Swarovski and Siemens back £20m glass manufacturing ‘centre of excellence’
Glass manufacturers are investing in a £20m global centre of excellence at Magna in Rotherham.
The Glass Futures project from the British Glass Manufacturers’ Confederation in Sheffield is backed by two major manufacturers as well as Siemens and Leeds University.
It will include a furnace producing 30 tonnes of glass per day for windows, bottles and fibre glass products.
The facility will employ 100 people who will be involved in research into energy and emissions reduction, glass formulation and new high tech products.
The furnace will be housed in a previously unused area at Magna, itself based at the former Templeborough steelworks.
John Silker, chief executive of Magna, said: “This is an incredibly exciting project to be part of. As a former steelworks we are very much at the heart of industry in South Yorkshire and so we are thrilled to host this centre of international importance.”
Richard Katz, director of Glass Futures, a not for profit company, said: “We are very excited to be working with the team at Magna, which is the perfect venue for this project being at the heart of the Advanced Manufacturing Investment District and part of science education.”
Dave Dalton, chief executive of British Glass, one of the partners, said: “The glass industry has amazing potential for growth and, by bringing academics, manufacturers and technology companies together we can grasp that potential and bring real benefits to the UK economy.
“I look forward to seeing the technical leaps and competitive improvement this facility will enable and I am excited to see it coming to fruition so close to the heartland of glass manufacturing, here in Yorkshire.”
Partners include Goole-based flat glass manufacturer Guardian Industries;glass bottle manufacturer Owens Illinois; the University of Leeds; Siemens; glass manufacturer Swarovski; the Worshipful Company of Glass Sellers of London; the British Glass Manufacturers’ Confederation, and Glass Technology Services.
Pictured: Chief executive of Magna John Silker
