Siemens pledges £4m for future of UK glass industry21 November 2014

Siemens has extended its partnership with the British Glass Manufacturers' Confederation, pledging a five-year, £4 million investment in a new technology partnership.

Brian Holliday, managing director of Siemens' 'Digital Factory', says that as British Glass embarks upon the next phase of its development to ensure the UK glass industry remains globally competitive, Siemens will work alongside the organisation in a variety of critical areas.

A central element will be the establishment of the new British Glass Innovation Centre, in Sheffield – the first of its kind anywhere in the world – which will provide a centre of excellence for glass manufacturers.

The Centre, planned to be built on the Phase 2 site of Sheffield Business Park, will include fully functioning glass production plants, as well as promoting leadership in areas such as new product development and fast prototyping.

It will also be home to The Glass Academy, the training and skills development initiative set up by British Glass to train the next generation of engineers and technicians entering the sector.

Holliday says that Siemens will provide a wide range of technical, product and manpower support to ensure British Glass' plans benefit from world-class manufacturing expertise, technical excellence and global sector knowledge.

"We are impressed by the strategic ambition of British Glass to develop an innovative culture and to make British glass-making a globally competitive leader," comments Holliday.

"Siemens has a long established relationship with the glass industry across the UK," he continues.

"By developing this technology partnership we want to ensure glass manufacturing is at heart of the future of manufacturing agenda."

Picture: Dave Dalton, CEO British Glass Manufacturers Confederation, left, and Brian Holliday, Siemens

Brian Tinham

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