Glass International

𝐖𝐞𝐞𝐤𝐥𝐲 𝐧𝐞𝐰𝐬𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐧𝐨𝐰 This week's industry news from Glasstec, Stara Glass S.p.A., Forglass Sp. z o.o., Glass Technology Services, Vidrala, Bucher Emhart Glass, DSF Refractories & Minerals, FEVE – the European Container Glass Federation, and a 'Glass in Perspective' conference will take place at a historical French glassworks. Elsewhere, O-I jobs warning, Saint-Gobain and Schneider Electric have joined forces for digital glass technology, and IRIS Inspection machines and Video Systems forge glass inspection partnership. #glassindustry #manufacturing #innovation #technology #jobcuts

𝐎-𝐈'𝐬 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫, 𝐈𝐋, 𝐔𝐒𝐀 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐨𝐟𝐟 𝟏𝟓𝟐 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐫𝐬 O-I Glass has confirmed it will close its Streator site in Illinois, USA. A total of 152 people will lose their jobs. The world's largest container glass manufacturer issued a notice to Illinois state informing them of the decision. Glass International reported last week of an unnamed US plant that would close. According to information provided to the state, the first layoff date is December 21. The plant is projected to close on or after November 18. In making the closure announcement, a management team member said in an email to employees: “We have made the difficult decision to restructure the Americas North business, impacting multiple departments outside the plants. “These decisions were not made lightly and we will provide transition support to our impacted team members." #glassindustry #manufacturing #closure #usa

Saint-Gobain and Schneider Electric combine on #digital glass technology Schneider Electric and manufacturer Saint-Gobain have joined forces to deploy a software-defined #automation system for #glass production. Unveiled at last week’s glasstec – International Trade Fair 2024 the project addresses the need for enhanced reliability in the #lehr process. This furnace, vital for annealing and cooling flat glass, usually lasts for 15 to 20 years. Any downtime in the process halts production completely where even a one-minute power interruption can lead to up to six months of #production loss, can often require equipment replacement, and can cost up to €200,000 per day. Saint-Gobain together with Schneider Electric has developed the first open automation solution for the lehr process. The proof of concept (POC) is powered by Schneider Electric’s open automation technology, EcoStruxure Automation Expert (EAE) which decouples hardware and #software to allow devices and equipment to be freely connected across architecture layers, regardless of manufacturer. The project also enhances #safety and efficiency in glass #manufacturing, with EAE enabling autonomous drive capabilities and representing a major advancement in distributed #intelligence. The ‘smart’ drives control the two glass-pulling motors, allowing autonomous operation and critical process decision-making at the equipment level, including deciding which motor will pull the glass, performing quality checks and paving the way for predictive maintenance. Alex Richards, VP EMEA of Mining Minerals and Metals at Schneider Electric, said: "Our understanding of the float glass process has led to a #solution that ensures dependability, safety and productivity. “Autonomous drive technology enables #smart decision-making, and this solution, with its built-in modularisation and standardisation, provides immediate scalability, increased flexibility, and reliability.” The solution’s modular design means it is easy to deploy internationally with its plug-and-play interoperability enabling up to 50% reduction in engineering, testing and commissioning times. This scalability will enable Saint-Gobain to realise value at its sites and see exponential value globally. Pictured - The Schneider Electric team at last week's Glasstec trade show.

Glasstec 2024 reports 6.67% increase in visitors This week's Glasstec event saw an increase in visitors and exhibitors compared to the previous show in 2022. A total of 1,257 exhibitors from 50 countries and more than 32,000 trade visitors from 121 nations came together in Düsseldorf, Germany this week. This is a 6.67% increase compared to the 2022 edition which had 30,000 visitors. They experienced the latest technologies, trends and innovations along the entire glass production chain. Marius Berlemann, Chief Operating Officer of Messe Düsseldorf, said: “Despite the economic challenges, the mood was very positive and inspiring, with a focus on collaboration and progress." Egbert Wenninger, CCO Grenzebach Maschinenbau and Chairman of the Glasstec Exhibitor Advisory Board, added: “Glasstec was once again the meeting place for the global glass community.” For comparison, the 2022 edition of the trade show had 936 exhibitors from 47 countries. Glasstec 2024 had a high level of decision-makers with an almost 80% share of executives. Around 75% of trade visitors came from abroad, including numerous attendees from Europe, North America and Asia. Germany, Italy, France, Poland and the Netherlands were particularly well represented, as were the USA and China. The next edition will take place from 20 to 23 October 2026 in Düsseldorf. #glass #industry #furnaces #event #technology #engineering #hybrid #decarbonise #sustainable #manufacturing #germany #dusseldorf

Join us at Glassman Asia 2025 in Bangkok, Thailand, on 12-13 February. 🌏 Meet 000s of visitors, explore 100s of products, and connect with over 70 exhibitors. Gain insights from 30+ expert speakers on the latest innovations and trends in the glass manufacturing industry. Stay ahead in the world of glass with exclusive networking opportunities, live demos, and expert-led sessions. Don't miss out on this exciting event where the glass industry comes together! #GlassmanAsia2025 #Bangkok2025 #GlassIndustry #ManufacturingExpo #Exhibition #GlassTechnology #IndustryEvent #Networking

