Glass Futures has appointed former Chief Executive of Siemens UK Juergen Maier CBE as an advisor to the Board.

Mr Maier has joined to champion manufacturing, improving infrastructure and engineering skills and is said to be 'enthusiastic about the benefit of Industrial Digitalisation to encourage advanced manufacturing and investment in digital technologies'.

Alongside his role with Glass Futures, Mr Maier is also Chair of the Digital Catapult and Co-Chair of the UK’s Made Smarter programme.

He said: “Having been partially instrumental in the creation of Glass Futures a few years ago, I was delighted to be asked to become involved with Glass Futures to encourage their members’ to introduce new digital manufacturing technique, increasing production efficiencies and yields.”

Glass Futures’ Chief Executive, Richard Katz added: “I’m delighted Juergen has agreed to join Glass Futures as an Advisor to the Board.

“This is a further indication of Glass Futures’ acceptance as a growing major industrial innovator and thought leader, as demonstrated a few months ago with the incredibly successful biofuel trial reducing the carbon footprint of some 3 million beer and spirits bottles by some 90%.

“Juergen joining us also provides a tremendous opportunity for Glass Futures’ members to benefit from his vast experience on the delivery of innovation and technology across the glass and other foundation industries.”