MPG Site Visit in Christchurch
Had earlier this week as part of a NZSA organised site visit an opportunity to look at the Metro Glass Factory in Christchurch.
This is a quite impressive and representative glass building with a huge (and I mean huge) hall attached, containing their glass processing centre for the whole of the South Island. They don’t make the glass (NZ market too small), but buy the sheets from all over the world (depending on the required specifications) and cut them here to size and process as required.
Quite an impressive picture – with most of the glass processing fully automated. Interesting perspective in the factory with custom size cut glass sheets moving "magically" on large tables or (guided in tracks) along the walls to the next processing step and large glass sheets lifted by automated cranes across the hall.
Factory looked busy, but not hectic – most of the factory staff seemed to be employed to supervise and support the automated process steps. Imagine standing in a huge printer with paper from time to time jamming – and now replace the paper with glass sheets. You get the picture.
Ah yes, obviously they need as well people to load the trucks. This is a challenging and so far not automated task.
They make all sorts of windows including double glazing, printed glass (some of it looking quite arty), they harden glass and they process various glass for safety applications (showers, doors, but as well the thick safety glass used e.g. in banks or zoological parks). We have seen as well new interesting ideas like e.g. a kitchen with a glass front (my wife liked it …).
Some of the larger recent orders included the new Christchurch hospital.
Their advantage compared to oversees competition: They can deliver glass orders anywhere in the SI on any specification within one day (for processing) and one night (for delivery) given that they control as well the transport. This gives their customers a huge amount of flexibility. Try to order some glass in China and see how long it takes to arrive …
Form a visitor’s perspective a well managed factory and efficient staff. Obviously – we couldn’t check the order books or the profitability.