NAICS 327212 Quarterly Industry Report
Other Pressed and Blown Glass and Glassware Manufacturing
Comprehensive industry research for valuation professionals, business owners, buyers, and lenders
NAICS Code: 327212Sector: 32Updated: Q1 2026
About This Report
This Fair Market Value industry report for NAICS 327212 delivers business owners, acquirers, and financial advisors data-driven valuation insights for the pressed and blown glass sector, drawing on data from the U.S. Census Bureau[5] and the Bureau of Labor Statistics[6]. The report aggregates transaction multiples, financial benchmarks, and market trends specific to NAICS 327212 establishments, supporting buy-sell agreements, succession planning, SBA-financed acquisitions, and litigation support engagements.
Industry Snapshot
Key metrics for the other pressed and blown glass and glassware manufacturing industry.
Industry Definition & Overview
Other Pressed and Blown Glass and Glassware Manufacturing (NAICS 327212) encompasses establishments primarily engaged in manufacturing glass by melting silica sand or cullet and making pressed, blown, or shaped glass and glassware, excluding glass packaging containers. Products include laboratory glassware, lighting glass such as bulb envelopes and tubing, glass fiber for textile and reinforcement applications, optical glass blanks, decorative glassware, glass tableware, and specialty glass for scientific and industrial applications. According to the U.S. Census Bureau[5], this classification covers both industrial glass producers and artisan glassblowing operations manufacturing products from melted raw materials.
Manufacturing processes include press molding using iron and steel molds for tableware and lighting components, glassblowing with both manual techniques and automated IS (individual section) machines, glass fiber drawing through platinum bushings, tube drawing for lighting and laboratory applications, and optical glass production requiring extreme homogeneity and purity. The Bureau of Labor Statistics[6] identifies production roles including furnace operators managing glass melting temperatures, gob feeders controlling molten glass delivery, press and blow machine operators, glass fiber bushing operators, glass cutters and grinders for finishing operations, and quality inspectors testing optical clarity, dimensional accuracy, and thermal properties.
Per the SBA Office of Advocacy[7], pressed and blown glass producers serve diverse markets with different demand drivers. Lighting glass tracks commercial and residential construction and LED conversion cycles. Glass fiber demand follows composites, insulation, and electronics industry requirements. Laboratory glassware sales correlate with pharmaceutical, chemical, and educational research spending levels.
What's Included in This Industry
- Valuation multiples benchmarked to pressed and blown glass manufacturing operations
- Revenue and EBITDA trends for domestic specialty glass production
- SBA lending data and financing terms for NAICS 327212 businesses
- Comparable transaction data from recent glass company acquisitions
- Industry risk factors including energy costs, import competition, and technology shifts
- Workforce composition and labor cost benchmarks for glass production operations
- Regional market analysis covering major glass manufacturing centers
- Capital expenditure benchmarks for furnaces, forming equipment, and fiber drawing systems
- End-market analysis across lighting, glass fiber, laboratory, and tableware segments
- Owner compensation and discretionary earnings benchmarks
NAICS Classification Hierarchy
| Level | Description | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Subsector | Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing | 327 |
| Industry Group | Glass and Glass Product Manufacturing | 3272 |
| NAICS Industry | Glass and Glass Product Manufacturing | 32721 |
| National Industry | Other Pressed and Blown Glass and Glassware Manufacturing | 327212 |
Related NAICS Codes
| Code | Description | Relationship |
|---|---|---|
| 327211 | Flat Glass Manufacturing | Flat glass manufacturers sharing glass melting furnace technology and raw material supply chains but producing flat architectural and automotive glass rather than shaped products |
| 327213 | Glass Container Manufacturing | Glass container manufacturers classified separately when producing glass bottles, jars, and packaging containers from melted glass rather than pressed and blown glassware |
| 327215 | Glass Product Manufacturing Made of Purchased Glass | Glass product manufacturers classified separately when fabricating products from purchased glass rather than melting raw materials to produce glass and glassware |
| 327993 | Mineral Wool Manufacturing | Mineral wool manufacturers classified separately when producing glass wool (fiberglass) insulation from melted glass rather than glass fiber for textile or reinforcement applications |
| 327110 | Pottery, Ceramics, and Plumbing Fixture Manufacturing | Pottery and ceramics manufacturers sharing high-temperature furnace technology and mineral raw material processing while producing ceramic rather than glass products |
| 339115 | Ophthalmic Goods Manufacturing | Ophthalmic goods manufacturers consuming optical glass blanks and precision glass components for eyeglass lenses and optical instrument applications |
Geographic Concentration
Top states by share of national establishments.
