The NSG Group has invested £36M in a Pilkington Park-based coating plant, located next to its St Helens-based Cowley Hill site. In 2006, the NSG Group purchased Pilkington plc and is a major employer in the region.
The new investment will generate 50 new jobs and extend the thriving Apprenticeship scheme of the Group.
The Regional Growth Fund, a government program to augment development in the private segment, has granted £5M for the project. The new coating line will become functional in October 2012, enabling the NSG Group to offer low-emissive glazing solutions along with its popular Pilkington K Glass and solar control glass.
David Pinder, MD of Building Products UK & South Europe, expressed his delight in receiving support from the government. He mentioned that the new product line will enable them to expand their sophisticated coated glass products and help their clients to fulfill UK building energy-saving norms.
The Director of Urban Regeneration and Housing, St Helens Council, Bob Hepworth stated that the investment supports the long-standing potential of float glass development in St. Helens and also supports the minimum carbon strategy of the City Region. He added that the grant will benefit the company and improve the town’s economy.
Since 2002, UK Building Regulations have been intensified, making it mandatory to adopt low-emissivity solutions in replacement and new windows in houses. The latest coating line will develop enhanced products to cope with stricter norms in future.
The broader range of products will address the requirements of clients and markets. It is expected that including energy-efficient windows in all homes in UK can minimize carbon dioxide discharge by 10% and domestic energy cost by 10%, thereby saving more than £2 billion every year.