Page 47 - Glass Machinery Plants & Accessories no. 3-2021

W Bringing the global glass industry COLLABORATION WITH
ith Glass Futures due to
GLASS FUTURES
together thus with academia has
release its final report
Glass Futures operates a mem-
from the last two years
the world’s largest manufacturers
of project activity, here we look Glass Futures leading some of bership subscription model for
at its earlier report from 2019 to and supply chain partners in the which any organisation from the
highlight the work that has been industry, as well as leading UK global glass supply chain can join
carried out in the past two years university research groups. in membership for an annual fee to
by Glass Futures into potential The centre is to be supported participate in collaborative research
alternative fuel switching tech- by a series of smaller research and gain access to technical infor-
nologies for the glass industry. hubs across UK academic and mation from some of the projects
Glass Futures was founded for industry research groups – all and work that is planned to be car-
the precise purpose of developing with the aim of strengthening ried out on the new pilot line in St
a UK-based ‘catapult-like’ centre and aligning existing industrial Helens, when it opens in January
of excellence in glass focussed and academic expertise with- 2023, and enquiries for member-
around a unique, multi-fuelled in the ‘Northern Powerhouse’ ship should be made to info@
‘hot’ glass pilot facility at St region. Here the ultimate ambi- glass-futures.org.
Helen’s, Merseyside. The centre tion is to create a globally rec-
will seek to drive R&D, innova- ognised UK-based glass tech- THE GLASS INDUSTRY
tion, technology incubation and nology and research hub that IN THE UK
implementation, as well as train- can capably drive significant The UK glass sector currently
ing and up-skilling of industry improvements in productiv- employs 23.200 people - generat-
technicians and professionals. ity and sustainability within the ing GBP 3 Billion in revenues,
global glass industry, thereby which contributes GBP 1.6 Billion
providing a platform that can GVA to the UK economy (Ekosgen,
propel the sector towards net- 2019). The sector also makes a sig-
zero CO2 emissions by 2050. nificant contribution to many other

GMP&A 3/2022 45