AUGUST 2019 | 21
News
Installer News is
sponsored by FENSA
FUN, FRIENDS AND A FOND
FAREWELL TO ‘MR GPD’
The recent Glass Performance Days in
Tampere proved insightful and enjoyable
for the GGF and Members alike as over
1,000 delegates from around the world,
participated in four days of excellence
from workshops, conference sessions,
seminars, forums and an exhibition from
hundreds of companies in
the global glass industry.
The events continued into
the evenings with a ‘Get Togeth-
er Party’, Conference dinner and
memorable ‘Farewell Party’ that
this year was combined with or-
ganiser Jorma Vitkala’s retirement
party – and he went out in amaz-
ing style – hovering 100ft above a
lake at midnight in water jet boots
to the gasps of hundreds of GPD
visitors on the lakeside in the land
of the midnight sun.
Kevin Buckley, GGF Chief
Executive attended the event and
commented: “My principal interest
in the Glass Performance Days
conference was to attend the sem-
inar on Vacuum Insulated Glazing.
This is an emerging technology
that some of our Members are al-
ready using because of its perfor-
mance in terms of form-factor and
thermal efficiency. The seminars,
led by Dr Cenk Kocer of the Uni-
versity of Sydney, were both excel-
lent and we will be issuing some
information on the evolution of
this technology for the benefit of
interested Members. The GGF will
definitely attend and participate at
this event again in the future.”
GGF Members also attended the
event including Francis Serruys,
Director, Technical Sales Support
and Business Development of
Saint-Gobain who said: “I have
attended GPD since 1995. Soon
after I became the chairman of the
GPD ‘Tempering & Pre-processing’
session. Since then the evolution
in the glass processing industry
has been considerable, from the
GPD Team
GPD Organiser
Jorma Vitkala
hovers above Lake
introduction
of post-temperable coatings, to
the Heat Soak Testing according
the EN-standard and recently the
progress made in reducing the
appearance of anisotropy in heat
treated glass.”
Regalead visited GPD for
the first time and Guy Hubble,
Managing Director commented:
“From the opening night’s high
level presentations right the way
through to the closing party on
the Friday, the conference was
inspirational, educational but also
fun. It was a fantastic opportunity
to learn what’s coming down the
road in terms of architectural glass
technology and of course, the
chance to catch up with industry
experts from around the world
and to spend time with some
of the other key distributors for
EvGuard, our lamination partner,
who were also a Silver sponsor of
the event.”
GGF Member, Gailord Nepp,
Business Development Manager
at Wintech Testing & Certifica-
tion, a GPD regular commented:
Guy Hubble (left) with
GGF’s James Lee at GPD
“Brad Henry once said: ‘A good
teacher can inspire hope, ignite
the imagination, and instil a love
of learning’. Attending GPD is like
attending school with good teach-
ers. The speakers, give relevant,
up-to-date and innovative pres-
entations. It’s a joy to participate,
catch up with business friends
but more importantly to have real
time access to a pool of exclusive
industry knowledge.”
The last words go to the man
known as ‘Mr GPD’, Jorma Vitkala
who has been instrumental in the
organisation and promotion of the
event since GPD started 27 years
ago. Though Jorma is retiring, he
is not making a sudden departure
and will continue in a consultative
role for GPD. He says: “I want to
personally thank everyone who
has contributed to and attend-
ed GPD over the last 27 years.
It has been a great journey and
Francis Serruys of
Saint-Gobain
this year’s GPD has reached new
higher levels of excellence. With
over 1,000 participants in total, in-
cluding all the speakers, Helsinki
High Rise seminar, management
forum guests and local Tampere
workshops, GPD 2019 has set new
records in many ways. An all-time
high of 280 first-timers attended,
marking a new era of next-gen-
eration participants. These will
be some of our upcoming ambas-
sadors to carry on making GPD
a truly one-of-a-kind forum for
openly sharing ideas, innovations
and inspiration.
“GPD 2019 was very special to
me as it was my last as Chairman
of the event. Being Chairman of
the Organising Committee has
been a special highlight of my
lifelong career. This year’s Farewell
Party – along with my retirement
party – was literally one of the
highest points in my entire life.
Kevin Buckley GGF
Chief Executive
Although I may have look utterly
horrified when being lifted up
by water jets on a flyboard, I was
thoroughly enjoying myself.
“I especially wish to express my
deep appreciation to the sponsors
of this spectacular party: Eckersley
O’Callaghan, Sika, EVguard, DOW,
Glasstress, Bohle, Polypane, Se-
dak, Trosifol, Buhler, Dormakaba,
Fenetech, Le Gruyere Aop, Glaston
and Frintrup.
“We will be putting out more on
this year’s activities, but the feed-
back I have already received has
been unbelievably positive. I will
continue to act in an advisory role
to keep the GPD network going
and connect people in the indus-
try for next GPD generation. Once
again thanks to everyone who has
made GPD an outstanding event
for the glass industry”.
www.ggf.org.uk