Consumers will now have the privilege of using locally manufactured world-class glass at much less prices than the imports cost them, reports UNB.

Float glasses of 2-12mm thickness used for optical lenses to home interiors, including doors and mirrors, are now available on the local market at 30 per cent less costs than the imported ones, manufacturers claimed.

Chittagong-based PHP Float Glass Industries Ltd., the newly established glass-manufacturing company, first of its kind in the country, made this happen by undertaking a high-tech project of Tk 300 crore.

The 12mm glass is the latest add-on to the product range since the company went into production on June 23 this year in its factory set up beside Dhaka-Chittagong highway.

A spot visit to the industry at Barabkunda in Sitakund Upazila, 35 kilometers off Chittagong City, Thursday-Friday suggested that the quality of products would be similar to the imported items.

But, PHP Group managing director Mohammed Mohsin Chowdhury claimed even better quality of few of their brands, particularly the 12mm glasses.

The new import-substitute industry is expected to meet the country’s annual float-glass demand equivalent to Tk 300 crore through producing 54,000 tonnes of glass products out of the total demand for 60,000 tonnes, he apprised a group of newsmen.

Another 100 per cent export-oriented glass-manufacturing company, Nasir Glass Industries Limited (NGIL), with a huge amount of investment is also in the offing, industry sources told UNB.

The quality of the PHP float glasses has already earned the confidence of local buyers, and the company is now eyeing the export of its products, “inspired by the acceptance of the local buyers”, Mohsin said.

They are in the process of exporting their products to Sri Lanka, although they would require another year to meet the local demand completely. The company has also plans to manufacture tinted and colour glasses.

PHP struck a deal on August 13 with Mishmak Developer (Pvt) Limited under which the property developer sill exclusively use PHP glass in their different projects—a reflection of growing demand for locally manufactured glass.

General Manager of PHP Glass Shamsul Alam said local raw materials include silica sand and natural gas, which constitute 75 per cent of the production inputs. The rest 25 per cent, mainly the chemicals, are imported.

The glass-production facilities were set up with European technology and Chinese machinery, employing around 250 people.