St.Helens The Heart of the North West

Pilkington is to restart one of its St.Helens float lines in a move that will create up to 130 jobs.
It is the first sign of a recovery from the glassmaker, which has been badly hit by the global recession.
Pilkington’s owner Nippon Sheet Glass (NSG) has cut 6,700 jobs across the world, including more than 200 in St Helens and Ormskirk as it reacted to massive falls in demand from housing and automotive sectors.
Its Greengate site, in St Helens, has two float lines, UK5 and UK6. UK5 was refurbished in 2008 but has not yet been operational.
UK6 was to be mothballed when UK5 started producing glass but has now been given a reprieve for three years.
Gary Charlton, operation director of NSG’s building products, said: “This decision is as a result of the growing demand in the solar glass market. The demand on UK5 is planned to continue through to September 2013 when the volumes will likely transfer to another NSG facility.
“It will also coincide with the end of campaign on UK6 – so the employment opportunities generated will only be for the period up to September 2013.”
UK5 will produce solar energy coated glass, which will then be cut at its Cowley Hill site, also in St Helens. The company said its cutting line will need re-commissioning and upgrading, which will require investment and “offer significant technical, recruitment and training challenges”.
Cllr Marie Rimmer, leader of St Helens Council, said: “Pilkington has always played a major role in the fortune of the borough and we are very excited by this positive move.”