Glass Focus line-up announced

The theme of this year’s event is Driving manufacturing productivity with digital technology and will welcome keynote speakers Professor Graham Hillier, Strategy and Futures Director at the Centre for Process Innovation (CPI) and Chris Sorsby of Glass Technology Services.

Graham has a wide-ranging business career in technology, innovation and strategy development. He joined CPI in 2004 and has developed and delivered its strategy of providing open access innovation services to companies of all sizes working in and with the process industries.

He has developed and delivered strategy for a wide range of organisations and was core member of the team that created the UK’s first Technology and Innovation Centre – The High Value Manufacturing Catapult. Graham will discuss resource efficiency and digital manufacturing and evaluate their input into productivity.

Glass Technology Services (GTS) is a leading provider of research, development and consultancy, Chris oversees the commercial development and planning for testing, research and consultancy at GTS. Chris spent the early part of his career hands-on in container glass manufacturing and filling. His work includes product development, process improvement, market analysis and corporate due diligence in the UK, Europe, Africa and Asia.

Chris is also a Director of Virtual Reality Machine Training – which has developed an Oculus Rift virtual reality simulator of a bottle forming machine that promises to revolutionise training in the industry. Chris will discuss the use of virtual reality in manufacturing and how this can utilised by glass sector. 

Graham will also join a panel of industry experts including Industrial CTO, Siemens PLC Alan Norbury and British Glass Chief Executive Dave Dalton.

Dave said: “Glass Focus is great opportunity to meet fellow delegates from across the glass industry to demonstrate what we can all do and look to the future of our industry. The awards showcase the innovation and excellence in glass that underpin our industry’s contribution to the economy, to society and to our customers, staff and stakeholders. The afternoon session will provide informative talks from industry experts to discuss the use of digital technologies in glass manufacture.” 

The registration fee for Glass Focus 2018 is £150 per person for British Glass members and £200 for non-members, which is fully inclusive of the afternoon session, evening gala dinner and awards.

The awards themselves are free to enter and there are six award categories: Design of the year, Innovative solution, Health and safety in action, Sustainable practice, Apprentice of the year and Strengthening business through people.

This year’s event is supported by media partner Glass International as well as Glass Technology Services and Glass Worldwide.