Ashoka Rao Manikala, Former President of Operations at PGP Glass and AGI Greenpac, has written a container glass manufacturing guide.

The book, titled ‘Excellence in Container Glass Manufacturing’, was written in collaboration with the All India Glass Manufacturers' Federation (AIGMF).

The guide intends to enhance the understanding of those working in the glass industry, including professionals, suppliers, service providers, and customers, as well as students and researchers pursuing studies in glass manufacturing.

It covers aspects such as container glass manufacturing processes, furnace design and operations, and energy conservation techniques.

Mr Rao Manikala said: "When I first entered the glass industry, I realised how difficult it was to understand the intricacies of container glass manufacturing.

"To my surprise, there wasn’t a single comprehensive book available that could guide beginners or serve as a reference for professionals.

"Over the years, I developed an interest in mentoring and sharing knowledge to make that learning process easier for others.

"Writing this book felt like the most effective way to do that. It allowed me to bring together the insights and experiences I’ve gained throughout my career into one accessible resource.

"My aspiration to teach, empower others, and bridge the knowledge gap in the industry is what truly motivated me to write this book."

He said the idea for the book started to take shape in 2005, when he was developing training materials for his staff.

Over time, he accumulated a wealth of teaching material, which became the foundation.

"My training experiences also provided me with valuable insights and perspectives," he said.

These included AGR in the USA, Wiegand Glass in Germany, Bucher Emhart Glass in Malaysia, OMCO in Croatia, AOTS in Japan, Fichtner in Germany, and Glass Service in the Czech Republic.

With all of this knowledge, he began drafting the book in October 2024 and took about nine months to complete it.

Career

Mr Rao Manikala graduated in mechanical engineering in 1984 and spent 11 years working in a chlor-alkali (caustic soda) plant in India before moving into the glass industry in 1995.

He worked as Chief Engineer at JG Containers in Malaysia, where he was later promoted to Technical Head.

In 2007, he joined AGI Glaspac as Vice President of Operations, where he led the setup of India’s largest 500 tpd greenfield container glass manufacturing facility.

Following its success, he was promoted to Senior Vice President and entrusted with establishing another furnace of the same capacity at the same location.

By 2014, he had assumed responsibility for operations across all of AGI’s glass manufacturing units.

In 2015, he joined Piramal Glass (now PGP Glass) in Jambusar, Gujarat, as President of Operations, which housed three furnaces with a combined capacity of 540 tpd.

After exiting from PGP in 2022, he continued contributing to the industry as President of Operations for AGI’s speciality glass division for two years before retiring in July 2024.

"Throughout my career, I was fortunate to attend enriching training programmes, collaborate with leading international suppliers and clients, and learn from many influential people in the glass industry," he said.

"As part of my journey, I was also able to travel extensively and experience diverse work cultures, which led to my professional and personal growth."

For more information on the book, please visit: https://aigmf.com/excellence-container-glass

To purchase a copy, please send your request to: [email protected]