Date: 18 June 2015
Alan Minto started working in the glass container industry over 40 years ago, after a short stint as an apprentice jockey and having worked in a shipyard where he served his apprenticeship in pipe fitting and engineering.He began his career as a “Greaser” at Gregg and Company in 1974 before being promoted to the role of Operator then becoming Assistant Chief Operator and then Supervisor. In 1988 he was appointed Production Manager. Alan remained the Production Manager on the buyout of Gregg & Co by A.B.F. in 1993.
Throughout his career, Alan has also been influential in the development of Allied’s manufacturing facility, advancing the Production department from being one which predominantly manufactured standard glass packaging for the food sector into one which pushes the boundaries of glass packaging, daily producing some of the industry’s most inspiring and intricate glass packs for a raft of the spirit industry’s most iconic and influential brands.
A glass industry stalwart, with an outstanding knowledge of glass bottle manufacture, Alan is a true leader and innovator, his work having been instrumental in the development of extreme lightweight spirit containers using the blow/ blow method. Once it was doubted that this method of container production could achieve lightweight bottles, but Alan’s ingenuity along with his team of production experts, have continued to push the boundaries to achieve industry leading extreme lightweight containers, the 70cl round spirit bottle’s weight having been reduced to 290 grams and the 1 litre from 560 to 392 grams. This work has helped promote the industry’s commitment to reducing the environmental impact of glass packaging while maintaining the material’s superior brand appeal.
Alan has also been pivotal in the development of forehearth colouring, working with Ferro to develop a reliable and effective way of stirring the molten glass to ensure consistency in colour. His success has supported brands including Bulldog Gin, Johnnie Walker Double Black and Singleton Scotch whisky.
Alan has been involved in some of the industry’s most challenging projects yet his accomplishments have been remarkable take for example the many award winning bottles he has worked on, these ranging from the beautiful pale green Bloom Gin bottle which won a Starpack in 2009 to the Caoruun Gin, Phraya Rum, Langtons and Tanqueray Ten bottles, all of whom have won the prestigious Glass Packaging category at The UK Packaging, the later also winning the inaugural glass packaging category at the 2014 Luxury Packaging Awards. Through his work, Alan has promoted the beauty and flexibility of glass as a packaging material.
Alan is a true glass industry professional who loves making glass packaging. He is inspiring, informing and motivating, spending time to mentor the next generation of bottle makers to ensure they have the skills and knowledge necessary to create the industry’s most beautiful glass packaging while maintaining the industry’s professional standing.
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