As Regency Glass approaches the launch of its most ambitious product yet, a revolutionary ultra-thin glass triple-glazed unit. The family-run company reflects on more than 40 years of innovation, strong partnerships, and steady growth that have made it one of the UK’s most forward-thinking glass manufacturers.
Founded in 1983 in a modest 2,000 sq. ft unit on Brown Street South, Leigh, Regency Glass was the vision of four people: Harold Beazant, Darren Beazant, Terry Bates and Roy Hilton. From day one, their focus was on quality, consistency, and going above and beyond for their customers. These values have underpinned the company’s journey ever since.
Rapid early growth saw Regency expand into larger premises in 1985, increasing daily production sixfold with some of the region’s first automated vertical washers and sealant machines. By the 1990s, Regency had already established its reputation as a reliable, standards-driven supplier, becoming one of the few UK manufacturers to achieve British Standards Kitemark Certification in 1993.
The next three decades saw continued investment in technology and personnel, from early automation and an in-house toughening plant in the 2000s, to the purpose-built 110,000 sq ft facility at Bridgewater Business Park, Leigh, which became the business's home in 2019.
Preparing for a New Era of Glazing
The latest chapter in Regency’s story is marked by the announcement of a groundbreaking ultra-thin glass triple-glazed unit, set to launch in the UK glazing market in Q1 2026. Developed in collaboration with Corning Incorporated, a world-leading innovator in glass, ceramics, and materials science.
“We’ve always believed in doing things right, not just being first,” says CEO Darren Beazant. “This product is the result of years of research, investment, and partnerships. We’re proud to deliver soon a product that we believe will set a new benchmark for the UK market.”
The ultra-thin glass TGU features a 0.5mm glass centre pane, enabling U-values as low as 0.5 W/m²K. This product will be 30% lighter than triple-glazed units and only 5% heavier than conventional double-glazed unit. This TGU is slim enough to replace existing double-glazed units, making it a perfect fit for both the replacement window market and new builds.
Investment in Technology and People
To make this possible, Regency Glass has invested heavily in world-class technology from its machinery and software providers; Glaston, Hegla and JoTika.
These investments are matched by a renewed focus on workforce development, with a company-wide online training programme launched in 2024 to build long-term skills and capability across the team.
“This training programme allows our staff to learn as much as possible about their workplace, both digitally and in person. It gives our staff a better insight as to why we have certain processes in place, and it makes in-depth staff training so much easier.” – Jason Gallagher, Regency’s Training Manager.
Looking Ahead
With testing and certification well underway, the new ultra-thin glass triple-glazed unit is expected to launch in Q1 2026, coinciding with the next phase of expansion to more than double Regency’s current manufacturing footprint.
As the glazing industry begins to align with international standards seen in Europe and North America, Regency Glass is proud to lead the way in the UK, proving that innovation and tradition can go hand in hand.
For more information, contact Steve Massey, Chief Sales Officer at Regency Glass:
E: stevemassey@regencyglass.co.uk
T: 01942 262 162
