18 December 1997: Although the Ukranian glass industry, which produces approximately 40% of the total amount of glass and glass products of the former USSR, has suffered considerably from the recent s…
18 December 1997: Although the Ukranian glass industry, which produces approximately 40% of the total amount of glass and glass products of the former USSR, has suffered considerably from the recent severe recession, there has, according to Mr. Rogovik Vladimir Stepanovich, head of the glass division at the Ukrstroymaterialy state building materials and glass corporation, been some stabilization over the past year, with glass companies in Ukraine now forecasting output of over 800,000 tons of glass and glassware. Unlike certain other former Soviet republics, Ukraine has succeeded in keeping alive its technical development potential in the glass sector through the ongoing activities of the Ukrainian Glass Institute, the Niisteklomash Design and Constructing Institute, and the Engineering Centre for Energy Saving. Around 90% of the country“s glass operations have now become joint stock companies and have set themselves the targets of improving quality and minimising processing costs. In order to do this, firms will have to seek both more modern production equipment, as well as technologies for the saving of energy and raw material consumption. The Ukrainian glass sector is made up of the following operations: – 6 sheet glass plants; – 10 glass packaging plants; – 9 high-quality household glassware producers; – 4 furniture glass firms. At present, flat glass is produced with three vertical drawing lines and two float lines. The vertical drawing lines are scheduled to be transformed into float lines by the year 2000 in collaboration with foreign glass technology operations. And to satisfy the needs of the automotive industry, additional lines for the production of tempered and laminated glass have been set up. Foreign know-how and technology are also being exploited in the glass packaging sector to help boost and diversify production, and enhance quality control systems.