European container glass industry calls for rapid access to low carbon energy infrastructure The European Container Glass Federation (FEVE – the European Container Glass Federation) has advocated for production facilities to continue to adopt low-carbon energy - supported by EU financial backing - to meet its 2050 net-zero goal. In a report published this week it also requests for customers to keep choosing and recycling glass packaging. The report, One Destination, Multiple Pathways: How the European Container Glass Industry is Decarbonising Glassmaking, details the steps being taken to decarbonise glass manufacturing. It states a crucial step to reach the industry's net zero goal by 2050 is rapid access to affordable, low-carbon energy. Currently, 80% of the glass container industry's direct carbon emissions result from the combustion of natural gas. Switching to low-carbon energy sources is therefore a top priority. More than 90% of the glass containers produced in the EU are made by companies that have committed to the Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi). The access to new financial instruments or the continuation of existing ones to support the industry efforts in the transition is also essential. As glass furnaces have a lifespan of 10 to 15 years and an estimated annual replacement rate of 7% to 10%, it is imperative that old furnaces are gradually replaced with ones that can operate using low-carbon technologies. The window for action is now, to ensure the sector reaches its 2050 net zero target. The glass container industry currently invests over €600 million annually in innovation and decarbonisation, including efficiency and plant upgrades. To fully achieve net zero, an estimated €20 billion in additional capital expenditure will be required by 2050 to upgrade production technologies and decarbonise operations. This is a conservative estimate that excludes increased operational costs tied to securing and using low-carbon energy sources. With 162 glass manufacturing plants in Europe, the glass container industry supports 125,000 direct and indirect jobs. Approximately €140 billion worth of EU exports are packaged in glass, while an estimated 45,000 manufacturing companies across the EU rely on glass packaging to sell their products—98% of which are SMEs. "The role of glass in the pharmaceutical, food, and beverage, as well as perfumery and cosmetic sectors is critical, and it remains an indispensable packaging material," the report states. #glass #industry #packaging #decarbonisation #netzero #carbon #emissions #sustainability #energy #food #beverages #cosmetics #eu #recycling

O-I Glass is to close a furnace in its #Americas segment by November 18. About 150 people will be impacted by the closure of the unnamed furnace. It warned of further furnace closures and other #restructuring actions before the end of the year. The world's largest container #glass manufacturer said the closure was part of the company’s Fit to Win initiative to reduce redundant capacity and to optimise its network. Current customers of the plant impacted by the furnace closure will be served by other domestic plants in the company’s network. The closure is expected to cost the company approximately $39 million. Major components of the charge include approximately $24 million for plant-related assets, such as the closed furnace and related machinery, and $15 million for one-time employee separation benefits and other costs related to the closing. #industry #engineering #jobs #manufacturing  

All set for Glasstec 2024   The Glass International team will be distributing complimentary copies of its Glasstec issue from Stand C63 in Hall 13.   In the issue, we interview Leerdam Crisal Glass (LCGlass), the Phoenix Award Committee’s Glass Person of the Year, and DSF Refractories.   The issue also contains technical papers from companies including Hrastnik1860, Stara Glass, Nikolaus Sorg, and Horn Glass.   Featured topics include Artificial Intelligence, recycling, furnaces, decarbonisation and inspection.   Visit us at Stand C63 in Hall 13 to pick up a copy.   (We are listed under our parent company Quartz Business Media.)   #glassindustry #manufacturing #sustainability #glasstec #tradeshow #düsseldorf 

Heat treatment company Traterme Group has completed a £480,000 #investment in a solution for #glass furnace drainage. It has developed an adjustable scraper, which allows the extraction of more than 20 tons of glass per hour, with the possibility to adjust the length and speed of the process to ensure more effective drying of the glass #cullet. Traterme is not only able to adapt to different production needs but also reduce processing time and optimise #water retention, which represents a leap in terms of operational effectiveness. The integration of #digital technologies in process management is a milestones of this project. Through a digital control system, Traterme site managers can manage the entire molten glass extraction process, using a tablet. This solution allows the adjustment of parameters in real time, according to data collected by a network of sensors installed in the equipment. The technology provides constant #monitoring to ensure all aspects of the process are optimised. Furthermore, the client's engineering department can remotely monitor, in real-time, variables such as #temperature, equipment performance and #energy consumption, to provide a comprehensive view of the entire operation. The company has equipped its systems with technologies that also optimise energy consumption. One of the highlights is its water-cooling system, which reduces temperatures by up to 48%, promoting water reuse and minimising #waste of resources. #industry #engineering #manufacturing

𝐀𝐧𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐫 𝐇𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐦𝐬 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐏𝐲𝐫𝐞𝐱 𝐠𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐬 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞 Anchor Hocking has confirmed its plan to close a glass plant in the #USA. The #glass manufacturer has submitted a notice to the state government with its closure plan for the Charleroi, PA facility which makes glass for the #Pyrex brand. According to a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) notice, submitted to the Pennsylvania State Department of Labor and Industry, the company will make a series of layoffs over a three month period, beginning in December. A total of 270 people will lose their jobs from the glass facility. Workers at the plant were told last month that operations would be transferred to an Anchor Hocking glass site in Lancaster, Ohio. Glassmaking machinery will also be transferred to the Lancaster site Employees were told there could possibly be up to 150 jobs available at the Ohio plant. According to the WARN notice, job cuts in Charleroi will begin on December 9 when 173 workers will leave, followed by a further 60 staff members on December 20. The cutbacks will continue into the new year with a further 11 staff let go in January, followed by the final 26 people on February 17. #glassindustry #manufacturing #closure #pennsylvania