A decision to open Pilkington IGP's new glass processing plant was based on growing demand for glass and insulating glass units. The investment will result in the creation of new jobs, shorter lead times and enhanced production capacity. The new plant is scheduled for commissioning in May 2023.
The new project is first and foremost the Company's response to the ever-growing demand for glass in the domestic market. The needs are growing, and the orders include more and more extensive batches of insulating glass units. This is related not only to the enhanced use of glass in architecture, but also to the interest in the new functionality of glazing, which responds to the needs of consumers – corporate and retail customers. The higher volume of orders implies that scheduled lead times are longer and longer, and the orders not included in the plan stand a little chance of being fulfilled, due to production capacity constraints.
“We have constantly been searching for new ways of development. This time it is a production boost driven by market development. Therefore, the local management of the company and the Management Board of the NSG Group decided to establish a new Pilkington IGP branch in Sandomierz. For us, this is an opportunity for growth and a response to the needs of our key accounts in southern Poland, and new full-time positions for the local labour market – we will be recruiting to fill in vacancies in the months to come. The Pilkington brand has been known in Sandomierz for many years and has developed a reputation in the group of its companies, with the headcount of almost 2,000 people in this city alone. The upgrading process will enable us to further boost the headcount level” – states Krzysztof Granicki, CEO of Pilkington Polska and Pilkington IGP.
For the purposes of facility development, the purchase of specialized machinery and equipment has been planned, including two manufacturing lines for insulating glass units, glass cutting tables, scissor lifts, manipulators, benders, overhead cranes etc. They will be installed in a production hall with the floor area of approximately 5,250 sqm. Additionally, the project provides for almost 1,000 sqm of office, social and warehousing space. The expansion and modernization will be carried using a phased-out approach. To begin with, the old overhead cranes need to be disassembled, the roof insulated, LED lighting installed, the walls cleaned, and the structure vacuumed. Only then will it be time to install the new equipment. The production launch date is scheduled for May 2023.
The upgrading of the glass processing plant will take place in parallel to the recruitment of new workers who will start working there next year. The target number of FTEs is 103 for positions such as maintenance technician, glass cutter, shipping worker and glass processing machine operator. Job advertisements will be published at www.pilkington.pl in the CAREER tab and in the local classifieds portals.