Hélène Debard has been appointed Group Chief Human Resources Officer at Knauff Insulation.

Dominique Bossan, CEO of Knauf Insulation Europe/Middle East/Asia and Member of the Knauf Group Management Committee, said: “Hélène has more than 20 years of experience leading HR teams across the EMEA region and North America for a range of highly successful international companies. I am confident her extensive expertise will be a major asset to Knauf Insulation as we build on the success of our For A Better World sustainability strategy commitment to Put People First.”

Saint-Gobain has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire U.P. Twiga Fiberglass Ltd. (UP Twiga), the glass wool insulation manufacturer with two manufacturing facilities close to Delhi and Mumbai. The company has been a licensee of Saint-Gobain technology since 2005 for the manufacture of glass wool in India and its solutions offer a wide range of applications.

Together with the recent acquisition of Rockwool India Pvt Ltd. in stone wool and Saint-Gobain’s number 1 positions in plasterboard and glass, UP Twiga consolidates Saint-Gobain’s positioning in interior and façade solutions in India, set to benefit from higher building performance requirements and the strong need for acoustic and thermal comfort as well as energy-efficient solutions.

Glass for Europe is officially a member of the European Solar PV Industry Alliance, an initiative launched in December 2022 by the European Commission. The Alliance gathers key players in the value chain of the solar energy industry and aims at scaling up the production of solar PV panels and value chain components in Europe.

Glass is an essential component of solar panels and building integrated photovoltaics and it represents between 65% and 95% of solar energy modules weight. Glass for Europe represents almost 90% of flat glass production in the EU and its members can play a key role in re-building a European solar industry in the EU.

Zignago Vetro has once again obtained EcoVadis’ Platinum Medal, a great achievement that bears witness to the company’s commitment to promoting sustainable practices. The rating, which focuses on four crucial areas (environment, working practices and human rights, ethics, and sustainable procurement), was more than positive, confirming the company’s position among the top 1% of companies that underwent this evaluation.

The accolade is clearly a motive of great pride for the Zignago Group, which has been committed to making sustainability an integral part of all its operations. It is also a clear signal of the concrete contribution that Zignago Vetro is making at an environmental and social level towards real change and a better future.

The 32nd China International Glass Industry Technical Exhibition will be held from 6 to 9 May 2023 at Shanghai New International Expo Centre. China Glass Exhibition is the only professional exhibition in the glass industry that is supported by authoritative industry organizations at home and abroad since its establishment in 1986. It has become the primary platform for the exchange and display of the whole industry chain of the domestic glass industry.

The exhibition will use seven halls of Shanghai New International Expo Centre with a display scale of nearly 90,000m2. At present, more than 800 manufacturers from 24 countries and regions, have confirmed their participation. It will attract approaching 40,000 glass industry professional visitors to participate in the event.

The 2023 O-I:EXPRESSIONS STUDENT DESIGN AWARD challenges students to create a beautiful graphical design for a low- or non-alcoholic spirits brand, a sector which is growing 7% year on year. Entrants will use O-I’s innovative direct to glass printing technology, to create a design that stands out in a crowded market.

The competition is open to students, recent graduates and interns at design agencies around the world. The judges will be: Steve Honour, Design Leader, Innovation and Futures at Diageo; Melianthe Leeman, Global Marketing Director, Wines and Spirits, O-I; and Adam Ryan, Head of Pentawards.

Commenting on Australian packaging specialist Orora’s interim results, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Brian Lowe said: “Our results for the first half of fiscal year 2023 demonstrate the resilience of our business, as well as a steadfast commitment to delivering against our strategic priorities.

“The external environment continues to present challenges including rising inflationary pressures and supply chain complexities. Despite this, Orora has delivered a solid result in line with expectations. The Group reported an increase in net profit after tax, driven by strong earnings growth in North America and another robust earnings performance in Australasia."

The Society of Glass Technology conference, Furnace Solutions, will include the views of glass producers as they transition towards net-zero, practical guidance on electric and hybrid melting, hydrogen, alternative raw materials and sustainable refractory development.

The following presentations have been confirmed:

Government support for industrial decarbonisation
Jenni McDonnell MBE, Innovate UK KTN

Ways to make container glass more sustainable until 2030 and beyond
Sven Roger Kahl, Ardagh Glass

Pushing the limits of production in float furnaces,
Ms Burcin Gul Arslanoglu, ŞIŞECAM

Batch plant concept for Glass Futures
Sebastian Woltz, EME

Vidrala has acquired a non-controlling minority stake of 29.36% in the share capital of the Brazilian company Vidroporto for R$297 million, approximately €53 million.

Vidroporto, with its subsidiary Indústria Vidreira do Nordeste, is a renowned Brazilian manufacturer of glass containers, founded on an impressive business industrial legacy and a highly experienced management team. It operates two high quality sites located in Porto Ferreira, in the state of São Paulo, and Estância, in the state of Sergipe, from where it serves some of the main brands in Brazil in segments like beer, spirits or soft drinks. In 2022, Vidroporto obtained sales of around R$700 million.