Pilkington Glass India Pvt Ltd of the NSG group, which st up a unit at Atchyuthapuram in Visakhapatnam district, has started export of windscreens to North America and Europe, according to a press release issued by the company.
The release, issued by Mr G.S.V. Raja, the corporate affairs representative of the company here, says the unit, set up at a cost of Rs 80 crore, has the capacity to produce 4,80,000 windscreens a year.
“Our unit is located in the non-SEZ area at Atchyuthapuram and we have started operations recently. We will expand the capacity later,” he said.
The float glass technology, which transformed the glass-making process, was first introduced by the company to the world exactly 50 years ago and it was invented by Sir Alastair Pilkington and Kenneth Bickerstaff.
“Over the past 50 years, it has resulted in manufacture of finished high-quality glass. All aspects of glass-making could be improved. It cut costs, increased output and improved product quality, and it also reduced the impact on the environment. It really was a revolutionary advance,” says Mr Phil Ramsey, Vice-president (Technology), of Pilkington Building Products.
Over five decades, the float process retains its position at the heart of the world’s glass industry, making clear, tinted and coated glass for buildings and vehicles. The process has been licensed to more than 40 manufacturers in 30 countries. Over 380 float lines are in operation worldwide, with a combined output of a million tonnes of glass a week. The NSG group operates, or has interest in, in 51 float lines, adds the release.
Source : Business Line