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Editor’s Comment International news
GREG MORRIS, EDITOR
Glass packaging bounces back
Proof, if any was needed, of the public’s thirst for glass was provided by the container glass sector in its recent second quarter financial results.
All of the major players in the sector - Vidrala, O-I, Ardagh and Verallia - reported strong growth, with production up in the double figures for some compared to the previous year, when the pandemic was at its peak around the world.
This was reflected in glass technology supplier Bucher Emhart Glass’ financials where it reported a 75% increase in order intake compared to the year before.
This uptake in demand coincided with the widespread opening of the hotels and restaurant sector. It clearly shows the public has an affinity to glass and is their preferred packaging choice during a meal out or overnight stay.
Hopefully it means that the messages of campaigns such as Friends of Glass have hit home and the public is recognising the benefits of a material which is inert and endlessly recyclable.
So what next for the container glass sector? Perhaps now is the time to remind the public of the benefits of working in the sector. With the arrival of new digital technology in the manufacturing process you could suggest that it has never been a better time than now to secure a job in the sector.
For young engineering students, the glass industry, with its increased use of Industry 4.0 technology, is an appealing sector. FRONT COVER IMAGE: www.pennine.org
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Vidrala reports glass sales growth of 11.6%
Spanish container glass manufacturer Vidrala has posted a sales growth of 11.6% in its latest report.
Net sales reported by Vidrala during the first six months 2021 amounted to € 529.5 million, representing a growth of 11.6% over the previous year.
In its latest financial report it said growth in the second quarter of this year was partially explained by last year’s low base of comparison.
It said: “The results confirmed the strength of its diversified business profile and the bright future glass has as the preferred and most sustainable packaging option for food and beverages.
“Demand for glass across our markets remained solid in the first half of 2021, grounded on the strong underlying fundamentals of food and beverages consumption, the progressive reopening of activities and the continuous support from packagers, brand owners and consumers to glass as the ultimate sustainable packaging material.”
Hydrogen: launch of Italian project to decarbonise the industry
An Italian group comprising glass manufacturers, furnace suppliers and energy companies has begun a collaboration aimed at reducing emissions in the glass industry through hydrogen.
The group consists of Snam, RINA, Bormioli Luigi, Bormioli Rocco, Stara Glass, UNI. GE, Stazione Sperimentale del Vetro, IFRF Italia, SGRPRO and RJC SOFT.
The ‘Divina’ project (Decarbonisation of the Glass Industry: Hydrogen and New Equipment), co-ordinated by Snam, RINA and Bormioli, aims to reduce emissions in the glass melting stage, which accounts for more than 50% of total energy consumption throughout the production process.
The availability of an energy source such as hydrogen can provide a viable solution by optimising its use in terms of energy and emissions and managing production and transport challenges.
NSG UK is to receive $40 million to finance a greenfield glass production plant in Argentina.
The plant, located in Cardales, approximately 70 kilometres north-west of Buenos Aires will have an estimated production of 900 tonnes per day.
The plant will develop NSG’s Industry 4.0 standards and support its decarbonisation ambitions.
The International Finance Corporation (IFC) will provide the loan to NSG UK. via its subsidiary in Argentina, Vidriería Argentina S.A. (VASA).
It will provide an advisory service to VASA to help identify future energy efficiency opportunities.
David Tinel, IFC’s Regional Manager for the Southern Cone, said: “We are pleased to finance the completion of this project and to strengthen our relationship with NSG UK, a repeat global IFC client with a firm commitment to corporate governance practice and green standards.”
Balochistan Glass ignites glassmaking furnace
Ardagh reported a glass packaging shipment increase of 7% in its latest financial note.
The global glass manufacturer said the increase was led by a 10% growth in Europe, which was reflected by a 36% increase in the EBITA of its European division.
It said the strong growth was attributable to increased yearon-year shipments in Europe, a positive contribution from its investments and lower levels of Covid-19 related costs.
Total revenues from its Glass Packaging division increased by 8% at constant exchange rates and by 14% on a reported basis compared with the same period last year.
In North American, revenue of $445 million increased by 9% compared with last year.
Pakistan tableware glass manufacturer Balochistan Glass has ignited a furnace at its Lahore production facility.
The refurbished 65 tonnes per day furnace at its Unit III factory in Kot Abdul Malik, Lahore is the second oven at the site.
The company manufacturers a variety of tableware glass, including jugs, vases, fruit sets and water sets. It has three glass manufacturing facilities but two - in Balochistan and in Sheikhupura - have currently suspended production.
In a financial note, management said the expansion project would allow the company to increase its share of the domestic market and tap potential opportunities in the international market.
NEWS IN BRIEF
French manufacturers secure funding
Two French glass manufacturers have secured government funding to help reduce emissions in the production process.
