Goodbye Pilkington, and Hello Viridian

Australian glass manufacturer has changed its name from Pilkington to Viridian to symbolise the final step in its amalgamation with DMS Glass.

Resources giant CSR Limited acquired both companies last year making it the owner of one of the biggest glass companies in Australia.

The Viridian company employs a whopping 2200 people across Australia and New Zealand and has three manufacturing facilities in Australia, including one in Dandenong.

The Dandenong site is now undergoing an upgrade of its facilities to see its capacity increased for the next financial year.

The new company last week caught the attention of Victorian Premier John Brumby, who heaped praise on the new company and CSR's investment.

‘The merging of two strong Victorian companies, that have long been leaders in the glass industry, to form Viridian will create a new powerhouse in the glass industry, not just in Australia but internationally,’ Mr Brumby said.

‘The Victorian Government has worked closely with Pilkington, supporting its recent commitment of a $133 million Dandenong plant upgrade, which includes state-of-the-art production technology for new, environmentally efficient glass products.

‘Pilkington is Australia's leading supplier of architectural and automotive glass and was the first Victorian manufacturer to enter into a 'Sustainability Covenant' with the EPA Victoria and the Australian Industry Group, while DMS has enjoyed rapid growth in recent years through its strong distribution networks.

‘This is good news for Victoria, which is home to Australia's automotive industry and the national leader in new construction growth.’

The new company will take a green approach to glass manufacturing in a bid to turn the tide in the Australian glass manufacturing industry.

Viridian executive general manager John Hodgkinson described it as a 'very exciting time for both Viridian and CSR'.

‘The launch of the new brand provides us with an opportunity to take a fresh approach to glass and the market we are in,’ he said.

‘Viridian holds a prominent position in the industry and we will be looking to use this to facilitate transformation in the glass and glazing industries, particularly in the area of energy efficiency.

‘Energy-efficient glazing is the indisputable next step, after insulation, towards reducing energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions in dwellings and workplaces. In Australia, less than 10 per cent of dwellings make use of energy-efficient glass, compared with about 90 per cent in the US.

‘We have a long way to go.’