Pilkington signs 15-year supply deal with BOC

BOC's plant will supply 155 tonnes per day of nitrogen and up to 350 Nm3 per hour of hydrogen via pipeline to Pilkington's furnaces which produce float glass products for the building and automotive industries.

Dave Gilmore, Pilkington's purchasing director, said: “We are pleased to reaffirm our confidence in BOC as a supplier of high quality products and specialist expertise to deliver solutions that maximise the efficiency and quality of our glass making processes. It is vitally important to Pilkington's Merseyside operations that we are able to depend on security of supply and BOC has provided ample proof of that over time."

BOC has been supplying the Pilkington facility for more than 40 years, working closely with the glass manufacturer to meet its needs, both across the UK and globally. Founded in 1826, Pilkington is UK-based, with manufacturing operations in 24 countries on five continents and sales in 130 countries. Over half of Pilkington's sales are in Europe, approximately a third in North America and the rest in South America and Australasia. It operates 25 float plants worldwide, with interests in a further nine.

Gordon Brown, BOC’s major customer director, Europe, said: "Pilkington is a very important customer. For us this contract clearly demonstrates Pilkington's continued confidence in our abilities to provide the high quality products and security of supply they depend on. We have enjoyed a long-term partnership with Pilkington and will continue to work hard for and with them to build on that relationship, providing value-adding solutions wherever they are needed.

"BOC is one of the largest industrial gases suppliers in the world and we consistently support our major customers on that basis. That means understanding their manufacturing needs, providing tailored solutions and the same high quality products no matter where in the world they operate."