O-I’s Vayres site and International Cookware’s Chateauroux facility are among 15 beneficiaries of the French Government’s €28 million funding as part of its France Relance project.
It is part of Energy Efficiency and Decarbonisation scheme which aims to cut industrial greenhouse gas emissions by 17% on average at the 15 sites, which represents a total of more than 68,600 tonnes of CO2eq per year.
Glass Futures appoints new Board advisor
Glass Futures has appointed former Chief Executive of Siemens UK Juergen Maier CBE as an advisor to the Board.
Mr Maier has joined to champion manufacturing, improving infrastructure and engineering skills and is said to be ‘enthusiastic about the benefit of Industrial Digitalisation to encourage advanced manufacturing and investment in digital technologies’.
Alongside his role with Glass Futures, Mr Maier is also Chair of the Digital Catapult and Co-Chair of the UK’s Made Smarter programme.
Encirc to use hydrogen in its furnaces
Glass bottle manufacturer Encirc plans to use hydrogen in its manufacturing furnaces to create billions of ultra-lowcarbon glass bottles.
The availability of hydrogen will enable the expansion of Encirc’s Elton facility, which it said would create at least 200 jobs, while futureproofing existing roles.
The glass manufacturer aims to produce bottles using hydrogen by 2025.
The project has the potential to reduce emissions by 10 million tonnes every year by 2030.
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Glass melting technology specialist Horn is to build a 560 t/d end fired furnace for Bastürk Cam at its Malatya plant, Turkey.
The new furnace is designed with six forehearths for the production of container glass.
It will have a melting area of 185.4 m² to produce flint glass. Heating of the furnace will be by means of Natural Gas or Back-up Diesel oil burners.
Horn’s scope of supply includes the engineering of the refractory and steel structure, the Combustion System, Boosting System, Measuring and Control equipment, a new Horn HVR 600F batch charger, supervision of erection, heat-up and commissioning.
Installation is planned to start in the second quarter of 2022.
Schott breaks ground on flat glass processing plant
Speciality glass manufacturer Schott has invested €9 million in technology for a flat glass processing plant in Turkey.
It said the Schott Irim site in Bolu, Turkey would containe the latest digital production technology when manufacturing starts in early 2022.
The groundbreaking ceremony for the new building took place last month.
The investment will increase the production capacity in Bolu by 50% and underlines the importance of the home appliance business to Schott.
The engagement in Turkey is part of Schott’s global growth strategy: For the second year in a row, the group has run a record investment programme, with €350 million being invested this financial year. All projects are on time despite the pandemic.
British Glass publishes industry-wide net zero strategy
British Glass has published a strategy that sets out the glass industry’s potential route to net zero carbon emissions.
The strategy follows on from the decarbonisation roadmap in 2015 in conjunction with BEIS that was based on achieving a reduction of 80% CO2 by 2050.
Following the government’s agreement to the Paris Agreement, British Glass has worked with members and industry partners to devise a strategy to achieve net zero.
The strategy outlines the options to enable glass manufacturers to reduce combustion and process emissions, as well as improving energy efficiency. It also sets out how glass can support other sectors to decarbonise.
NEWS IN BRIEF
Nipro breaks ground on French greenfi eld site
NiproPharmaPackaging has broken ground on its greenfi eld glass manufacturing facility in Aumale, France.
The site will manufacture glass tubing for pharmaceutical glass packaging products.
The new production facility will be housed in a new building adjacent to the current manufacturing site with automated lines which will produce Nipro’s NSV borosilicate type I glass.
Last year the pharmaceutical glass packager said it would invest €60 million in its French and US manufacturing facilities.
Noelle + von Campe secures €1.8 million grant
German container glass manufacturer Noelle + von Campe has received a €1.8 million grant to help the development of a new furnace.
The glass manufacturer plans to build a new melting furnace at Plant II in Boffzen, Germany.
The melting tanks 1 and 3 at the plant location are to be gradually shut down.
A new, separate building is to be built for the planned melting tank and the subsequent process units. In addition, a new workshop and social building is to be built and the long halls are to be renovated.
Ciner Glass unveils UK glassmaking plant plans
Ciner Glass has unveiled plans for a container glass manufacturing and recycling facility in the UK.
The proposed glass packaging site in Ebbw Vale, Wales will create hundreds of jobs and ‘economic benefi ts for generations to come’, said Ciner Glass’ Board member Didem Ciner.
It had submitted an Environmental Impact Assessment and was waiting the results of a scoping report by the local authority, Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council.
Top 10 stories in the news
Our most popular news over the past month, as determined by our website traffi c. All full stories can be found on our website.
