Extra names from the glass manufacturing industry have been confirmed to speak at the Glassman USA conference.

Topics to be discussed include decarbonisation and sustainable production of glass as well as the potential use of hydrogen in the glass manufacturing process.

The US-based Glass Packaging Institute (GPI) will provide a market update and policy highlights.

Speaker Bryan Vickers provide the latest data and trends across the glass container food and beverage markets, along with advocacy efforts the industry has undertaken to improve policy for glass container manufacturers, their supply chain partners and brands.

Bruno Malphettes, Business Developer for Solar Glass Projects at Fives, will highlight that Solar photovoltaic (PV) has become a significant share of electricity generation in several parts of the world and the domestic manufacturing of PV modules continues to grow.

Currently each PV panel holds 90% of its weight in glass and 99% of this glass is made in China, so the next step for glassmakers is to produce PV glass close to end markets.

The paper will address the challenges for glassmakers to address this market: how to deal with glass quality, melting, conditioning, rolling and annealing processes and gain a competitive edge against imported glass and how to deal with environmental impact.

Toby Tiktinsky, SVP, of Business Development at Convergent Energy and Power will discuss How the Glass Industry can Mitigate Rising Energy Prices with Battery Storage.

On average, 14% of the cost of glass manufacturing comes from energy alone, a percentage exposed to the volatility of energy pricing that most recently has been impacted by geopolitical events.

On-site renewable energy can play a key role in insulating the glass industry against rising and volatile energy costs.

This session by Convergent Energy and Power will cover how on-site renewables, particularly battery energy storage systems, are an effective, hassle-free way to lower facilities’ energy bills and carbon footprints at the same time—a solution already deployed by NSG’s Pilkington Plant.

Stephen Harris, Head of Global Business Segment, Glass, at Fuchs will talk about Mineral oils versus Synthetics – The correct choice for your IS Machine.

The harsh environment of an IS Machine makes the choice of central lubrication extremely critical for glass container manufacturers.

As a leading supplier of Synthetic machine oils to many container plants and large groups in the industry, Fuchs has many years experience in the development, formulation and application of these products when compared to mineral oil-based products and other synthetics in the market.

Fuchs would like to take the opportunity to share some of this experience with you and help to support and resolve any issue you may have.

Other confirmed speakers so far are Pneumofore, BDF Industries, Horn Glass Industries, Linde and Novohydrogen.

The Glassman USA trade show and conference takes pace June 6 and 7 in Cleveland.