Guardian Glass cites extreme volatility in raw material costs, supply chain disruptions and industry conditions in a letter to its U.S. and Canadian customers announcing price increases on all shipments starting next week. It also announced its energy, transportation and silver surcharges will now undergo monthly adjustments.
“The global situation facing all of us has created unprecedented pressure on our business,” said executive vice president of the Americas Rick Zoulek and Lance Altizer, vice president of sales in the Americas, in a joint letter issued June 10. “Therefore, based upon ongoing extreme volatility in raw material costs, supply chain disruptions and current industry conditions, Guardian Glass will implement a price increase effective on all shipments starting June 20, 2022.”
All thicknesses of clear float and tinted float will increase by 40%, as will prices of tempered glass, tempered coated, and patterned glass. UltraClear, coated SunGuard, coated ClimaGuard, ShowerGuard and laminated glass will all increase by 20%. Mirror prices are increasing by 25%.
“The changes to glass prices will enable future investments in our business and enable us to maintain our position as a premier supplier to the glass industry,” said the letter.
Rick Leserman, owner of Girard Glass in California, says his company is one of Guardian’s smaller customers. Girard Glass has been a customer of Guardian Glass since its doors opened in 1978. He says the last several months have seen Girard Glass consider purchases of Guardian glass on a month-to-month basis. Leserman says Guardian Glass is busy delivering to its contracted customers, adding that months may go by without Girard Glass being able to make a purchase, regardless of the price.
“We’ll have to absorb the increase and pass along the increase the best we can to our customers,” he says.
Changes in glass prices weren’t the only announcement in the correspondence. The letter also notes that energy, transportation and silver surcharges will move to monthly adjustments. Surcharges, effective July 1, will be recalculated based on second quarter costs of raw materials. Monthly adjustments start on August 1, 2022.
The letter notes that Guardian sales representatives will be in contact with customers within a week to provide additional information and answer questions.