PILKS chiefs pressed a Government minister to make
changes to the Green Deal that would benefit the glass industry as they gave
him a tour of a £36 million coating plant.
Welcoming the Minister for Climate Change, Gregory
Barker, to Cowley Hill, Pilkington described the new development as one of the
most advanced facilities of its type in the world.
Ensuring St Helens is again leading the way in
glass production, it enables ultra-thin special coatings to be applied and
creates a range of energy products.
Pioneering products equipped with innovative green
technology is regarded as key to future of the glassmaker, owned by Japanese
giants Nippon Sheet Glass. Pilks has been the focus of gloomy headlines
because of its struggles in a turbulent global economy, which has led to job
losses and mothballing of float glass lines in St Helens. But the coater is seen as a ray of optimism for
local glassmaking.
Mr Barker’s visit gave Pilks bosses the chance to
show how their advancements at the facility are supported by the NSG Group
Technical Centre in Lathom. They also pressed him on the Government’s Green
Deal, which includes using advanced glazing for improving household energy
efficiency. The Green Deal will help homeowners make energy
improvements.
Pilks’ chiefs presented the minister with
recommendations it believes would strengthen the scheme for the benefit of the
window industry. Gary Charlton, operations director, said: “The new
coater is a significant investment and one the company and the community can be
proud of. “Set against the background of a challenging
construction market, it enables the company to enhance our competitiveness by
offering the latest high performance energy-efficient products. “This will go a long way towards securing the
future of St Helens and the Pilkington brand as names that remain synonymous
with UK glazing and innovation in energy efficiency for years to come.”
