Company History

It all started in 1885...

Glass has been associated with the name Glorieux since 1885. It is during this glorious year that Albert Glorieux the First propelled himself into the glass business, completely unaware of the generations that would follow in his footsteps. Nor could he have any idea that his sacrifice would ultimately result in his great-grandson inventing the most revolutionary glass and heating product of the century, IQ Glass™.

Early 1900's

Albert Glorieux the First was the pioneer of the Glorieux family's pride and joy. He cut single paned glass himself – and had the scars on his hands to prove it. Despite his struggles, and a business that wasn't always consistent, his devotion and perseverance was contagious in the family. Albert was succeeded by his son, Pierre the First, who in turn was succeeded by his son, Albert the Second.

During Albert the Second's reign, World War II began. Albert II was captured by the Germans and held as a prisoner until the end of the war. He persevered and survived. The glass company followed suit.

Post World War II

After the war, Albert II was released and resumed business, where he felt solace. He bought a bicycle, attached a cart, and pedaled for miles at a time yelling none other than, "Glass! Glass!". World War II had left Belgium in ruins. The need for glass was great. Albert II would install the glass on site for the people in his town.

Eventually Albert II added glass mirrors and plastics to the product line and built the family's first glass factory, crowned appropriately, ‘Glorieux'. For the first time the family business started seeing steady growth. Soon after, Glorieux would become a wholesaler in the glass industry.The 60's were upon us.

Albert II's son, in case you didn't guess, named Pierre II, brought with him a new ingredient to the mix. Pierre II was obsessed with the concept of glass being used as a heating element.

70's to present

Although the first half of the 70's showed signs of an economic crisis, the glass business continued its ascent. Glorieux became one of the first wholesalers in the entire world to produce double-pane insulated glass. Furthermore, Glorieux became the first company in Belgium to manufacture glass skylights.

In addition to Belgium, Glorieux began exporting to countries throughout Europe, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, Singapore and the United States of America.

In the eighties, Pierre II continued working industriously on the concept of radiant heating glass.

IQ Glass is born

In 1986, after countless years of steadfast research and development, the first radiant heating glass was born. Pierre II's brother Rick propelled the plastic division, by this time its own company crowned AG Plastics (AG= Albert Glorieux), to the forefront of the industry where it regally remains today.

The year 2006 brought IQ Glass™ to the United Kingdom via company IQ Glass UK Ltd. Heated glass as we use it in our applications has been on the market now for more than 20 years but has only been used in the UK since 2006.