Page 63 - Glass Machinery Plants & Accessories no. 5-2019

It is also at a time where
demand for glass in the UK mar-
ket is strong, boosted by changes
in how imported beverages reach
UK consumers with Encirc’s 360
supply model driving an increase
in UK bottling.
Adrian Curry, Managing
Director, Encirc, commented:
“Glass is a fantastic material,
with remarkable sustainability
benefits. As more people begin
to acknowledge this and choose
glass packaging, there is, of
course, an enormous pressure on
the UK’s glass sector to respond
and supply more containers. This
is why Encirc and our parent
company, Vidrala, are always
investing in the most advanced
technologies to ensure we pro-
duce more with less waste.
“Continuous improvement
is what makes Encirc great.
In 2018, we rebuilt a record-
breaking container glass-melting
furnace, one of the largest in
existence. We didn’t stop there
though, as from next year we’ll
be the first glass manufacturer
in the world to take advantage of
an ‘Industry-4.0 Ready’ produc-
tion line. Not only will these new
cobotic processes help us further
strengthen our market position,
they will also support us in safe-
guarding and futureproofing our
current workforce.”

ELTON RAILHEAD
In another investment in a
more sustainable, efficient future,
Encirc has also recently brought
an on-site railhead terminus back
to life at its Elton plant.
The track links the 200-acre
site with the adjacent Helsby line,
and was designed to utilise the
former route of an original rail
terminal, built for a power station
which occupied the site in the
1950s. Now, the route transports
raw materials and cullet directly
to the Encirc plant, allowing the
company to significantly boost its
sustainability credentials.

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