Dialum

Dialum, a Chilean company that processes glass for various commercial and residential uses, will open its first U.S. facility in Ave Maria by early 2025. Site preparation has already commenced for a $25 million, 100,000-square-foot building just east of Arthrex Manufacturing. An expansion of another 60,000 to 80,000 square feet is anticipated at a later date.

“Right now, we’re doing the horizontal part of the construction,” said Director Fernando Diez Vidal from the company’s headquarters in Santiago. “We are clearing the land, grading and compacting the soil, installing drainage and we hope to start building in less than three months.”

Dialum’s commitment to exceptional architecture is evident in its selection of Gonzalo Mardones to design its cutting edge facility in Ave Maria. With a distinguished career defined by architectural brilliance and imaginative design solutions, Gonzalo Mardones brings a wealth of experience to this exciting project.

Born in Santiago de Chile, Mardones graduated with top honors from the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. He has since garnered numerous accolades, including the prestigious First Prize in the Architecture Biennale for his outstanding contributions to architectural design.

As an honorary Fellow of the American Institute of Architects and author of several acclaimed books, Mardones’ expertise will elevate Dialum’s new building into a true architectural marvel.

Dialum does not manufacture raw glass; it buys ready-made sheets of glass with different features from global suppliers and applies various laminates and treatments using cutting-edge technology to add functional and aesthetic properties. Its products include impact glass, favored in Florida for its hurricane-resistant features; fireproof and bulletproof glass for public buildings, banks or applications that require high security; anti slip and shower glass for bathrooms; lacquered glass for wall and furniture uses; and privacy glass, commonly used for conference rooms, which is clear but turns opaque with the touch of a switch.

“To make impact glass, for example, we apply two treatments called tempering and lamination, in which we take the raw glass into a high-temperature oven and then lower the heat very quickly,” Diez explained. “This gives the glass many mechanical properties. Then we join two, three or more sheets of this glass with an intermediate layer called SentryGlass, which is a plastic material that glues the sandwich together.”

Using digital printing capabilities, Dialum can also add color, photographs and other artistic elements to the glass for interior design applications. Using a waterjet cutting machine, the glass can be transformed into shapes or perforated with customized logos or other geometric elements. In the furnace, giant glass sheets are curved for architectural uses.

The plant at Ave Maria will also serve as a showroom where homeowners, window contractors and interior designers can see the applications for themselves and make custom orders. “A showroom is very important because people need to see, touch and try things before they buy them,” Diez said. “Our plant is already a showroom. We are very proud of it. We are a very orderly and very clean operation.”

In Chile, Dialum is recognized as a leading company in sustainability and ecological practices, according to Diez. “Although in Ave Maria we will consume a lot of electricity, we are a company that does not generate pollution,” he asserted. “Both in Chile and soon in the U.S., we will maintain corporate policies committed to environmental protection, while also worrying about the well-being of all the people and local communities around us.”

Dialum employs a closed-circuit, reverse osmosis system to recycle the water used in glass cutting, allowing for its continuous reuse. None of the company’s operations use fossil fuels, thus eliminating CO2 emissions. All of its machinery, including vehicles, forklifts and cranes, runs on electricity. The company does not produce waste because any leftover glass and other leftover or damaged materials are returned to the manufacturers to be melted down and turned back into usable material.

DIEZ VIDAL

Dialum is a family business founded in 1987 in Talcahuano, Chile. “My father founded the company and is currently the president, while I, the eldest son, am also deeply involved in the business,” Diez explained. From humble beginnings, they have grown the organization to encompass more than 300,000 square feet of production space, employing approximately 300 people. In addition to the Santiago headquarters, they have additional facilities in Concepción, as well as one in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

“The Florida market is very huge, and we are very excited to go over there,” Diez noted. “Establishing a plant in Florida is going to give us the ability to reduce our response lead time for customers significantly and to offer a much better sales service. But this is the tip of the iceberg— the first, but not the last, plant in the United States.”

The Starlight Lumina in San Isidro, Buenos Aires, Argentina, spans 460,000 square feet and blends avant-garde with sustainable design. COURTESY PHOTOS

Diez found Ave Maria to be an obvious choice for several compelling reasons. Its strategic location between Miami and Tampa, with easy access to Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale for glass shipments, made it highly favorable. Collier County’s generous incentives and welcoming environment further solidified the decision.

When Dialum engaged the Tabla Group to locate an optimal site for their Florida facility, they conducted an extensive statewide search. Their criteria included convenient transportation links for distributing products across Florida and Georgia, as well as a skilled local workforce, appealing residential options for employees, and a hospitable community and municipality.

“The search stopped in Ave Maria,” said Roberto Alvarez Vela, CEO of Tabla Group. “Furthermore, Barron Collier Companies was the right partner to work with. They have the infrastructure, knowledge and interest in developing the county. With the support of Bill McDaniel, District 5, Commissioner, they made it all possible.”

Dialum’s installation of 10-foot clear ceilings on every floor enhances the modern ambiance of 360 Rosemary in downtown West Palm Beach.

“We have a very good relationship with the county; it was a smooth negotiation,” Diez said. “They were very excited for us to be there, and we share common aspirations. We just want to offer jobs and do things the way they should be done. Without exploiting employees or the environment. We are on the same path with the county and trying to do things the right way.”

Another plus for Ave Maria was its proximity to Immokalee, Florida Gulf Coast University and several technical schools from which Diez intends to recruit his labor force—approximately 60 to 80 people initially. Diez is already discussing promoting Dialum as an excellent employment opportunity for the right candidates with a few organizations.

“We’re looking for people who want to grow with us. This is a long-term career opportunity where they can learn skills in emerging technologies,” Diez noted. “We are a company of professionals, and we take good care of our employees. We can provide transportation to and from their home. All security equipment like boots, helmets and safety glasses are provided by the company. And then we have lots of parties. In Chile, we have a soccer field in our facility, and we have a local league. I play, too. So, we have a very close relationship with our employees. They are like family to us.”

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