Together with NTT DOCOMO Inc, AGC has developed WAVEATTOCH, a glass antenna capable of transmitting and receiving radio waves and also compatible with DOCOMO's 5G technology.

This marks the world's first development of a 5G-compatible glass antenna that adds cellular base station capabilities to windows. Alongside the expansion of DOCOMO's 5G network, these antennas will be deployed throughout Japan in 2020, mainly in urban areas. AGC has already started ramping up production at mass-production plants to meet growing future demand.

Glass tableware specialist, Arc has appointed W Dean Kimber as CEO Americas, heading up an entity with 2019 revenue of $205 million and 900 employees.

Mr Kimber has more than 20 years’ experience in managing transformation programnes in manufacturing, logistics, supply chain and sales. He previously held the position of VP and General Manager for the beverage segment at Graham Packaging, a leading supplier of rigid plastic consumer goods packaging in the USA.

CelSian Glass & Solar is staging a webinar at 16.00 CEST on 11 June, entitled ‘Furnace control 4.0 – How LIBS based inline batch stream analysis (raw material and cullet) can ensure stable chemistry in glass furnace feeding’.

The free to attend sessions will cover LIBS technology, why a new analysis technology is needed and the advantages of being able to measure continuously all elements, even the light ones. Real industrial examples from other industries will be detailed, as well as insights where LIBS can be used in the glass industry such as detailed information about glass specific elements, challenges in calibration and height control.

Saint-Gobain has decided to create its own Apprentice Training Centre (CFA) to train young people in the group's businesses and meet its recruitment needs, in particular concerning high volume operations, plus activities under stress or emerging.

From October 2020, this CFA will host 70 candidates in two classes. The first, ‘Business and Marketing’, in partnership with the IGS Business School, will bring together 50 young people in Paris and Toulouse, while the second, dedicated to ‘Industrial Maintenance’, in partnership with the CFAI of Lyon, will gather 20 students in Lyon.

Libbey and its USA subsidiaries have filed for a court-supervised reorganisation under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code in the US Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware. The glass tableware company’s international subsidiaries in Canada, China, Mexico, the Netherlands and Portugal are not included in the Chapter 11 proceedings and are said to be operating normally.

Libbey expects to use the court-supervised restructuring process to strengthen its balance sheet to navigate the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic and better position the company for the future. Discussions continue with lenders and other stakeholders regarding the terms of a consensual financial restructuring plan.

EFBW, representing European natural mineral and spring water producers, is the latest international organisation to join Close the Glass Loop, the industry stewardship programme for glass packaging initiated by FEVE. This platform has the objective of achieving a post-consumer glass container collection target of 90% and to ensure that this is recycled into the container glass production loop to come back as a new packaging.

Live video technology was employed for the GlassTrend spring seminar on 27-28 May that focused on how innovative raw materials and processing technologies can help the glass industry progress towards a more sustainable manufacturing process.

The seminar, originally due to take place last March in Mol, Belgium before being reorganised due to the Covid-19 pandemic, attracted 160 participants from some 50 international companies, making it the largest GlassTrend event since the organisation was established in 2001.

Savant Systems Inc, an industry leader in the professional smart home space, has signed a definitive agreement to purchase the GE Lighting division of GE.