DIGNITARIES gathered at Glass Futures today for the official launch of the £54m global centre of excellence for glass innovation which promises to ‘breathe new life’ into our town.
Industry leaders, senior politicians and stakeholders have gathered at the Glass Futures site at Peasley Cross – adjacent to Saints’ stadium - to view the landmark building.
Construction on the former site of United Glass site started last year, with contractors Bowmer + Kirkland appointed by Network Space Development.
The main contract works were completed earlier this year, with the 165,000 sq. ft building handed over to Glass Futures Limited, before fit out works started in April.
'A momentous day'
Speaking to the Star, Metro Mayor of Liverpool City Region Steve Rotheram, said: “[Glass Futures] will breathe new life into this area and sit alongside the fantastic Totally Wicked Stadium – and even the Tesco – but will be about creating jobs in a new sector.
“This positions St Helens in the vanguard of the fourth industrial revolution and to ensure wherever possible we can decarbonise energy-intensive industries and it all starts here, in St Helens.”
Liverpool City Region has invested £9 million into the venture with Glass Futures looking to deliver industry and government-backed research and development projects focused on decarbonising the glass and foundation industries.
It will also provide a platform for its members to access an experimental scale furnace for testing and trials of new technology on a state-of-the-art line, both collaboratively and individually.
Supporters of the project hope it will be the catalyst for a revival of the glass industry by attracting innovative operations to locate in the borough.
Richard Katz, CEO of Glass Futures, said: “Today (Tuesday, June 6) is a momentous milestone for us as we open our doors for the first time to members, glass manufacturers and academics from around the world.
“Our Global Centre of Excellence has been a long time in the making from that very first spark of an idea so I’m extremely proud to finally be officially opening the building in its new home in St Helens.
“But this is just the start, demonstrating disruptive technologies that will make glass and other materials zero carbon and sustainable is yet to come.
“Already steeped in glass history, we couldn’t think of anywhere better to call home and we’re grateful for all the support we’ve received from the people of St Helens, the council and the wider city region.
“And I’m delighted that we’ve already created over 60 new jobs and recruited people from the borough including our first three apprentices from Waterside Training with more to follow.”
Later this year the world’s first openly accessible furnace to test commercially viable technology will be installed. This should be operational by January 2024.
With the furnace capable of producing up to 30 tonnes of glass per day, Glass Futures will collaborate with its global membership, academic researchers and industry leaders to continue trials into alternative energy sources, raw materials and technologies to demonstrate real decarbonisation solutions.
Local benefits
According to St Helens Council, throughout the construction phase, the scheme has made "a significant contribution to the local economy" with £11.2m of supply contracts going to businesses within a 20-mile radius of the site, including more than £1m awarded to St Helens’ businesses.
In a statement the council added: "Overall, 441 operatives and sub-contractors have been employed on the scheme, including 30 apprentices, with 36 per cent of the labour coming from St Helens, Wigan and Warrington communities.”
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