Glass Expo Northeast™ 2009 was held March 25-27, at the Hyatt Regency Long Island Wind Watch Hotel and Golf Club in Long Island (Hauppauge), N.Y. The event drew record attendance and a featured a sold-out trade show floor.

Though you might not expect to find window film dealers at a regional glass event such as this, two local dealers, SOLARSOLUTIONS Glass Tinting and New York Window Film Co. Inc chose to exhibit. Both companies indicated that they were there to reach glass companies–everything from manufacturers to installers–to promote the use of window film and culture business relationships.

“Some of our energy-efficient films may be able to be added to their already efficient glass, increasing performance even further,” said William Rojo of SOLARSOLUTIONS. “This is the first time that we’ve tried this,  but new economic challenges mean new ideas have to come about. Basically, we’re here trying to get on the very front end of what goes on in the glass industry.”

“A lot of the glass companies here are existing customers of ours,” said Steve Pesce of New York Window Film Co. “But we’re looking to possibly pick up additional local companies that we can sell window film to.”

Pesce’s company displayed primarily decorative film products, something he said is really beginning to gain ground in the industry.

“A few years ago, decorative films were a relatively small portion of our business,” Pesce explained. “But last year I think it accounted for approximately 30 percent of our business. Architects and glass companies love it.”

Some in the industry might describe attending a glass event as “sleeping with the enemy,” but for these window film dealers, it’s called staying ahead.