Glass processor Glassolutions is responding to growing demand for oversized pieces of glass with a £1.5million-plus investment in a larger furnace capable of toughening larger pieces – up to 2.85m x 4.2m – as well as adding 20% to capacity.

The investment also includes an automated arriser to ensure quality and consistent finishing; and a power upgrade to the site.

David Evans, factory manager at the Dudley site, said: “The recent pandemic has resulted in more people working from home or hybrid working, which has prompted a huge increase in residential renovations to create more comfortable and spacious living and working environments.

“This has included the trend for more glazed extensions incorporating large expanses of glass such as sliding, patio and bi-fold doors, roof lanterns and fully glazed walls and roofs.  This latest investment at Dudley gives us the capability to support our customers in delivering the right type of oversized glass for these larger windows, doors and glazed areas, which require maximum safety and security as well as the correct levels of thermal, solar and acoustic performance.

He added that it will be business as usual during the upgrade work, thanks to detailed planning and additional manufacturing resources available from sister sites in Coventry, Motherwell and Canterbury.

“We’ve planned the upgrade project in the shortest possible schedule which means it will be complete by the end of April,” he said, “Importantly, we’ll operate a full production line at all times, and we have plenty of back-up capacity at our nearby Coventry factory as well as our glass processing sites at Motherwell and Canterbury.  This should mean little or no difference to normal lead times.”

www.glassolutions.co.uk

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