UK Glass Shortages
Regency Glass came back to production early May, with most staff being back from furlough by mid June. Like most businesses, this was a structured return to work as demand began to grow.
The UK is served by 3 float glass manufacturers – Saint Gobain (Regency supplier), Guardian and Pilkington. Each have had to slow production volumes since the end of March lock down and bringing these giant production plants back to full volume is not a flick of a switch! This has lead to the current glass shortages being experienced in the glass market today. These low initial production volumes, back log of orders and continued increasing demand across the industry creates a ‘perfect storm’, resulting in glass processors and IGU manufacturers being on reduced allocation.
Regency has benefited from our investment in stock and production planning, to keep most product lines at usual lead times. More recently we have extended laminated products by 3-days and standard units by 1-day. This is helping us to manage volumes and order in further stocks from non-core suppliers.
Whilst this is a difficult supply chain, we are doing all we can to keep things as normal as possible. Customer help with GGF visual guide implementation will reduce waste glass for minor faults. Keeping to normal batch lead times also reduces waste as optimization of glass sheets is better than low volume quick remedial units.
With good communication and cooperation, we will continue to keep glass supply at near normal levels and work through this difficult period.
Many thanks and stay safe.
Regency Glass Team.
