Thank you to all our customers, suppliers and partners for your continued support in 2022 and we would like to wish everyone a happy, healthy and prosperous 2023.

As the year draws to a close we would like to take this opportunity to look back at the year and share some reflections and highlights.

Simon and Joanne Parkinson

After the pandemic years, this year we all experienced a return to some level of normality, albeit in a world of unsettling events.

2022 has been a busy year here at Parkinson Spencer Refractories and we have seen some important projects initiated, and others completed. After two years of a changed way of working with clients, partners and suppliers, we have once again been able to travel and meet people.

2022 has also been a big year for the glass industry; an industry in which PSR has played a key role for over 200 years. Promoted as the United Nations International Year of Glass, 2022, it has been fantastic to see IYoG2022 celebrate glass in recognition of the essential role it has played in the development of our world, the society in which we live and our communities.

Here PSR reviews some of the highlights from the past 12 months.

The PSR team at Glasstec in September.

For the first time after a four year break, the PSR team were happy to exhibit at Glasstec in Düsseldorf in September.

We were delighted to meet up with prospective and existing clients, partners and friends at this event, where we promoted our technical expertise with a working demonstration of a colourant forehearth section which attracted a lot of interest. With this unique addition to our stand, we were able to demonstrate how customers can add value and flexibility to their production by offering glass products in a spectrum of colours. To read more about the exhibition > click here.

Innovating designs for Glass Futures.

2022 has seen the launch of our collaboration with colleagues at Glass Futures to design flexible and innovative forehearths at the Global Centre of Excellence for Glass. This is the Glass Futures pilot plant under construction in the historic glassmaking town of St Helens.

Having served the glass industry for over 200 years, we have seen periodic transformations within the sector as processes, materials and products have changed beyond recognition. We recognise the importance of staying at the forefront of technical advancements and looking to the future of glassmaking and this is a great project to be involved in. To read more about this project >> Click here.

Low carbon refractories for the future.

This year we have also successfully attracted funding from the UK Government’s ‘Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund’ (ISCF) to support a project which will focus on looking to develop low carbon refractories for the future.

Current refractory manufacturing methods include long firing cycles, where substantial energy savings and corresponding reduction in CO2 emissions could be achieved by reducing the lengths and/or temperatures of firing cycles.

In collaboration with Sheffield Hallam University and the British Ceramic Confederation (BCC), we aim to find a cost-effective solution to reduce energy consumption in the refractory manufacturing process. To read more about this project >> Click here.

Battery Energy Storage System on PSR site.

We are 100% committed to operating a sustainable business. As a large consumer of energy, we know that the choices we make today matter for the future. We have already invested in on-site wind generation and our latest investment in 2022 saw the introduction of a Battery Energy Storage System with microgrid technology to make best use of our renewable electricity resources.

Any interruption to the firing of our refractory products can cause damage and delays to our manufacturing schedules, which is a business critical issue. A continuous supply of gas and electricity is essential for our business to run smoothly, and the 250kW/250kWh system, installed by Powerstar offers us security around our electrical energy supply. It can power up our site for up to two hours, which will cover the majority of electricity supply outages and is a timely solution given the threat of blackouts in the UK. To read more about this story >> Click here.