| # | State | % Est. | Total Est. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 14.9% | 54 |
| 2 | Ohio | 8.3% | 30 |
| 3 | New York | 6.6% | 24 |
| 4 | Texas | 5.8% | 21 |
| 5 | Florida | 5.5% | 20 |
| 6 | Pennsylvania | 5.5% | 20 |
| 7 | Oregon | 5.3% | 19 |
| 8 | Washington | 5.0% | 18 |
| 9 | New Jersey | 4.4% | 16 |
| 10 | Massachusetts | 3.9% | 14 |
% Of Establishments
0%
15%
Source: County Business Patterns, U.S. Census Bureau[3]
SBA Lending Summary
24
Total SBA Loans
$15.7M
Total Loan Volume
$654K
Average Loan Size
8 yrs
Average Loan Term
10.08%
Average Interest Rate
136
Jobs Supported
Source: SBA 7(a) Program Data, U.S. Small Business Administration — FY 2025[4]
Key Insight: Pressed and blown glass manufacturers qualify as small businesses under the SBA size standards[8] for NAICS 327212, which set the threshold at 1,250 employees. The SBA 7(a) loan program[9] supports acquisitions of existing glass production operations and working capital for raw material purchases, while the CDC/504 loan program[10] provides long-term fixed-rate financing for melting furnaces, forming machines, annealing lehrs, and facility expansions. Lenders evaluate furnace age and rebuild schedule, product mix diversification, and energy cost management when underwriting glass manufacturing loans.
Top SBA Lenders
| # | Lender | Loans | Volume | Avg Loan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Citizens Bank, National Association | 8 | $13.3M | $1.7M |
| 2 | Newtek Bank, National Association | 8 | $2.1M | $262K |
| 3 | Manufacturers and Traders Trust Company | 8 | $278K | $35K |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this industry.
What types of businesses are classified under NAICS 327212?
NAICS 327212 covers manufacturers that melt silica sand or cullet and form pressed, blown, or shaped glass products. This includes laboratory glassware, lighting glass (bulb envelopes, tubing), glass fiber for reinforcement, optical glass, glass tableware, and decorative glassware. Per the U.S. Census Bureau[11], the classification excludes glass containers (327213) and products made from purchased glass (327215).
How is the pressed and blown glass industry structured?
The industry ranges from large industrial producers operating continuous furnaces for glass fiber and lighting glass to small artisan glassblowing studios producing handcrafted tableware and decorative items. Industrial operations compete on throughput, energy efficiency, and technical specifications. Artisan producers command premium pricing through craftsmanship, design, and direct-to-consumer marketing. Laboratory glass and optical glass producers serve specialized technical markets with strict quality requirements.
What is the SBA size standard for NAICS 327212?
The SBA classifies a pressed and blown glass manufacturer as a small business if it employs fewer than 1,250 workers. Per the SBA size standards table[8], this high threshold reflects the capital-intensive continuous furnace operations common in industrial glass production.
What NAICS codes are most closely related to 327212?
Code 327211 covers flat glass production sharing furnace technology. Code 327213 addresses glass container manufacturing. Market 327215 covers glass fabrication from purchased glass. Code 327993 captures fiberglass insulation production. Per the Census Bureau[11], the key distinctions involve product type (flat vs. shaped) and raw material source (melted vs. purchased glass).
What industries interact most with pressed and blown glass manufacturers?
Lighting fixture producers consume glass bulb envelopes and diffusers. Composites manufacturers use glass fiber reinforcement. Pharmaceutical and chemical laboratories purchase precision glassware. Optical instrument makers require high-purity glass blanks. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics[6], industrial production indices and research spending levels influence specialty glass demand patterns.
What specific activities fall under NAICS 327212?
Covered activities include glass melting in day tanks and continuous furnaces, press molding of glassware in iron molds, manual and automated glassblowing, glass fiber drawing through platinum bushings, tube drawing for lighting and laboratory applications, optical glass casting and annealing, and decorative glass cutting, engraving, and polishing operations.
Are pressed and blown glass manufacturers eligible for SBA loans?
Where are pressed and blown glass operations concentrated in the U.S.?
Glass production clusters near silica sand deposits and energy sources. Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia retain historic glass manufacturing concentrations. Glass fiber production locates near composites and construction insulation markets. Artisan glass studios distribute in cultural and tourism centers. Per the Census Bureau[12], traditional glassmaking regions continue to host the majority of production capacity.
Sources & References
Government datasets and editorial sources used in this report.
- [1]U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages bls.gov
- [2]U.S. Census Bureau, Economic Census census.gov
- [3]U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns census.gov
- [4]U.S. Small Business Administration, SBA 7(a) Loan Program Data data.sba.gov
- [5]U.S. Census Bureau census.gov
- [6]Bureau of Labor Statistics bls.gov
- [7]SBA Office of Advocacy advocacy.sba.gov
- [8]SBA size standards sba.gov
- [9]SBA 7(a) loan program sba.gov
- [10]CDC/504 loan program sba.gov
- [11]U.S. Census Bureau census.gov
- [12]Census Bureau data.census.gov
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