Clearview National December 2015 - Issue 169 | Page 15

INDUSTRYNEWS

350 Years for
Industry Giant
»»Saint-Gobain recently
celebrated a remarkable milestone of 350 years
in business – taking the opportunity to remind
everyone of the strength that is acquired
through 350 years of history and ongoing
innovation.
Saint-Gobain’s global strategy is focused
around meeting some of the fundamental
challenges faced by the world today: reducing
energy consumption, limiting our impact
on the environment, and creating a new
generation of buildings which are safe,
comfortable and energy efficient.
Steve Severs, Managing Director, SaintGobain Glass Industry commented: “SaintGobain has evolved and adapted across
business types and territories to maintain
growth and success in its 350 years. Even in the
short history of Eggborough we have changed,
adapted and updated our own business model
to prosper.
“Thus the 350 celebration represents
international recognition of the local and
corporate capability to innovate, to work
through people and to re-develop our
businesses so that we face the future from a
position of strength and can be truly classed as
sustainable.”
Between 14-17 October, Saint-Gobain Glass
hosted a series of events to celebrate the 350
years landmark. The first event was a customer
celebration on site at Eggborough which
entertained a room full of customers and
focused on the challenges faced by businesses
in the future with guest speaker James Stacey,
from the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability
Leadership and Richard Batley, Director of HR
& CSR at Saint-Gobain UK & Ireland.
The day also included opportunities to
network, a site tour and a charity auction
– which raised over £3,000 for MacMillan
Cancer Support

The second event was devoted to
recognising the contribution that employees
had made, with speeches and plenty of fun
activities for everyone to try - including a giant
Scalextric, segways, archery, and a climbing
wall.
The third day was spent with pupils
from three local schools who were inspired
by a series of activities, including a poster
competition, watching a demonstration of
glass being blown and an insight into life
working as a macon around the furnace.
The final day was devoted to the often
unsung heroes – friends and family – with
nearly 400 people attending to experience
the Eggborough plant in operation and take
part in a fun day of activities which included
shooting, adventure playgrounds and mobile
zoo.
Saint-Gobain Glass and Glassolutions (also
part of the Saint-Gobain Group) held a joint
party at the historic Tower Bridge in London.
Around 150 guests from the architectural
and insurance markets, as well as key glass
customers and stakeholders, including
Peter Hindle MBE enjoyed an evening’s
entertainment. Simon Carin, MD of Building
Glass UK and Ireland, hosted the evening and
introduced the guest of honour, historian and
TV presenter, Dan Cruickshank.
The celebrations included a specially
designed 350th anniversary cocktail named
Pont de Verre, and a ‘selfie station’ that
encouraged guests to take photos of themselves
on the newly installed glass floor walkways
at Tower Bridge, and share them on social
media. The venue holds special significance for
Saint-Gobain because Glassolutions designed
and installed the two glass floor walkways last
year, to create unique views of the bridge and
river below, and to enhance the appeal of the
historic, Grade I listed visitor attraction.

The events in the glass division complimented
a number Saint-Gobain events held around the
globe during 2015. These included exhibitions
in Shanghai, Sao Paulo, Philadelphia and Paris
in addition to an online exhibition, the creation
of an online game “World 350”. In the UK,
a charity bike ride was also held earlier in the
year with riders cycling from London to the
Saint-Gobain Archives in Blois which raised over
£120,000 for