Glass firm revels in tougher times

The new glass toughening equipment is now up and running at the Hull-based firm, which was established in 1947 and primarily serves the caravan manufacturing industry in the area.Managing director Derek Russell, who bought Witham Glass about nine years ago, said: “That’s been a huge investment for us.It’s going to make a big difference to our customer base and what we can provide to our customers.” He said he hopes to employ more staff on the back of the investment.

Witham Glass buys in glass in its raw state from UK glass manufacturers, before cutting it to size and toughening it using a heating and cooling down process. Toughened glass is used in doors, windows, shower screens and splashbacks for example. Witham Glass also bevels, drills, paints and etches glass.

“These days there’s been a big uptake or requirement to supply safety glass and toughened glass is a safety glass”, said Mr Russell. Previously, the company subcontracted out its toughening requirements.

But Mr Russell said: “The downside to that is you lose quality control, pricing control, you lose time schedule control. We’ve brought all of that in-house now so we are in control of our own destiny. We are not dependent on somebody else.

“There are a number of other companies out there that we haven’t approached yet that prefer only to deal with people who toughen the product themselves.”

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