Curved Architectural Glass
Curved Tempered Glass
Hot-bent and cold-bent panels for facades, lifts, canopies, and sculptural glazing. Radii from 500 mm to shallow curves, up to 3.3 m x 15 m per panel.
500 mm
Minimum radius
3.3 x 15 m
Max panel
3 axes
Cylinder / sphere / free
What is curved tempered glass?
Curved tempered glass is architectural glass that has been formed to a curve and heat-treated for safety. The forming happens in two main ways. In hot-bending, a flat glass sheet is heated above its softening point (around 650 degrees Celsius) and allowed to sag or press over a shaped mold; the curve is then locked in during the tempering cooling cycle. In cold-bending, a flat tempered panel is physically flexed into a curved frame during installation; the panel stays stressed in place for the life of the facade.
The result in either case is a panel that holds its curved profile permanently, breaks safely into small blunt fragments if it ever fails, and meets the same GB 15763.2 and EN 12150 safety-glass standards as flat tempered glass. The curve is not a coating or a trick. It is baked into the glass itself.
Try it
See the curve before you quote it
Drag the radius slider to see how a panel bends across our full working range. The verdict panel shows which production process we would use at that radius.
Curvature Visualizer
Drag the radius slider. The glass bends in real time; the verdict panel updates with the recommended process.
Recommended process
Hot-bend + custom mold
Our minimum achievable radius is 500 mm for 6 mm panels. Tighter radii require thinner glass or a two-piece build. Verified: 2026-10-23.
Inside the furnace
How a curved panel is made
The hot-bending process adds three steps on top of standard tempering: mold preparation, controlled sagging, and shape-locked quenching. The whole cycle for a mid-size panel runs 90 to 180 minutes.
Mold prep
A steel mold matching the target radius is cleaned, aligned, and preheated in the furnace entry zone.
Panel loading
The flat tempered-grade float panel is placed horizontally on the mold rails.
Heating to 650C
Panel enters the main furnace; soaking brings it above softening point. Glass begins to self-sag onto the mold.
Shape-locked quench
High-velocity air quench on both faces instantly locks the curve in and builds the compressive stress layer.
Inspection and packing
Each panel is checked for curvature deviation, surface quality, and 3C-standard breakage pattern on sample pieces.
Not all curves are equal
Pick the geometry that matches your drawing
Cylindrical, spherical, and free-form panels each need different tooling. The right choice depends on the architect intent and shapes the cost floor.
Three Curve Typologies
Different curve geometries demand different tooling and set different cost floors. Pick one to see its specifics.
Glass curves in one direction only — like a sheet rolled into a tube.
Typical applications
- ▸Elevator shafts and panoramic lifts
- ▸Curved shopfronts and showcases
- ▸Cylindrical building facades
- ▸Round conference tables and reception desks
Dimensional tolerance
±2 mm on chord, ±1° on angle
Mold requirement
Reusable steel mold per radius
MOQ
Low — single panels possible
Lead time
15-25 days
Relative cost
Working on a curved facade?
Send us your DWG, STEP, or IFC model. Our engineering team confirms feasibility and returns a formal quote within 2 business days.
Feasibility Checker
Can we make it? Try your spec.
Enter thickness, radius, and finished size. The checker returns the recommended process, tolerance, and lead-time range in real time.
Our envelope: 3,300 mm × 15,000 mm (per panel). Larger assemblies are built from multiple panels.
Recommended process
Standard hot-bending furnace
Tolerance
±3 mm on chord, ±1° on angle
Lead time
15-25 days
Notes
- ·No manufacturing constraints detected. Standard quote applies.
Estimates reflect typical production conditions in our Hubei facility. Final confirmation requires drawing review. Data verified: 2026-10-23.
Why Sincere Glass
A 20,000 sqm facility built around jumbo and specialty curved work
500 mm
Tightest achievable radius
Hot-bending at the 500 mm floor sits below the 800 mm minimum most Chinese and Southeast Asian plants publish. Reached with 6 mm panels and a dedicated steel mold.
3.3 x 15 m
Jumbo panel envelope
Our tempering furnace and autoclave accept panels up to 3,300 mm x 15,000 mm, among the largest in Hubei province. Curved and jumbo in one order is possible.
15+ yr
Domestic track record
Fifteen years supplying architects and glazing contractors across China. Curved tempered is a repeat-order product line, not a side experiment.
