Taiwan Glass Gallery Highlights Taiwan's World-Class Glass Industry

Taiwan Mirror Glass (TMG) is setting its sights on becoming a global player and guiding light for local partners to promote their products around the world

Taiwan Mirror Glass Enterprise (TMG) is a glass furniture maker that was founded in 1943 as a family-run glass shop. In 2005, the company gained national attention with the opening of the Taiwan Glass Gallery, which was introduced by company general manager Jackson Link at a seminar arranged by the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) in December 2012.

The gallery introduces upstream and downstream manufacturers, and also introduces the public to the uses of glass in a wide range of products, including craft items. Visitors can also experience how durable glass can be walking through the 'Golden Tunnel,' made of tempered glass.

The origins of the gallery date back to the 2005 Dragon Boat Festival, when TMG and the Changhua County Government jointly held an activity to introduce the public to glass production methods. The success of the event inspired the company to create the Taiwan Glass Gallery.

Glass Temple
One of highlight attractions at the gallery is the glass temple built next to it. The temple is constructed entirely of glass materials, from the roof to walls and even the furniture, statues, decorative items, sacrificial offerings inside. The temple serves as an eye-catching show room demonstrating the wide range of glass application.

"In the future, we plan to make a mobile glass Matsu temple that can be transported to provide spiritual comfort in disaster-struck areas," said Lin.

Glass Furniture
Glass furniture is one of the core items promoted at the gallery. Under Lin's leadership, TMG organized a glass furniture industry cluster in 2005, bringing together the strengths and advantages of glass product makers in central Taiwan. Through collaboration among complementary companies and efficient integration of resources, the cluster has enabled member companies to supply large international customers like IKEA, B&Q, Cosco, MUJI, TOTO, Walmart, and Home Depot.

The cluster has quickly expanded its operations to other related glass products, such as glassware and glass furnishing items. It operates like a supply chain that horizontally links glass product makers and vertically integrates the operations of component suppliers of various materials like metal, wood, and plastics. Product diversification and operational integration is the key to its success.

The cluster initially integrated 28 glass companies into a unified professional glass industry team.

"If it's a big cake, then we should know how to share it out" said Lin. In 1998, when TMG took orders from IKEA, his company shared orders across the industry. Not only did this provide a boost to the industry, it also polished the reputation of Taiwan's glass industry, attracting back to Taiwan many of the enterprises that had earlier moved operations abroad.

Lin has also used joint exhibitions and marketing to transform what was originally a manufacturing industry into a cultural and creative industry. Besides the permanent booths at the glass gallery, which is open to the public 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, TMG often organizes Taiwan pavilions at glass-related exhibitions held in major markets like the U.S., Europe, and China.

Global Vision
The cluster also aims to be a leading force in opening world markets to its Taiwanese partners.

The cluster was organized in reaction to the outbound investment thrust during the 1980s, when many Taiwan's glass furniture companies relocated their production lines to mainland China and Vietnam. "At that time, up to 95% of Taiwan glass-processing companies, including the glass furniture industry, relocated their production lines abroad, creating a crisis in the industry," Lin pointed out. "While many business people in Taiwan have global ambitions, it is very difficult to foster the kind of cooperation under which the benefits of this can be shared," he said. The glass furniture cluster, nonetheless, is showing a way to make this dream a reality.

"If we want to create a stable foundation for Taiwan's glass industry, then we need to dig deeper and broaden our operational scope," said Lin. With 30 years of experience in the glass industry, Lin has brought the industry together in the hope of marketing Taiwan's glass to the world.

"Companies should first grow and establish themselves in their home country before expanding overseas," Lin said.

Taiwanese glass companies should therefore cultivate their operations at home and make a name in the industry here.

Promotional efforts have helped to drive 30% growth in Taiwan's decorative glass market. Lin said that strengths in high-quality, on-time delivery, and competitive pricing would help Taiwan to compete against low-priced suppliers in China.

Long-established and reliable services have also created considerable trust in Taiwan glass among global customers.