By CASEY NEILL
DANDENONG’S Viridian Glass and BOC have signed up to extend their relationship to half a century.
In recent weeks the glass manufacturer and gas and engineering company agreed to a new 10-year supply contract that will secure Viridian’s ongoing compressed air, hydrogen and nitrogen gas needs.
Viridian Glass, a division of CSR Building Products, is the only float glass manufacturing facility in Australia.
It makes glass sheets by floating molten glass on a bed of molten metal, creating a uniform thickness and flat surface.
BOC’s nitrogen generator plant in Dandenong is connected to Viridian’s site through a pipeline that under the new agreement has received a 20 per cent capacity upgrade.
BOC tonnage account manager Hugh Jones said this was to support Viridian’s growing production needs and keep it competitive in the global glass manufacturing market.
“BOC and Viridian have worked together in Dandenong for more than 40 years, serving the production demands of the float glass industry in Australia since 1974,” he said.
“This new agreement strengthens our partnership and shows the confidence that both our companies have in the local manufacture of float glass, which relies heavily on the reliable supply of nitrogen gas.”
Viridian supply chain general manager Warren Seal said securing long-term supply agreements for its hydrogen and nitrogen gas requirements was critical for Viridian to meet growing demand from the construction market.
“Securing long-term supply arrangements is a key step to improve the efficiency and productivity of our Dandenong facility,” he said.
“This is a world-class site providing enhanced customer service through specialised architectural glass products, shorter lead times relative to imports, and extensive product warranties which it can support as the only float glass manufacturer in the region.”