GB + EN
Dual-standard output
Every curved tempered panel is produced to GB 15763.2 and tested against EN 12150. Test reports are issued on request for export projects.
Specifications
| Thickness range | 6 mm, 8 mm, 10 mm, 12 mm, 15 mm, 19 mm |
| Minimum radius | 500 mm (6 mm panels); scales with thickness. Use Feasibility Checker above. |
| Maximum panel size | 3,300 mm x 15,000 mm per panel |
| Geometries | Cylindrical (single-axis), spherical (double-axis), free-form (asymmetric) |
| Forming methods | Hot-bending (R below 3,300 mm), cold-bending (R above 5,000 mm), either in between |
| Dimensional tolerance | Cylindrical: +/-2 mm; spherical: +/-4 mm; free-form: +/-3 mm along profile |
| Compatible build-ups | Monolithic, laminated (PVB / SGP), insulated (IGU), curved + Low-E coated |
| Standards | GB 15763.2 (China), EN 12150 (Europe), ANSI Z97.1 on request |
| Certification | China 3C (CCC); EN test reports available for export |
Specifications verified: 2026-10-23. Final capability confirmation requires drawing review.
Applications
Panoramic lifts and elevators
Cylindrical shafts up to 15 m tall from a single panel.
Curved curtain walls
Multi-panel facades for airports, museums, and corporate HQs.
Dome skylights and oculus
Spherical segments for atria, courtyards, and transit halls.
Entrance canopies
Shallow single-axis curves above building entrances and porte-cocheres.
Curved shopfronts
Boutique retail facades, luxury showrooms, and flagship stores.
Marine and yacht glazing
Free-form panels for superyacht wheelhouses and bridge wings.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum curve radius you can achieve?+
Our tightest achievable radius is 500 mm, limited to 6 mm panel thickness. For a 10 mm panel the floor rises to about 900 mm; for 19 mm, around 2,500 mm. Thinner glass bends tighter. The Feasibility Checker above enforces these limits in real time.
What is the largest curved panel you can manufacture?+
Our envelope is 3,300 mm by 15,000 mm per panel, matching our jumbo tempering furnace. Panels larger than this are typically built as multi-panel assemblies with structural silicone or point-fixed joints.
Do you do hot-bending or cold-bending?+
Both. Hot-bending (heating the glass above its softening point and forming over a mold) is used for radii below about 3,300 mm. Cold-bending (flexing a flat panel into a curved frame during installation) is used for shallow curves above 5,000 mm radius when the panel sees low shear load. Between 3,000 and 5,000 mm the choice depends on project economics.
Can curved glass be laminated or insulated?+
Yes. We produce curved laminated glass (PVB or SGP interlayer) and curved insulated units (IGU) using bent tempered panels. Lamination adds safety containment and sound reduction; IGU adds thermal performance. Both are standard options on the quote form.
What tolerance can you hold on a curved panel?+
Cylindrical panels: plus or minus 2 mm on chord length and plus or minus 1 degree on angular alignment. Spherical panels: plus or minus 4 mm on chord, plus or minus 2 degrees on angle. Free-form panels: plus or minus 3 mm along the defined profile. Cold-bent panels, measured after installation, hold plus or minus 5 mm.
What is the MOQ for curved tempered glass?+
For cylindrical panels, there is no hard MOQ. We can produce single panels using a reusable steel mold. For spherical and free-form panels, mold cost is amortized over the order; a 4-panel minimum is typical to keep per-unit mold cost reasonable.
What standards does your curved tempered glass meet?+
Our curved tempered glass is produced to GB 15763.2 (China safety glass standard) and EN 12150 (European tempered glass standard). It carries China 3C (CCC) certification. For export markets we can provide EN 12150 or ANSI Z97.1 test reports on request.
How do I confirm feasibility before placing an order?+
Share a drawing or 3D model (DWG, STEP, or IFC) with us. Our engineering team confirms feasibility, flags any dimensional conflicts, and returns a formal quote within 2 business days. For complex geometries we also recommend a sample bend before full production.
20,000
Square meters facility
15+
Years in architectural glass
3C
CCC certified
2600+
Delivered projects
Ready to curve the glass?
Send us your drawing. We confirm feasibility and return a formal quote within 2 business days.
Request a Quote