The European Container Glass Federation, FEVE has joined forces with international recycling sector-related bodies to agree an ambitious and comparable measurement point for glass recycling. Together with FERVER (the association of glass recycling companies in Europe), EXPRA (the Extended Producer Responsibility Alliance) and EuRIC (representative body for recycling federations from 20 EU and EFTA countries), FEVE is committed to increasing the quality and efficiency of the glass recycling value chain through separate collection, quality recycling and closed loop manufacturing of glass. According to a joint statement, to help achieve this goal, a single, harmonised, ambitious and enforceable calculation methodology for the reporting of glass recycling in all Member States is needed.

On 4 December 2018, British Glass will bring together glass manufacturers, equipment suppliers and industry experts to discuss future energy options for glass melting. The seminar will combine a series of short presentations and discussions focused on the future low carbon energy mix in the UK and the current and future melting technology the glass industry will need to adopt in order to meet the 2050 decarbonisation goal.

Olu Fasan, Senior Policy Advisor for the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, will give an overview of decarbonisation funding schemes and the government response to the Helm review, while Jonathon Brearley, Executive Director, Systems and Networks at Ofgem will also deliver a presentation.

O-I received the ‘Best Bottle in Glass’ award at the World Beverage Innovation Awards during Brau Beviale exhibition. The World Beverage Innovation Awards celebrate excellence and innovation of brands, products and suppliers across every category of the global beverage industry Unveiled this September, O-I : EXPRESSIONS allows brands to turn their glass packaging into a canvas through digital printing, responding to growing customer demand for late-stage differentiation. It offers customers the opportunity to create highly personalised and customised glass packaging at flexible volumes, industrial speeds and affordable value with a wide variety of colour and design possibilities.

NSG Group has selected the location for a float glass production facility in the USA. The Troy Township plant in Ohio will support the group’s plan to expand production capacity of online TCO (transparent conductive oxide) coated glass to support the growing solar market.

Construction will begin in early 2019, with the plant expected to be operational in the second half of 2020.

Cuban authorities have approved the joint-venture Italian-Cuban company Vidrio Mariel SA, which is to build a glass container plant in the Mariel Special Development Zone. When completed, the factory will have a production capacity of 40,000 tonnes/year, representing some 100,000 units.

According to Cuba Business Report, Vidrio Mariel has been formed with the participation of the Italian company Nelson Servizi srl, which has been marketing glass packaging in the country for two decades and the Cuban company Quimi SA, headed by the Grupo Empresarial de la Industria Quimica of the Ministry of Industry.

Guardian Glass has developed innovative technology that is changing the way high performance glazings are manufactured, while meeting tomorrow’s demands for increased thermal energy performance. Guardian Vacuum IG takes two glass panes and seals them

Vacuum insulated glazing opens up opportunities

airtight. A vacuum is created in the space between the two fully tempered glass panes, which are held apart by almost microscopic pillars. The vacuum eliminates any fill gases and all associated conduction and convection losses through the gas, resulting in a significant reduction in heat loss from the glazing unit.

Owens-Illinois Inc has acquired a 49.7% interest in Empresas Comegua SA from Fabricación de Màquinas SA de CV, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Vitro SAB de CV. Empresas Comegua is the leading manufacturer of glass containers for the Central American and Caribbean markets. The business serves many of O-I's global strategic customers and various segments including food, soft drinks, beer, spirits and pharmaceuticals. Operations include two glass manufacturing facilities - one in Costa Rica and another in Guatemala.

Professor Alicia Durán has been elected President of the International Commission on Glass. The ICG is an association of scientists and technologists, research centres, universities and companies, whose main objective is to promote and stimulate understanding and co-operation in the fields of glass science and technology, as well as in glass history and art.

Alicia Durán is a PhD in Physics and a Research Professor at CSIC, the Spanish Research Council. She has developed her entire professional career at the Institute of Ceramics and Glass (CSIC) being the leader of the GlaSS research group in the Department of Glass. She has also been Secretary of the Glass Section of the Spanish Ceramic and Glass Society for more than 25 years.

Vetropack has signed a preliminary purchase agreement to buy a plot of land in Boffalora sopra Ticino, Italy to construct a leading-edge glassworks. It will replace an existing plant in Trezzano by the end of 2021. Approximately €200 million will be invested over the next three years.

“Building Vetropack’s first greenfield site in Italy is key for our group strategy” explains Claude R Cornaz, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Vetropack Holding. “Italian markets play a significant role in developing our future success. With this unique project, we are continuing to permanently improve the efficiency and quality capabilities of our production. Highly customised packaging glass and efficient mass productions will allow us to satisfy current and future customers.”