Global Centre
Of Excellence

The heart of materials research and innovation

Innovation That Scales.
Impact That Lasts.

Our Global Centre of Excellence is a world first. Giving unrivalled access to state-of-the-art facilities that turn your ambition into action. The 165,000sq ft facility will allow collaborators to experiment with different energy sources, raw materials and technologies to create the foundational materials of tomorrow.

The hidden engine of a
sustainable economy.

At Glass Futures, we believe materials industries can, and must, be part of the solution to the world’s greatest environmental challenges. From glass to advanced composites, the materials that shape our world must evolve to meet the demands of a cleaner, smarter, and more sustainable future. By transforming how materials are made, used, and reused, we can accelerate the transition to a low-carbon economy and create lasting value for society.

Our Promise

We don’t just imagine a better future, we create it.

Innovation

The world’s first multi-fuel hybrid glass furnace

Designed by the industry, for the industry.

 Key features:

  • 30tpd nominal pull from a 20m2 melting tank and glass depth 1.5m
  • Oxy-firing configuration (Natural Gas, H2, Oil, blends)
  • Bottom/Sidewall boost and bubblers
  • Fused Cast AZS Refractories and Low-Lime Silica Crown

Batch Plant

The heart of a stable melting process.

Key features:

  • 13 silos – 8 scales – full batch recipe control
  • Gathering conveyor to 500l mixer

The IS and Roll Plate Machines

Facilitating new innovations in container forming and flat glass.
  • IS Machine:  Our visionary ISx machine, developed by T&T Turnov, facilitates new innovations in container forming
  • Roll plate: Supplied by Fickert & Winterling, able to provide high quality sampling for glass quality testing:
  • 600mm wide ribbon of 2mm – 8mm thickness

A single digital platform

Unparalleled data accuracy and end-to-end insights into manufacturing processes.
  • PCS Neo, Siemens latest DCS, integrated across the entire plant.
  • Digital twin integrates process optimisation and trial outcomes.

Hydrogen Kiln

An industrial-scale kiln of the future designed to meet the highest standards of quality and efficiency, and demonstrate sustainable fuels.
  • Firing chamber of 4m3 with a temperature range from ambient – 1500°C, suitable for firing all types of ceramics
  • Four burner ports for natural gas or hydrogen, capable of blends from 0% to 100% H₂

Combustion Test Bed

End-fired small-scale regenerative glass furnace, enabling advances in burner science, optimising processes, and de-risking industrial fuel switching.  
  • 350kW, air-fired combustion test-rig, compatible with Natural Gas, Hydrogen, Biofuels and blends
  • Highly instrumented, IR camera

Additional services

Technical
Consultancy

Unlock specialist insight and solve your toughest challenges. 

  • Problem solving
  • Efficiency / productivity gains or energy reduction strategies
  • Accelerating R&D, technology deployment or new product development

Via:

  • Process audits and optimisation
  • Technoeconomic assessments for business cases
  • Technical due diligence and innovation scouting

Expert
Training

Tap into our technical know-how and accelerate your growth.

  • Builds technical, leadership and innovation capacity
  • Support digital adoption and readiness
  • Enhance career paths and retention

Via:

  • On-site and virtual training modules
  • Apprenticeships and graduate pathways
  • CPD-accredited courses and workshops

Digital

Cutting-edge digital solutions to accelerate innovation and optimise manufacturing. 

  • Digital tools to enable sustainability, efficiency, and resilient manufacturing.
  • Unlock data-driven insights, improve process control, and future-proof operations.

Via:

  • Data-driven insights and modelling
  • Digital Readiness Audits to guide digital transformation in manufacturing environments
  • Digital product design services for agile packaging decision-making

Supply Chain
Support

Targeted support to strengthen and decarbonise supply chains across the glass and foundational industries.  

  • Identify risks in your supply chains and build resilience
  • Unlock efficiencies
  • Sourcing low-carbon and recycled materials

Via:

  • Mapping and analysis of supply chain emissions and risks
  • Identifying collaboration opportunities for innovation and compliance
  • Translation of emerging policies and regulations

Testing and Validation

Rigorous checks for reliable, sustainable results.

  • Accelerates time-to-market for innovations
  • Ensures regulatory and customer compliance
  • Builds trust through third-party validation

Via:

  • Material and product testing
  • Environmental performance validation
  • Lifecycle and durability assessments

Innovation
Hall Tenancy

Join our vibrant ecosystem and collaborate with other pioneers shaping the future.

  • Enables co-location with leading researchers and manufacturers, fostering cross-sector innovation
  • Accelerating technology readiness in an industrial scaled environment to validate technology for future customers.
  • Access to a wealth of process safety and operational knowledge, professional services, and support for continuous process operations

Via:

  • Access to innovation ecosystem with high voltage supply, industrial gases (O2, H2, biofuels, natural gas)
  • Support in developing HAZOPs and SOPs
  • Shared labs, meeting spaces, and digital infrastructure, and professional services