� 1. Ciner Glass unveils UK glass manufacturing plant plans � 2. Video: Furnace leak at Indian glass plant � 3. Hydrogen: launch of an Italian project to decarbonise the glass industry � 4. EME technology for Indian solar glass producer Borosil � 5. Ciner Group to invest $100 million in glass raw materials capacity � 6. NSG to receive $40 million for Argentinean greenfi eld glass plant � 7. Encirc to use hydrogen in its glass manufacturing furnaces � 8. Gerresheimer invests in glass manufacturing furnace expansions � 9. O-I and International Cookware secure decarbonisation funding � 10. Horn to construct glass manufacturing furnace for Bastürk Cam
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Vitro to construct $120 million fl oat glass furnace at Garcia
Mexican glass manufacturer Vitro is to build a $120 million fl oat glass furnace at its García plant near Monterrey, Mexico.
It will be the third glass furnace at the plant and is set for construction later this year.
The investment will allow the company to meet the growing market demand in Latin America and provide greater product availability and improved logistics, enabling the company to provide a higher level of service to its customers and markets.
“While the primary purpose of this new line is to meet growing market demand in the Latin American region, the additional capacity will allow us to provide a higher level of service to our customers,” said President Ricardo Maiz.
Sisecam posts strong fi nancial results for fi rst half of 2021
Sisecam’s 2021 fi rst half-year consolidated net sales totalled TRY 13 billion (US $1.5 billion) with international sales – comprised of exports from Turkey and sales from non-Turkey facilities – accounting for 64% of its total revenue.
In its fi rst fi nancial report of 2021, the company also reported that the company’s capital expenditure was at TRY 838 million (US $97 million), while exports reached TRY 2.8 billion (US $327 million) in the fi rst half of the year.
These results meant that Sisecam exceeded the same period of the previous year and in 2019.
Sisecam CEO Görkem Elverici said: “Despite the climate of uncertainty and extraordinary conditions created by the global pandemic, we continued our investments without interruption in line with our priority to meet our customers’ glass demand and to create value for the economies.”
NEWS IN BRIEF
VMA launches new corporate identity
German non-contact measuring specialist VMA has launched a new corporate identity with a revised logo as well as a relaunched website.
The new logo-design more than ever represents the four VMA business divisions: container glass, flat glass, laboratory measuring equipment and special solutions.
It distinctly communicates the company’s core competence and reflects the solution-oriented approach with its straightforward and pragmatic design.
“We remain dedicated to be a persistent quality partner for our customer in the glass industry. With its timeless design, the logo is the perfect companion for new, groundbreaking projects,” said Nico Thomae, Managing Director of VMA.
In the course of changing the logo, the VMA-website was fundamentally revised.
The four business divisions are clearly at focus. The updated content and new layout provide a quick and comprehensive overview of the company, product range and services.
FIC UK provides hydrogen clarification
During the presentation by F.I.C. (UK) Limited on the theme of ‘Hydrogen in Glassmaking’ on the 16th June reference was made to FEVE project (F4F).
The slide in the presentation read ‘FEVE project with Ardagh and Heineken’ this may have given the impression that Heineken was part of FEVE.
It is unequivocably not. FEVE is the grouping of around 19 containers manufacturers, many of them international.
The F4F project by FEVE does not involve Heineken or any other customer.
It is a project by the industry for the future of the glass industry and is collaborative.
FIC apologise for any confusion that may have occurred.
Gerresheimer invests in glass furnace expansions
German glass manufacturer and packager Gerresheimer has invested in furnace expansions at two production facilities.
The group invested €50.1 million in its Primary Packaging Glass division in the six months between December 2020 and May 2021, which was related mainly to the investments at its Kosamba, India and Lohr, Germany facilities.
It also invested in expanding its production capacity for injection vials, in its plants in North America and Europe.
In its half year financial results, the pharmaceutical and cosmetics glass packager reported revenue increase of 3.6% to €320.1 million in its glass division.
AGC completes sale of NA architectural glass business
AGC has completed the sale of its North American architectural glass business to Cardinal Glass.
The deal is reportedly worth $450 million and will see AGC sell all three of its plants in Kansas, Tennessee and Virginia, which altogether has three flat glass furnaces and two coaters.
The transaction is expected to generate a profit of approximately 25 billion yen ($227,000), which is expected to be recorded as other income in the consolidated financial results for the Q3 of 2021.
Asahi India Glass plots Indian solar glass manufacturing plant
Asahi India Glass Limited (AIS) is to help set up a solar glass manufacturing plant in Mundra, India.
It has partnered with Ahmedabad-based Vishakha Group to form what is says is India’s largest solar glass manufacturing plant.
The greenfield site at Mundra, Gujarat will have a phase-1 capacity of up to 3GW.
The plant is expected to be commissioned within 18-24 months and AIS will take a minority stake in the business.
Vishakha Group is a manufacturer of flexible polymer packaging. It also has manufacturing facilities for other key components in the entire solar panel value chain such as solar backsheets, EVA encapsulant sheets and solar module aluminium frames.
