The Framers Forum

So here's a topic!
I was sucked in from the beginning, Truvue the market leader of specialist glass. It's what everyone uses, it's the best, from the US. I didn't give it a second thought until the float glass shortage in the UK caused by the Suez blockage delays. At some point, my memory is hazy, ports on the East and West coasts of the US began suffering backlogs, ships queuing up to be loaded and unloaded. I began to wonder why I wasn't sourcing my specialist glass more locally so as not to be affected so much by these crazy situations and more importantly to be supporting more local European businesses. I'm a small business but my choices are important!
Some time ago I moved my most popular UV70 glass over to Groglass from Riga, Latvia. Quality is excellent, I've had no more issues than with Truvue and it's produced in the EU so far less shipping involved.
I think we can all be more aware of where we spend our money, which economies we are supporting the growth of.
I've still used Truvue for museum glass as Groglass hasn't always been available from Wessex when I've needed it, but I'm going to insist on it from now on for all my specialist glass.
I hope you'll all join me! Or at least consider your options. Our individual orders may not amount to much, but collectively we are a force of purchasing power.
I'm going to put Riga on my bucket list of places I must visit, (in the never heard of, must go category) and maybe arrange a factory visit for when I'm there. I think it would be fascinating!
And here's a fun fact about Latvia. Between 2022-2024 it gave the 4th highest percentage of GDP in aid to Ukraine at 1.53%. For perspective, the UK ranked 13th at 0.51%.
(Stats from statista.com)

WOW!!! That is a brilliant idea - support Europe not the US. I agree with your sentiment 100%

I used AR70 as soon as it came out, it got a bit confusing with different suppliers giving different names to it though “Clarity by Larson Juhl” etc.

When they brought out the con clear and museum equivalents with Artglass 99 and UV 99, which met the ISO for conservation glass, artglass was all I used (above standard glass) those two products eliminated the ripple of the tru vue products as well as the colour shift and were also far easier to clean, slightly cheaper if I remember right but Wessex set me up with decent discounts too.

Amen to that. Have been using uniquely artglass as long as I can remember. It now accounts for more than 40% of all that we frame. It's a brilliant product. Very scratch resistant and easy to clean. I've never had a broken sheet arrive or cause for complaint on anything supplied.

Couldn't agree with you more Justin.

We swapped to ArtGlass many years ago for UV99, AR70 and AR99WW and wouldn't change back from them. The only Tru Vue product we still use is Optium, because at the moment nothing else compares. But if ArtGlass produce something to the same quality then we would swap that too.

We have always found ArtGlass to clean better that TV products.

I was lucky enough to visit the factory last Sept. Fascinating tour. They dont make glass only coat it, which I didn't know before hand
Lovely staff made me most welcome.
No pictures allowed at Groglas so here is a fish counter at the Main Market in Riga, well worth a visit, for anything, clothes, food, Amber ( an obligatory purchase) jewellery, souvenirs, A local delicacy is Chimney Cake. You need to go to find out what that is!

DONT hire a car from Green Motion - very cheap, but then extras before you leave and when you return, I washed my car 30 mins before returning as requested, but still got a charge on my CC for washing dirty car.

A trip to the coast is worth doing, but DONT exceed the heavily enforced speed limits, even by 2 or 3 KPH over the limit. I did and got a fine