Based in Telford, GS-MR Robotics designs and builds customer driven, bespoke robotic automation solutions for the glass industry. In this article, GS-MR Robotics’ director, Paula Owen, discusses the benefits that robotic automation can bring to glass manufacturers and processors.

It is encouraging to note in late 2024 how the global glass industry has begun to openly embrace and discuss the proven benefits of robotic automation to address continuing industry wide issues, not least relating to recruitment and retention of labour.

At GS-MR, we have been busy designing automated systems with industry issues in mind since 2018, not least in anticipation of a protracted Brexit; solutions which would challenge the industry’s continuing heavy reliance on manual processes.

Feedback from industry professionals in 2018 towards robotic automation was at best hesitant with the anticipated responses, ‘it’s not for us, it won’t work for glass, we have always done it like this’.

Whilst the industry knew robotic automation had enabled other global industries to adapt and survive during previous decades, it remained openly hesitant to acknowledge it could be the necessary avenue to secure the industry’s future commercial competitiveness.

There remained a reluctance within the glass industry to accept robots could handle glass in its raw state and on its edge, regardless of the multiple proven robotic systems that were already successfully handling other complex commodities throughout global industry.

It was interesting to note more emphasis was being placed upon a robot possibly breaking glass when operators had to personally deal with glass breaking on a daily basis.

With the continuing consolidation of the manufacturing market, in addition to the multiple challenges being faced across all industries (we all know what these challenges are) it is reassuring to see the glass industry is beginning to address the need to adapt to retain a competitive edge, looking to achieve this through the only avenue available now of cost-effective and proactive, well designed robotic automation.

Fast forward to 2024, and Press Glass UK has taken the lead with the automation curve following their open recognition in 2018 of what the future held for the glass industry. With the open attitude now emerging throughout the glass industry towards the demonstrated benefits, glass processors and glass machinery manufacturers alike have become increasingly open to discussing how robotic automation can work for them and their customers by being incorporated into their production facilities.

This positive action will only prove to benefit the industry and those within it.

Glass manufacturers and processors need to look beyond their existing processes. The solutions lay in challenging already established procedures which are in principle being performed the same as 20 plus years ago, but at greater speed and efficiency.

Any IG line today which continues to rely on manual operation still remains a labour-intensive process regardless of how fast the line is quoted to run at. Greater speed only becomes part of the equation when a fully automated process is implemented.

Robotic loading, preferably a proactive solution that verifies glass prior to loading and does not damage special coatings, delivers the potential for the line to perform at its utmost on a continuous basis, with a full return on investment.

Industrial challenges will always be here, overheads will only ever increase, environmental issues will never abate.

Challenges spawn innovation and development, ultimately bringing progress where none was considered possible.

Anyone looking to invest in any manufacturing process today would be drawn towards automation knowing the proven long-term benefits it brings. Robotic automation delivers consistency and repeatability, in turn improving profitability.

Our combined unique skills at GS-MR continue to provide the perfect platform for our technically advanced and globally patented industry leading robotic automations solutions, all designed and built by GS-MR at our manufacturing site in Telford, UK.

Let’s stop saying we’ve always done it like this. The only avenue available now for the glass industry is to automate and it is long overdue.