AGC has concluded a memorandum of understanding with Central Glass concerning the integration of their architectural glass businesses in Japan. According to AGC, the local architectural glass business is facing demand structure changes associated with declining new housing starts and the dissemination of multi-layered glass. The business environment has continued to be sluggish, despite continued streamlining efforts and restructuring of the distribution system. As a result, drastic reform for the entire industry is considered necessary.

Owens-Illinois Inc has confirmed its support for new legislation aimed at educating and increasing recycling rates in the USA. Senators Robert Portman (R-OH) and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) have created the ‘Recycle Enhancements to Collection and Yield through Consumer Learning and Education (RECYCLE) Act of 2019’.

Waste industry experts in the UK are warning that facilities for returning glass bottles in retail stores will not be able to cope with the huge rise in numbers at peak times such as Christmas, Easter and during hot summers. With in-store reverse vending machines designed to accommodate just 60kg of glass (about 220 whole bottles), the size of facility is expected to be inadequate during seasonal peak times when consumption is high and volumes of glass bottles recycled can surge by up to 60%.

Mike Thaman has confirmed his decision to retire as Executive Chairman of the Owens Corning Board of Directors at the next annual meeting of stockholders, currently scheduled for April 2020. Brian Chambers, President and Chief Executive Officer, has been elected by the Board to succeed Mr Thaman.

The 81st Conference on Glass Problems (GPC) is inviting engineers, educators, students and solutions providers working on various aspects of glass manufacturing to submit abstracts for oral presentation at the next conference by 29 January 2020.

Richard Katz was installed Master of the Worshipful Company of Glass Sellers of London on 10 December 2019 at a well-attended Common Hall & Installation Dinner, staged at the Stationers' Hall in London.

The renovation and modernisation of Sisecam Group’s Manfredonia flat glass plant in southern Italy has been completed in record time. This €55 million project includes a furnace rebuild, where an advanced design has been installed, as well as the completion of five million m2/year coating and 3.5 million m2 lamination lines.

Saint-Gobain Isover has inaugurated a glass wool production line in Chemillé, near Angers, France, to meet growing insulation demand. The line has an annual production capacity of 30,000 tonnes and follows an investment of €35 million. Installed in a new building of almost 4500m2, the line is 220m long and includes an electric furnace that uses more than 40% recycled glass to produce the blowing glass wool.