After 44 years at UK-based Parkinson-Spencer Refractories Ltd, including 33 years as Managing Director, David Parkinson has decided to stand down in favour of his son Simon Parkinson, who has taken over as Managing Director. PSR is a family business with a history dating back as far as 1800 and this sense of stewardship for the benefit of future generations has ensured its continuity to date. David Parkinson’s daughter, Joanne is also involved in the business as Commercial Director and Company Secretary. With the assistance of a strong and supportive management team, Simon and Joanne Parkinson become the eighth generation to manage the company since it was founded in 1800 by Caleb Spencer. David Parkinson retains a part time role as Chairman.

During climate talks at the 24th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP24) in Poland last December, the UK government announced plans to establish a world first carbon 'net-zero' hub of heavy industry to help the UK seize global economic opportunities of clean growth.

Stirling Square Capital Partners has entered into exclusive negotiations with funds managed by Oaktree Capital Management LP to acquire its entire stake in Verescence. Verescence is a global leader in glass packaging manufacturing for the perfumery and cosmetics industry. Across its three glass production and four decorations facilities in Europe and North America, the company produces over 500 million bottles every year. In 2017 VERESCENCE employed 2,300 people across the globe and registered sales of over 280 million Euros.

Chilean family glass packaging business Cristalerias Toro SpA plans to build a production line outside Santiago de Chile in Lonquen. The operation will feature a HORN glass melting furnace, which will produce 300 tons/day via three forehearths.

The HORN Glass Industries scope of supply includes planning and delivery of the refractory materials, as well as complete equipment for heating, measurement and control, boosting the batch charger for the furnace, distributor and forehearth. The forehearths come with automatic cooling flap control, which makes it possible to set the temperature profile automatically after a setpoint specification of the drop temperature.

British Glass has welcomed the release of the UK government’s resources and waste strategy. The strategy, which is the first significant update in over a decade, aims to change England’s waste system to hold manufacturers who make environmentally damaging waste to account.

UK-based Stölzle Flaconnage has gained international recognition for its Highland Park – The Dark bottle at the 2018 WorldStar Awards. The bottle was successful in the beverages category, after the judges were impressed with the design and technical execution of the bottle.

Only 28,000 feeder black whisky bottles were produced featuring prominent Viking runes embossing that harks back to the company’s Orkney base and the island’s Norse and Viking ancestry. The design was replicated from a bottle dating back to 1876 that showed the Viking symbolism.

Verallia’s Zaragoza plant in Spain has won an award for business excellence that recognises companies located in Aragon for their best practices. The award was presented to Eulogio López, Plant Manager, by the Aragon Institute for economic development (IAF).

This year, the factory celebrated its 50th anniversary, as well as the reconstruction of one of its two furnaces.

Dr Elie Saad has become President and CEO of Kopp Glass Inc, succeeding Grant Wirth, who recently retired after a decade at the company. Mr Wirth continues to serve the company as Chairman.

Dr Saad began his career with Mobay (Bayer) in the area of glass and ceramics research. Before joining Kopp, his most recent position was Head of Corporate Development at LANXESS Corp, where he served in leadership roles since the company’s formation in 2005. From 2006 until 2016, Dr Saad held foreign assignments in both Germany and Dubai, where his responsibilities were integral to top line growth, cost optimisation and increased profitability.

Glaston has completed a deal for an RC Series flat tempering line to Technical Glass and Aluminium Co LLC, based in the United Arab Emirates. With a capability to process glass up to a maximum size of 3300mm x 12000mm, the furnace will be delivered in the early part of 2019.

The RC Series tempering line incorporates the fusion technology that enables flexibility for mixed production. The line is equipped with the iLooK Distortion and Anisotropy reporting system that measures online glass distortions and anisotropy of each tempered glass that is processed. This system makes sure that deviations are instantly reported.