Bullet-resistant glass is an increasingly attractive prospect from an investment perspective, providing a range of tangible benefits beyond merely the obvious. This is reflected by significant growth in the market. According to a recent report, the bullet-resistant glass industry is expected to almost double in value by 2023, from a current worth of US$4.5 billion to approximately US$9.8 billion by 2023. There is no single answer as to why the market is experiencing such a significant uptick. National property and violent crime statistics are trending downwards over a 10-year period, so it is not simply an issue of supply and demand.
Intermediate goods like bullet-resistant glass typically serve users in a range of individual market segments, whose needs vary dramatically. In the context of security – and in particular to bullet-resistant glass – this may refer to blast-proof capabilities, different ballistic ratings, economy to performance ratios, and a choice of additional KPIs that could be make-or-break in certain applications. Here we will explore which industries use bullet-resistant glass and show how and why the market has changed in each individual segment.
Stadiums & Arenas
Although automation and online sales have reduced the reliance on customer-facing infrastructures in stadiums and arenas, the box office is still central to the arena-going experience. Budget constraints historically made it difficult to engineer bullet-resistant glass windows that did not impair the speed of transactions. Now it is possible to generate perfectly clear ballistic-resistant windows for box offices with deal trays and transaction drawers that seamlessly integrate greater security into faster customer interactions.
Convenience Stores
Bullet-resistant glass offers similar benefits to convenience stores and retailers, putting a physical barrier between would-be assailants and store attendants. In fact, many stores worldwide have begun separating consumers from products in a bid to combat shoplifting. This has proven particularly effective at protecting both personnel and profit margins.
Financial Institutions
This method of separating the public from owned assets has always been commonplace in the financial industry, where the risk of armed robbery is typically much more significant – at least from a financial point of view. Transaction-friendly bullet-resistant glass represents the next step in a long history of treading the line between maintaining strict security procedures and a customer-friendly environment.
Campuses & Schools
School security is one of the biggest growth segments in the bullet-resistant glass market to date, topping US$2.7 billion in 2017. The need to coordinate a suitable response to the catastrophic spate of mass shootings and threats of violence on school campuses is inconsistent at both the federal level and between school districts. Yet faculties are increasingly turning to bullet-resistant glass as a means of improving security procedures by shoring up entryways, corridors, classrooms, and panic rooms.
Military
According to the recent market report, demand for bullet-resistant glass is largely driven by the automotive and military sectors. End-users in defense applications are typically structural engineers tasked with designing and constructing bases in both domestic and foreign territories. High-rated bullet-resistant glass is increasingly used in windows and doors to protect from direct incoming fire and blasts from heavier ordnance and explosives. Such applications also benefit from the increasingly diverse range of ballistic-resistant products available for shoring up overall defense, from package receivers to gun ports.
Armortex: Bulletproof Window Suppliers
Armortex specializes in the design and supply of bulletproof windows, doors, and panels for a comprehensive range of market segments. We source high-quality bullet-resistant glass rated per customer specifications and will match fixture materials to the equivalent rating.
If you would like more information about our bulletproof solutions for your application, simply contact a member of the Armortex team today.
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