjoying their first time at METS is New Zealand company, Glasshape, a company that provide glass shaped to fit challenging superyacht designs, and has a full range of glass products suitable for internal and external applications.<img alt="" src="https://syt-store-production.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/photo/151668/image/large-5cddd5f068fd62b5906e6217328d5298.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/151668">This year the company are bringing its turnkey approach for superyachts to the benefit of European yards following their success in both US and New Zealand yards. SuperYacht Times caught up with the Global Transportation Director, Andrew Forrest who in addition to talking about the show, shared his experience of working on superyachts Big Fish and Invictus. He says, “Big Fish was an interesting project. She’s got large, heavy, curved windows in the lounge area, and around the wheelhouse. It was a good challenge and it came out really, really nice. Invictus likewise had some very large saloon windows and we also did the exterior railing glass around the owner’s deck around the forward part of the boat that were all frameless. That was the first time we’ve done that and it was a great outcome.”<img alt="" src="https://syt-store-production.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/photo/151669/image/large-890bca410cb64d00b123c262d71fa789.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/134725">Discussing the interest the Glasshare team have seen at the stand over the past couple of days, he states, “The experience has been fantastic. We’ve had at least 120 visits to the stand which was amazing, especially when you compare it to where we exhibited before in Fort Lauderdale.” He continues to confirm the company’s presence at the show in coming years, saying, “We were actually discussing just this morning about expanding the size of our stand here next year!”METS 2014 is being held at the Amsterdam RAI, and is currently in its last day.By Gemma Fottles

METS 2014: New Zealand company Glasshape

The team at Jonathan Quinn Barnett (JQB) has informed us that Nordlund Boat Company has completed the 34.86 metre sportfisher superyacht Netto. JQB was responsible of the interior design and exterior styling of the project.<img alt="" src="https://syt-store-production.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/photo/148938/image/large-4b323abb923df7edce5f2f17869b508a.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/148938">The exterior design features an Alexseal metallic paint finish and blue-tinted windows from Glasshape of Australia. The illuminated name was provided by YACHTSIGN.<img alt="" src="https://syt-store-production.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/photo/148939/image/large-f16bb082dff4d94f4629bde4c8b33e1a.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/148939">Netto is powered by twin 1,800hp MTU 12V 2000 M93 diesel engines which give her a range of 3,500 nautical miles at 10 knots.In other news JQB Ltd also reports that they have provided interior design services for an extensive refit of a 126 metre super yacht at Blohm &amp; Voss Repair, completed in May 2014.By Merijn de Waard, photos by Derek Reeves

Superyacht Netto completed by Nordlund

American SuperYacht Glass news release: Glasshape Ltd, manufacturers of the renowned DuraShield Superyacht Glass product line, has officially announced their landed presence in the North American marketplace. Key directors of Glasshape, including Managing Director Andrew Forrest, announced the opening of their United States office with trained staff on the west coast of North America this month. The company, an ISO-9001 and American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) endorsed facility, has catered to the Australasian SuperYacht industry for many years, specializing in both Curved and Flat IACS Classed Superyacht Glazing. American yards, catching wind of the company’s revolutionary “turnkey” measure-supply-install programs, soon grew to the point where presence in the North American marketplace became mandatory to fulfill demand of the industry’s high end manufacturers. ABS and MCA LY2 Code Glass requirements quickly endorsed the company, whose unique glass manufacturing processes offers Superstructure Glazing which exceeds design pressure requirements stipulated by the industry’s governing Class Societies. Located in Washington State, the ‘West Coast Superyacht hub’, Glasshape’s new project and support facility services the existing Superyacht customer base across the United States, and additionally providing support to the growing refit market. “Landed presence in the States was inevitable-actually a demand” mentioned Forrest, “the demand for our unique product has been overwhelming throughout the past 24 months”. Centered in Seattle, the new facility is headed by Mr Ian Gracey of Torrid Marine Systems. Gracey, having many years experience in the high-end yacht and Superyacht sector was well associated with the DuraShield branding. “We were well aware of Glasshape’s ever increasing presence and demand in North America, and I desired to be part of the Most Innovative Marine Glass Company in the World” Gracey said at Fort Lauderdale. “When the opportunity came, it was just too good to ignore” he added. Glasshape posted increased USA sales of 37% in the 12 months ending September 2012. Such excellent results have been produced due to the wide glass range, having attained full certification to American Bureau of Shipping. <img alt="" src="https://syt-store-production.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/photo/141500/image/large-92eae5642e2252ad2b717002b39d35f8.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/141487">Glasshape have their DuraShield Marine Glass installed on many significant projects in the States already. Some examples of their expertise can be seen on M/Y <a href="#managed-by-application" data-legacy="true" data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/364">Lady Linda</a>, M/Y <a href="#managed-by-application" data-legacy="true" data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/1706">DB9</a> and M/Y <a href="#managed-by-application" data-legacy="true" data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/2345">Tsumat</a> among others. New and innovative marine glass applications can also be viewed on S/Y <a href="#managed-by-application" data-legacy="true" data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/3355">Ohana</a>, which was launched the weekend. This unique Dubois build features spectacular glass, including an all-glass interior staircase designed and built by Glasshape. Glasshape Andrew Forrest + (64) 9 422 2565 <a href="mailto:andrew@glasshape.net.nz?subject=Glasshape%20on%20SuperYachtTimes.com">andrew@glasshape.net.nz</a> <a target="_blank" href="http://www.glasshape.co.nz/">www.glasshape.co.nz</a>

