4 June 1998: According to a recent press report, the UK“s glassmaker Pilkington faces an investigation over the world“s largest glazing supply contract. As much as 30% of the special glass it suppli…
4 June 1998: According to a recent press report, the UK“s glassmaker Pilkington faces an investigation over the world“s largest glazing supply contract. As much as 30% of the special glass it supplied for the roof of the terminal at Hong Kong“s new airport is alleged to be defective. The 1996 contract for 70,000 sq. m. of noise-damping typhoon-resistant glass in 13,800 panels was reportedly worth UK 13.5 million, and it took the firm more than three years to negotiate. Replacing the glass could cost Pilkington millions of pounds and might also lead to penalty clauses being imposed by Hong Kong“s Airport Authority, reports say. Pilkington“s lawyers are in discussion with the authority to reach an agreement. Engineers have been sent to investigate the manufacturing process at Pilkington“s German subsidiary Flachglas. Malcolm Eckersall, group executive director of Amec, lead contractor of the British Chinese Japanese (BCJ) consortium in charge of the terminal project, said that in the main hall more than 30% of the glass was affected. “The glass is made of two layers with a layer of plastic sandwiched between. The glass is separating, but we don“t know why,” he said. Eckersall said tiny opaque bubbles had formed in many sheets and they would have to be replaced. “At this stage, the defects do not pose a safety problem and the airport will be able to open on time,” he said. “It is cosmetic, but nevertheless it is a serious problem,” he added.