Having enjoyed unanimous success in Lyon, France at its most recent edition, Glassman Europe is set to return on 25th - 26th May 2011 - this time visiting the city of Barcelona in Spain.
The must-attend event for glass manufacturers worldwide consists of a two-day exhibition, featuring suppliers of equipment and services to the primary glassmaking industry, accompanied by a specialist conference.
Regional renaissance
Spain is Europe's fourth largest glass producer and the industry has been enjoying a renaissance in recent years. The continent's increasing emphasis on recycling has added to the surge in the popularity of glass as a packaging material.
Along with this positive market growth, the strong reputation of Glassman events makes Barcelona an ideal location for its next instalment.
The size and success of Spain's glass industry is illustrated by the presence of numerous manufacturers throughout the country. Saint-Gobain, for instance, operates many subsidiaries in the country for the production of flat glass, including La Veneciana Crisa-Norte in Madrid and La Veneciana Levante de Saint-Gobain in Valencia.
Worldwide container glassmaker Owens-Illinois (O-I) has a plant located in Barcelona, as does renowned glass packaging producer Vidrala, as well as its Alava and Albacete facilities. Indeed, most of the major players in both container and float glass manufacture have strategically positioned production sites in Spain in order to gain access to this important market.
Uniting businesses
Glassman events provide an important platform for both local and international glass manufacturers to view the latest equipment and machinery for every aspect of primary production, from the batch house to the warehouse, as well as to discuss ideas and innovations with exhibitors.
Already, a number of renowned international suppliers have signed up to exhibit their latest product developments to the industry in Barcelona, including FIC (UK), Giancarlo Perego of Italy, Ramsey Products Corp of the USA and UK-based Parkinson-Spencer Refractories, to name a few. Glassman organiser Quartz Business Media has received much interest from exhibitors wishing to secure their presence at this established exhibition which, in line with tradition, will be accompanied by a technical conference. As has been the case with previous Glassman events, the specialist conference complements proceedings and attracts added interest from visitors by securing contributions from experienced industry figures. See issues of Glass International throughout 2010 for updates as the programme is finalised.
See the city
Not only does Barcelona provide the ideal setting for the next edition of Glassman Europe, it is also recognised as a popular city break destination. As the second largest city in Spain in size and population, there is plenty to see and do for those Glassman visitors and exhibitors wishing to capitalise on their trip.
Renowned for culture and the arts as well as its rich history, Barcelona is well worth seeing for its parks, museums, theatres and beaches.
Further information
Those interested in reserving a stand for Glassman Europe 2011 in Barcelona should contact Ken Clark: Email kenclark@quartzltd.co.uk or telephone +44 1737 855 117. For general information on the event, look out for updates at www.glassmaneurope.com and in Glass International.