Glasshape opens office in North America

DuraShield Superyacht Glass has been type approved to ABS. This opens up benefits to the U.S. superyacht industry as yards building to ABS Class will not have to test glass windows per ship-set approval. <img alt="" src="https://syt-store-production.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/photo/134587/image/large-26598d31bdb0a1ae00f254008b2f1c12.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/133065">DuraShield Marine is a high-performance, thoroughly tested superyacht and marine glass. The manufacturing process incorporates a company-designed polyurethane interlayer between two or more layers of glass to guarantee that there will be no reaction between the interlayer and the bonding material. Curved and flat glass panels meet all International Accredited Classification Society requirements, as well as performance and safety standards, including BSMA25, MCA LY2, ISO21005 and ISO614. “We are very pleased with our success, especially in these challenging economic times,” said Andrew Forrest, sales director at Glasshape. “The U.S. market represents 37 percent of DuraShield® Marine total sales and we see great potential to grow our market share in the next 6 to 12 months. We believe that our success stems from our commitment to meeting our customers’ justifiably high expectations.” DuraShield Marine is currently featured on <a href="#managed-by-application" data-legacy="true" data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/1706">DB9</a>, the 170 ft Super Yacht by Palmer Johnson Yachts. Glasshape Ltd additionally have four proceeding, and five pending Superyacht Glass contracts with various Boat Yards throughout the United States. DuraShield Marine can also be found on Superyachts by Evolution Yachts, Australia; Fitzroy Yachts, New Zealand; Yachting Developments, New Zealand; Yachting Developments, New Zealand; Mc Mullen &amp; Wing, New Zealand. In addition, Glasshape currently has ten confirmed contracts for builds ranging from 100 to 280 ft in length in the U.S., Chile, Turkey, Australia and New Zealand. Glasshape Andrew Forrest + (64) 9 422 2565 <a href="mailto:andrew@glasshape.net.nz?subject=Glasshape%20on%20SuperYachtTimes.com">andrew@glasshape.net.nz</a> <a target="_blank" href="http://www.glasshape.co.nz/">www.glasshape.co.nz</a>

DuraShield Superyacht Glass now type approved to ABS

Glasshape Limited Specialist Glass Products, manufacturer of DuraShield Superyacht and Marine Glass, reported that 2010 sales to date are up 42 percent compared to last year – 35 percent higher than the initial forecast which was set 40 percent above 2009 sales. <img alt="" src="https://syt-store-production.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/photo/133065/image/large-0ed1c0ae18cbb932446731a44196b1f6.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/133065">DuraShield Marine is a high-performance, thoroughly tested superyacht and marine glass. The manufacturing process incorporates a company-designed polyurethane interlayer between two or more layers of glass to guarantee that there will be no reaction between the interlayer and the bonding material. Curved and flat glass panels meet all International Accredited Classification Society requirements, as well as performance and safety standards, including BSMA25, MCA LY2, ISO21005 and ISO614. DuraShield Marine represents 30 percent of the company’s total sales. Glasshape manufactures highly specialized glass products for the architectural, construction, security, automotive and marine industries. Total company sales have increased by 39 percent per annum since 2007. “We are very pleased with our performance, especially in these challenging economic times,” said Andrew Forrest, sales director at Glasshape. “We believe that our success stems from our commitment to meeting our customers’ justifiably high expectations.” “The quality of the glass supplied by Glasshape was simply amazing,” said David C. Porter, director at McMullen &amp; Wing. The superyacht builder used DuraShield on <a href="#managed-by-application" data-legacy="true" data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/1649">Big Fish</a>, a 147 ft motor yacht launched in April 2010. “Their highly professional team offered a consistent product and maintained a high level of communication with us throughout the process, patiently assisting us with approvals from the Classification Society – an often tedious exercise. We are so pleased that we plan on fitting our next build with DuraShield without even looking at alternative suppliers.” DuraShield Marine is currently featured on completed superyacht builds by Palmer Johnson Yachts; Evolution Yachts, Australia; Fitzroy Yachts, New Zealand; Yachting Developments, New Zealand; Alloy Yachts, New Zealand; and McMullen &amp; Wing, New Zealand. In addition, Glasshape currently has eight confirmed contracts for builds ranging from 100 to 280 feet in length in New Zealand, Australia, Chile, Turkey, the U.S. and more. Glasshape Andrew Forrest + (64) 9 422 2565 <a href="mailto:andrew@glasshape.net.nz?subject=Glasshape%20on%20SuperYachtTimes.com">andrew@glasshape.net.nz</a> <a target="_blank" href="http://www.glasshape.co.nz">www.glasshape.co.nz</a>