4 Dec 2009

Booming 'green' glass firm opens high-tech plant

6:26 am on 4 December 2009

The energy-efficient glass manufacturer Viridian Glass says its new $18m factory in Auckland is just the beginning, as it struggles to keep up with the demand for green building supplies.

The company's new, fully automated factory - officially opened on Thursday - is the most high-tech of its kind in the world. It produces a sheet of finished glass in 30 seconds, compared with up to an hour using manual methods.

Alan Westwood, the general manager of Viridian's operations in New Zealand, says energy-efficient legislation in the building sector is driving demand.

Mr Westwood says the construction of a Wellington factory will start next year.

Viridian is owned by Australian-based manufacturing group CSR.