Viridian Glass

Trades & Services

Innovation

Product innovation is crucial, but so too is improving our business in small ways that make it better for our staff, our customers and you.

We understand that innovation means more than just new products, it means interrogating everything we do, looking for ways to make things better. More than just having a good idea, it means turning that good idea into something great.

We believe in working with experts so you’ll see us involve change-makers and leaders in business management, research, architecture and design in what we do. We sponsor breakthrough research and technologies in association with universities throughout the world. We’re active in developing a range of innovative glass technologies including Electrochromic Glass, Video Integrated Glass and Switchable Glass – making things that once seemed like Science Fiction, real.

For us innovation isn’t abstract, it’s about changing lives by making glass that gives people better control of their homes. It’s about bringing increased comfort and natural light into your living room, your work and all of your spaces.

Glass may have been around for 4000 years but what we’re excited about is the next 4000. The glass we make now is already cleverer, cleaner and more energy efficient than ever before… and we’re excited about what’s next.

Apprenticeships at Viridian Glass

Viridian offers apprenticeships in Glazing and Glass Processing.

Be a part of something great! As an apprentice Glazier or a Glass Processor, you will have the opportunity to play an integral part of some amazing projects. Whether it be part of the manufacturing process in one of our production plants, or at site as a glazier installing glass that adds light, beauty and warmth to homes, buildings, and other residential and commercial constructs.  

We Love Glass!

At Viridian, we are part of the whole glass process. From manufacturing the material through to installing and watching our glass come to life. Which is why our love of glass flows through everything we do.

We believe commitment to safety and excellence is fundamental. We achieve success through innovation, technology and dedication to our customers.

Glazing Apprenticeships

You will be trained by experienced Glaziers and work alongside others that will support you on your path to become a great Glazier.

Our leading brand name will set you up to have impressive credential in the market.

As an apprentice glazier you will gain experience in the installation of glass into residential and commercial buildings and learn about the skills, tip and tricks of the trade. Alongside a customer focussed team, you will enjoy what you do, where no day is the same!

Through BCITO, your skills will be recognised and you will obtain a formal qualification, cementing yourself in the glass industry!

WHAT’S IN IT FOR YOU:

• Competitive apprentice wage

• An enriching learning experience

• A foot in the door to develop your career within a leading brand

SKILLS & EXPERIENCE YOU’LL BRING:

• A self-starter mindset

• Dedicated safety focus

• Great communication skills

• Full NZ drivers’ licence

• Physically able to perform a high number of glass lifts on a daily basis.

HOW TO APPLY:

We want to hear from you! Please click “Apply For this Job”, this will take you to our Viridian Glass careers page.

Viridian has a strong commitment to workplace, health and safety and the well-being of our people. Successful candidates will be required to undertake a pre-employment medical including drug and alcohol screening before a formal offer is made.

Glass Processing Apprenticeships

 WHAT’S IN IT FOR YOU:

 SKILLS & EXPERIENCE YOU’LL BRING:

How we process glass

We are able to create glass that is specifically designed to suit the customers space and needs.

From glass that gives greater thermal insulation to glass that doesn’t break into sharp shards – our custom processes can make it happen.

Our custom processing allows us to create products that are fit to purpose. Through these processes we can transform glass into something that is particularly suited to a specific purpose in any project. Learn more by reading about the various types of glass below!

Creating IGUs

IGUs – Insulating Glass Units – is a fancy, more formal, title for double glazing (or triple or beyond!).  Manufacturing insulating glass units involves bringing together two pieces of glass, both adhered to a spacer.

Cutting & Shapes

Cutting the glass is how we can give the shape and style of glass the customer needs.

But glass is a brittle material – if it starts to crack it tends to do so completely – so you might think this would make it difficult to cut. But this actually works to our advantage in the cutting stage – the glass needs only to be scored on the surface and then lightly pressured to break cleanly along that line.  (The neatness of that cut comes down to the amount of residual stress held in the glass as it was cooled at manufacture – so cutting quality and accuracy actually starts right back at the float line!)

Although you’d usually see glass in squares and rectangles, we can cut it into almost any shape you can think of. That being said, we know what works and what doesn’t when dealing with glass, so there are a number of cutting guidelines and limiting dimensions that we apply to ensure that the glass will perform well in practice.

Edgework

Edgework is used to make glass safer, stronger, and more aesthetically pleasing. The quality of the edge is important as cracks tend to start at the edges. The most resilient edge is a clean-cut edge, but it can be susceptible to damage due to its sharp corners. Therefore, other forms of edges, such as rounded, mitred, or polished edges, can be created to suit different purposes and looks.

Holes & Notches & Cutouts

Many applications of glass call for holes notches and cut-outs to be incorporated into the final design, for example notches for hinges in frameless shower-screens, holes for power-points in splashbacks, cut-outs for pet-doors  and more.

All these things are possible, but just as with cutting and shaping the glass, there are various guidelines and limiting dimensions we adhere to when preparing the glass.

Bending

All architectural glass starts its life flat from the float line. But it can be bent to suit purposes like creating curved windows, food display cabinets, or balustrades.

It’s a process similar to the initial stages of toughening. A pre-cut or shaped piece of glass is heated to the temperature at which it just starts to cease being solid, and is then rolled backwards and forwards over rollers which have a prescribed curvature in them. From that, you end up with a curved sheet of glass.

Heat treatment

Heat treatment includes Toughening, Heat-Strengthening, and Heat Soaking. Toughening and Heat-Strengthening involve heating glass in a controlled furnace and rapidly cooling it to set stresses that compress the outer layer and make the glass more resistant to breaking.

Toughened glass can withstand five times more load and higher temperature differences, but it cannot be altered once it’s made. Heat Strengthened glass is less strong but breaks with less energy. Heat Soaking confirms the absence of physical contaminants and imperfections in toughened glass that may cause spontaneous breakage by simulating such conditions in a controlled environment.

Custom Laminating

Custom laminating is a bespoke laminating process where pre-worked glass panels are laminated together. Toughened glass can’t be altered post-toughening, so all toughened laminates are custom laminates. They must be in their final shape before laminating occurs.

This is a factory-sealed unit, assembled in controlled conditions, for quality-assured performance and long-life. Various glass types, spacer materials, and gasses can be combined to deliver different appearances, properties, and thermal performance levels depending on what the glass is going to be used for.

Applied coatings

There’s a number of preparations and chemical treatments that can be applied to glass post-processing.

One of the most common is painting – colour-backed glass finds its ways into many thousands of homes and other buildings every year as splashbacks and wall panelling. Other treatments applied in the factory can impart properties to the glass to make it water repellent, easier clean, and lower in condensation.

Films and Motifs

Some uses of glass call for specific visibility motifs to be applied to the glass – this can be achieved by screen printing the surface with a special ceramic paint (generally prior to toughening) or with an adhesive design.

Self-adhesive films that cover the whole surface of the glass are also available – these offer a range of benefits including protecting the surface from vandalism and other damage. They can also play a role in security and impact protection as part of an purpose-designed system.

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