The All India Glass Manufacturers’ Federation (AIGMF) honoured industry members with awards recently.

Dr Manoj Choudhary, former President of the International Commission on Glass (ICG) received the prestigious annual CK Somany Award for Excellence at the AIGMF’s annual general meeting.

The Balkrishna Gupta Award for Exports was handed to Schott Poonawalla while the inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Mr Prem Malhotra of Glacera Engineers.

Dr Choudhary is a fellow of the American Ceramic Society and the Society of Glass Technology (SGT) and an Academician of the World Academy of Ceramics.

He holds a long list of leadership experience in the glass industry including being Chair of the North America Steering Committee for the United Nations International Year of Glass; as well as former President of the ICG.

Dr. Manoj K. Choudhary said: “I am honoured and most grateful. For me, it is a special feeling to be recognised in and by my country of birth.

“I left India 50 years ago. This has been a physical separation. My heart has always remained in India. I am profoundly grateful.”

Schott Poonawalla has three manufacturing units in Jambusar, Umarsadi and Baddi in India that produce products including bulk vials and ampoules, speciality vials and ampoules, siliconised vials and cartridges.

Schott Poonawalla has successfully captured market share across international markets to expand the company's reach generating a robust revenue from its export business in FY 2023-24.

AIGMF Secretary Vinit Kapur said the inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award was given to Mr Malhotra for his 53 years of service to the glass industry in India and overseas.

He has worked on more than 100 Indian glass projects across all glass segments as well as contributor to the AIGMF’s publication, Kanch.

“He has been instrumental in putting Indian glass technology on the world map with his innovative designs that has helped to lower the energy costs while also reducing capital expenses, hence improving the environment friendliness of the Indian Glass Industry,” said Mr Kapur.