Vetrotech Saint-Gobain, the trailblazer in fire-rated glazing in North America, recently unveiled...
This Martineau Minute interview features Kevin Norcross, General Manager of the Americas for Vetrotech Saint-Gobain. Vetrotech
manufactures fire rated safety glass and frames worldwide.
M&Co Sales Representative Mitch Hawkins and Kevin discuss his role at Vetrotech, the benefits of working with Saint-Gobain- the oldest and most prominent glass manufacture in the world, and the short lead-times that set them apart.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- “One of the advantages that Saint-Gobain brings to the table through Vetrotech is a 355-year-old glass company. In fact, the oldest glass company in the world. But more importantly, the resources that come along with that.”
- “we've structured our manufacturing facility to really turn jobs around in six to eight weeks. We're all living in door hardware challenge time. So I'll carve out that caveat that we are at the mercy of Dorma, Assa Abloy, Von Duprin, take your pick. But normal glass jobs, six to eight weeks.”
Martineau Minute: Kevin Norcross, Vetrotech Saint-Gobain Fire Rated Safety Glass and Framing
Transcript:
Mitch Hawkins:
Hello everyone, and welcome to the Martineau Minute. This is Mitch Hawkins with Martineau & Company, and today's episode features Kevin Norcross, GM and Sales Manager with Vetrotech Saint-Gobain. Martineau & Company are Reps in New England, Metro New York, and New Jersey for Vetrotech. And Kevin, you guys have been awesome to work with. We've moved a lot of product here in the last year, and we do appreciate all you guys do for us. So thank you for all that and thanks for being a guest on the Martineau Minute.
Kevin Norcross:
Thank you for asking me. In the introduction, I will say that you definitely have been successful in the northeast. We're excited to be part of your team.
Mitch:
Oh, we appreciate that. Yeah, it's been a fun partnership so far. Now, I think the first and best place for us to start is just a quick introduction of yourself and what you do for Vetrotech.
Kevin:
My name is Kevin Norcross, as you said. I'm the General Manager of Vetrotech in the Americas. That responsibility is North America and South America. We have an individual on our team from Brazil that services the South American market that we brought in from Brazil. And we also don't forget about Canada as one of the North American neighbors. So my responsibility is both the General Manager for operations here in Auburn, Washington, where we make our products as well as sales for those territories as well.
Mitch:
Excellent. So I'm talking to the right guy.
Kevin:
If you're looking to buy Fire Rated Safety Glass & Frames, you came to the right place.
Mitch:
Do you just want to give everybody a brief intro to Vetrotech, where you guys are located, and some of the more popular products and services you offer?
Kevin:
Sure. Vetrotech is a specialized business unit of a much larger company. I'm sure you're familiar with Saint-Gobain. We're the fire rated specialist in this business unit. Saint-Gobain Vetrotech has six manufacturing sites across the world. We manufacture different products, but the same product codes are different. And EN standards are different than UL's standards. There's some uniqueness about our product line in here, North America, that you wouldn't necessarily see in Switzerland or Europe, the way that they're tested, the norms versus ASTM or UL standards.
However, if you would get one of our products from Switzerland, for example, it would be under the same UL inspection. It would be manufactured with the same equipment. Each one of these building sites, while unique, have the ability to support each other if the case requires it.
We also have a very similar business unit in India. Saint-Gobain has a large, large presence in India. So not only multiple float lines, but also frame fabrication facilities as well in China, in Glass City, where Saint-Gobain's located.
My job is to wrangle sales in North America, South America, and the US, and support this factory locally.
Vetrotech Saint-Gobain: Stability and Resources from the World's Oldest Glass Company
Mitch Hawkins:
Well, that's a good overview. And you mentioned there just the ability for all of us to work with Saint-Gobain and have them behind us. That's a huge advantage to working with Vetrotech.
“One of the advantages that Saint-Gobain brings to the table through Vetrotech is a 355-year-old glass company. In fact, the oldest glass company in the world. But more importantly, the resources that come along with that.”
Kevin Norcross:
It is indeed. One of the advantages that Saint-Gobain brings to the table through Vetrotech is a 355-year-old glass company. In fact, the oldest glass company in the world. But more importantly, the resources that come along with that. We own our own testing labs. So as you and I were talking about before you pushed record, testing projects, developing products that aren't necessarily on the market today, but through an architect's vision, through your interaction, those dreams can become a reality. So working with Vetrotech, not only do you get the resources of Saint-Gobain, you get the capabilities to develop, test, envision new products that aren't necessarily around, but could be.
Mitch:
Well, that's a huge advantage. With that, are there any other specific advantages you see to working with Vetrotech right now?
6-8 Week Lead Times- What Makes Vetrotech different in Fire Rated Safety Glass and Frames
Kevin Norcross:
Lead time. Right now in the industry, we've structured our manufacturing facility to really turn jobs around in six to eight weeks. We're all living in door hardware challenge time. So I'll carve out that caveat that we are at the mercy of Dorma, Asa Abloy, Von Duprin, take your pick. But normal glass jobs, six to eight weeks. We have the fastest lead time in the industry without a doubt.
Mitch Hawkins:
Okay. That's a big selling point, so that helps us for sure.
All right. Now we'll just keep it rolling here. What's something new and innovative at Vetrotech?
Kevin:
Well, stay tuned. I can't give you all the inside scoop, but I can tell you that there's several new products that will be launched in '23, a very exciting product that will change the glass that Vetrotech manufactures significantly, and we think will revolutionize what we're doing and the way we do it.
Mitch:
All right. Well, I'm intrigued.
Kevin:
Yeah? You're going to have to stay tuned.
Mitch:
Okay, I certainly will. So for those of you that are still with us here, if you want any more information, feel free to check out our website. The website's great. It's a great tool for you to use. You can look up more information, whether it's a system that you're looking for, whether it's a specific glass type that you're looking for. We've got data sheets, brochures, installation guidelines. If you look at the showcase section, you can see different projects that have been used, pictures of it all. So we've got great resources there.
If you have any more questions, any more opportunities to pop up, reach out to myself or Nicole Martineau and we'll take care of you. And from the sounds of it, we're going to have a lot more information coming to you here in a couple. We'll stay in touch
.Kevin:
'23 is going to be an exciting year for all of us.
Mitch:
Okay. Looking forward to it. Well, Kevin, thank you very much for joining me. I appreciate your time.
Kevin:
Thanks for having me.
The Martineau Minute is an Architectural Glazing Products educational series for Architects, Glaziers, Consultants, and Developers. Each interview highlights Martineau & Co manufacturer partners, their people, products and what makes them unique in the architectural glazing market. Experience interviews with the likes of Kevin Norcross, General Manager of Vetrotech, Jeff Haber, Operating Partner at W&W Glass, and John Trainor, General Manager of Architectural Grilles and Sunshades.
