The Heye International Symposium was held 5-6 September and, this year, was entitled The Future of Glass. More than 50 experts of the glass industry, with representatives of leading global glass container manufacturers, discussed together strategies and opportunities for the future of the container glass industry.
The 5 and 6 September had the motto “The Future of Glass” at the Heye International Symposium. More than 50 experts of the glass industry came together, and the event guest list consisted of representatives of the leading glass container manufacturers throughout the world, from the US, Mexico, China, India, Russia and of course Germany and Europe.
On the first day, the topic future trends was on the agenda. The futurologist Patrick W. Jordan gave a preview of the Super Trends for the 21st century, supplemented by quantitative forecast of the global glass market by Euromonitor. Based on these impressions, the speakers and the audience discussed together strategies and opportunities for the container glass industry. After this look into the future, the evening then was a journey into the past of glass manufacturing, in the industrial museum “Gernheim Glassworks”. A glassmaker manufactured before the eyes of interested visitors a historic storage jar, used in the 19th century for preserving food.
The second day was marked by success stories of customers and discussions on technical solutions for the production process, with the objective of finding ways to manufacture container glass even more efficiently and more sustainably. Solutions for assortment production, the new press duration control, as well as innovative camera-based inspection systems were also discussed.
The programme was rounded off by a visit to the city of Hamelin, home of the famous Pied Piper of Hamelin, followed by boat trip on the river Weser. Guests at the symposium appreciated the balanced programme and talked of one of the best industry-related event in recent years. Due to the very positive feedback Heye International will continue these event series in the future.