About Vitro Architectural Glass
Vitro Architectural Glass is the U.S. brand of flat glass products distributed by Vitro S.A.B. de C.V., Mexico's largest glass manufacturer and one of the world's largest flat glass producers. The U.S. operations trace their origin to PPG Industries' glass division — established in the late 19th century in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania — which Vitro acquired from PPG in 2016, rebranding the product line as Vitro Architectural Glass while maintaining the established distribution network and coating technology platform.
The Vitro architectural glass portfolio covers clear float glass, ultra-clear low-iron glass (Starphire Ultra-Clear), solar control coated glass (Solarban series), reflective glass (Solarcool), and specialty products for fire-rated, privacy, and patterned applications. The Solarban line — including Solarban 60, 70XL, 90, and R100 products — is among the most widely specified high-performance solar control glass in North American commercial and institutional construction, referenced by name in architectural specifications on glass curtain wall and high-performance facade projects across the continent.
Vitro glass products are distributed through regional glass distributors and fabricated into insulating glass units by the distributor network as well as Vitro's own fabrication facilities. For commercial architects and glazing engineers, glass type and coating series are typically specified during envelope design — U-factor, solar heat gain coefficient, visible light transmittance, and exterior reflectance targets are identified before fabrication drawings begin. Vitro provides energy simulation tools, daylight modeling support, and technical representatives to assist the specification process on complex commercial projects.
Company Snapshot
Product Lines
Solarban Solar Control Glass
High-performance sputtered silver low-e coatings for commercial facades requiring balance of solar control, daylighting, and thermal insulation.
- Solarban 60: balanced visible light and solar control
- Solarban 70XL: high visible light with strong solar rejection
- Solarban 90: maximum solar control for hot climates
- Solarban R100: reflective option for high solar rejection
Starphire Ultra-Clear Glass
Low-iron float glass with dramatically reduced green tint for applications requiring true color rendering through glass.
- 91% visible light transmittance (vs. ~83% clear)
- Minimal green edge tint
- Compatible with Solarban and Sungate coatings
- Used in display, museum, and high-design facade applications
Solarcool Reflective Glass
Pyrolytic and sputtered reflective coatings for commercial facades where exterior reflectivity is a design or solar control objective.
- Multiple reflectance levels and color options
- Consistent appearance across large facade areas
- Coordinated with Solarban performance coatings
Common Applications
Commercial and Institutional Facades
Office towers, hospitals, universities, and government buildings where glass specification is driven by energy code compliance and daylighting performance modeling.
High-Design Residential
Custom homes and multi-family residential where Starphire ultra-clear glass or high-performance solar control coatings are specified by architects.
What To Know
Solarban is a de facto specification name
Like Kleenex or Xerox, Solarban is used generically in specifications — it carries brand recognition that few glass coating products achieve.
Broad U.S. manufacturing and distribution
Float glass production across multiple U.S. states supports regional availability and domestic material documentation relevant to LEED and federal projects.
Technical simulation support
Energy modeling tools and technical representatives help architects integrate Vitro glass products into code compliance calculations and energy simulations.
Editorial profile based on Vitro Architectural Glass public product and company materials; last reviewed May 2026.