UAE glass industry breaking into international waters

Abu Dhabi: The UAE’s glass industry is one that is breaking into international markets. With so many projects currently under construction in the UAE as well as in the GCC and Middle East, experts have said that the glass industry is one that is set to witness unprecedented growth.

Experts in the glass manufacturing industry from around the world will participate in the fourth edition of the Gulf Glass exhibition taking place in Abu Dhabi this week.

Steve Lipscombe, Vice-Chairman of the Glass and Glazing Federation (GGF) for the Middle East and North Africa, told Gulf News that the size of the industry’s market has changed from what it was 20 years ago.

“You didn’t have a local industry. You had local processing in a small way in the beginning and there was no float here,” he said. Float is the sheet of glass when it’s in its original state.

“Now it’s turned. You’ve got local companies. We’ve got a secure supply chain locally.”

Expansion

However, the local market is no longer just supplying indigenous needs, but has expanded into the international supply chain.

“A large percentage of the float products that are manufactured here are already aimed for the outside market,” he said.

“Some of the biggest buildings in London have glass that has been manufactured here in the Gulf. The glass has been exported to London,” said Steve Rice, Director of the GGF Mena region.

There is currently one float plant in Ras Al Khaimah and another in Abu Dhabi, with each plant producing 600 tonnes of glass a day, said Lipscombe.

This brings the industry to a capacity of 1,200 tonnes a day. “Every piece of it is sold before the sand is boiled,” he said.

With so much glass being produced and used locally, much is needed to be done for the safety of the people around it.

The GGF has been pushing for the implementation of safety rules and regulations for the glass industry in the UAE, Rice said.

“Safety we see as a big issue,” he said.