The Glass Industry in India

The scratch application in India. The current-day Indian codswallop patience is well-nigh ascorbic acid years old. In the first half of the last century the labor was rather primitive, melting the folderol in pot furnaces and small tank furnaces that were fuelled by either coal or gasalthough some furnaces at the coastal cities used furnace oil. From the early 1950s the meth industry started manufacturing victimization modern equipment, both for melting and production. Collaboration with multinational companies gave a gain to the industry.It was in the lost decade of the twentieth century that the Indian glaze industry started to seriously compete world-widely, installing improved furnaces to conserve nada and therefore reduce the cost of production. The cheaper availability of natural gas in some parts of the country also enabled the industry to reduce force costs to some extent, and the flat provide industry upgraded to the float process. India instantly has four f loat glass plants, although there are still a few sheet glass manufacturing units in operation using both the Fourcault and PPG processes.The retrace of figured glass is well established in India. Container glass production has benefited from the addition of higher contentedness manufacturing units during the past decade, and this part of the industry is doing fairly well. The flask linings sector has earned a niche in the export market, as well as put togethering the domestic requirement. The manufacture of glass bangles has moved to the semi automatic process and India has its own engineering science in the bangle and glass bead sector. Research is currently be nethertaken for the technological improvement of the finishing process.There has been a quantum leap in glass fibre manufacture with new multinational entrants and a substantial harvest-time in exports. The tableware industry was badly hit with imports and is slowly recovering, acquiring modern equipment to upgrade t he sector. There is potential for foreign collaboration here. Ophthalmic glass is still being imported into India and there is scope for putting modern manufacturing units in place. The industry is progressing steadily and will hopefully reach global standards in the weaker sectors as well as in those that are currently strong.Indian glass industry overview. http//www. allbusiness. com/nonmetallic-mineral/glass-glass-manufacturing/85938 9-1. html Date Tuesday, November 1 2005 At the 61st annual session of the All India crank Manufacturers Federation, held in New Delhi last September, retiring President, Sanjay Somany reviewed key issues facing the local glass industry, in the presence of Dr Ajay Dua, secretarial assistant (IPP), Ministry of Commerce and Industries, Government of India. A summary of Sanjay Somanys presentation is given below, unitedly with details of the federations newly elected officers.Despite the un plasteredties associated with two consecutive coalition gove rnments, the Indian economy has undergone rapid and all-encompassing change, clearly indicating the strengths of Indian democracy. Economic constitution changes direct eased out Indian enterprise from governmental confine towards globalisation of the economy. These measures have borne fruit and the economy is on a beauty progressive path. In spite of pet aimum price hikes, inflation is under control and the national economy is expected to grow by around 7%.The balance of payments continues to be favourable and India has comfortable foreign permutation reserves. Promoting the industry Since its inception in 1944, the All India Glass Manufacturers Federation has been promoting the set about of all segments of the local glass industry. Sustained efforts are being make by members of the federation to promote the industrys growth and development. Diversified capabilities The Indian glass industry has a rich history. From mouth blown and hand works processes, it has taken to automa tion in a big way, although traditional manufacturing processes have not been abandoned.Mouth blown and handcrafted glassware have a dominant role in decorative and table glassware, products which are exported in large quantities. The volume of raw materials required by the industry are available locally, providing dainty scope for growth and development. Flat glass Despite the closure of certain sheet glass manufacturing units, total flat glass production has change magnitude via the establishment of new float lines. There has been an increase in demand for float glass as a result of increased investment funds from the construction and automotive sectors.Float glass manufacturers are gearing up to meet this demand and are planning to increase their installed capacities. Containers Glass container production has much than doubled from approximately 800,000 tonnes in 1997-98 to some 1. 7 jillion tonnes in 2004-05. This is despite the stiff competition faced from alternative pac kaging materials. employment levels increased by 5% in the last 12 months, emphasising the proceed importance of the material as a preferred packing material in view of its transparency, chemical inertness, impermeability and ability to maintain the optimum freshness of its contents.Tableware The massive surge of imports, especially from China, continues to impact the local glass tableware industry, with large quantities of opal and crystal ware being dumped in the market. The price at which these items are being sold shows that either all or nigh goods have reached the market by avoiding customs duty payments. This has resulted in the underutilisation of installed capacity and is adversely affecting the profitability of local manufacturers. ExportsDramatically increased Levels of glass and glassware exports have been recorded in recent years, from US$35 one million million million in 1993-94 to US$200 million in 2002-03 and US$227 million in 2003-04 (all figures ore approximate currency conversions Ed). In the last 12 months, increase production costs have slowed the rate of growth, however, to a level of US$234 million. Products to achieve strong export growth in 2004-05 were glass fibre, ophthalmic Lenses, glass lampware, containers, bangles, table/ kitchenware, mirrors, glass beads and false pearls.Export shortfalls were recorded for emptiness flasks and refills, unworked sheet glass, VIALS, float glass and scientific glassware. New AIGMF officers Elected to deputise Sanjay Somany as President of the AIGMF for the current term of office is PK Kheruka, Vice prexy and Managing Director of Borosil Glassworks Ltd, Mumbai. His successor as Senior Vice President is Satish Kumar Jhunjhunwala of Shree Gobinddeo Glass Works Ltd, Kolkata. Newly elected to the role of Vice President is Mukul Somany from Hindusthan subject field Glass Industries Ltd. Honorary General Secretary is SC Bansat