Saint-Gobain Glass invests £30m at Eggborough factory to secure glass supply

Saint-Gobain Glass is carrying out a major construction programme to completely re-build and install a new state-of the-art float glass furnace at its site in Eggborough.

It is the largest industrial investment in the UK by the Saint-Gobain Group since the Eggborough plant was built in 2000.

The new furnace is due to be ready by late summer, replacing the existing furnace that has reached the end of its design life. It will use less energy and will boost manufacturing efficiency and production capacity.

The company is also upgrading other areas of the factory, which will secure the long-term supply of consistently high-quality, high-performance glass for the window and door market and wider construction sector in the UK.

Steve Severs, managing director at Saint-Gobain Glass, said: “This is a major milestone in the history of our business. It demonstrates our commitment to the long-term future of glass manufacturing in the UK and our confidence in the wider construction industry.

"The new facility is designed to manufacture high-performance products developed in the UK to meet the specific needs of the UK window industry.

“The project has been several years in development and planning to ensure continuity of supply for our customers throughout the construction process.

This has involved a high level of stock build-up in advance and imports of glass from our Saint-Gobain sister plants in Europe which will help to fulfil orders throughout the process. I am grateful for everyone’s support and commitment and look forward to the official opening later in the year.

“Saint-Gobain has a long history of glass making, stretching back over 350 years.

"We are very experienced in delivering these complex high-value engineering projects, supported by highly skilled in-house technical and engineering teams. And of course, strict measures are being deployed to ensure the works are delivered in a COVID-19 compliant way.”