Topic of the month February

New tricks for a mature industry

The news that Quinn Glass in the United Kingdom and Vitro in Mexico are starting to offer filling, labelling and distribution services as well as making glass bottles for clients shows the glass industry at its dynamic best. Both firms have recognised that they can offer more to clients but glass, and can help them move into new markets.

Food and drinks firms can save money because they have no costs in moving empty bottles from factory to food plant; and they have lower costs in moving filled containers to clients in markets that might otherwise have been uneconomical to serve. They can offer existing products to new markets, or introduce new products more cheaply, thanks to help from their glassmakers.

We have seen instances where glassmakers have set up new production sites near clients' sites, usually encouraged by the need for heavy investment at an existing older glassworks which is subsequently closed, or where a new glassworks is set up near the premises of a new major client.

But the moves by Quinn and Vitro are more unusual and are very promising innovations in a mature and traditionally conservative industry. Our European journal 'Glass' is now 80 years old, and 'Glass International' which covers the rest of the world has celebrated its 25th birthday.

Over the decades since these magazines were founded, the glassmaking industry has changed beyond recognition. Long established companies have disappeared, manufacturing has moved to new countries, competing materials have stolen glass' market share.

It would be easy to get depressed and to allow things to take their course. But the moves by companies like Quinn and Vitro point to new fight in our industry, and to new flexibility.

We all know that glass is the ultimately recyclable material, and how many uses it can be put to. But deeds speak louder than words. Still some of our customer industries complain that glassmakers are not helpful suppliers, don't meet quality standards and delivery deadlines, don't share enough information.

A sea change is needed to win back the ground we have lost, and to win new ground. Campaigns have been run by trade groups all over the world to promote the worth of glass, but ultimately it is up to glassmakers themselves to make the ultimate statement.

Our congratulations to Quinn and to Vitro, and to other glassmakers who have been able to offer extra and value-added services to their clients. We hope more examples will be seen of innovations by glassmakers not just in the technical field, but also in the commercial one.

The most wonderful and efficient glassworks in the world is worthless and useless unless its products are bought and used by clients. We all need to take the next step, with all its new challenges and opportunities, to make sure our industry survives and prospers.

Source: OGIS GmbH, http://www.glassglobal.com in cooperation with dmg World Media, http://www.glassmediaonline.com