Experienced operator assembles his wish list for processing jam glass: a big start-up

Major investment in glass processing has petered out since the flourish of 2002. The amendment to Building Regulations Document L in that year signalled the widespread use of Pilkington K and equivalent glasses in domestic insulating glass. Higher performance is still not mandatory, and volumes and margins in the glass trade remain depressed. So why invest?

Well somebody has. JAM Glass is a major new merchant and processor in Dunstable, Bedfordshire, offering cut sizes in float, coated and laminated glasses, including fire resistant glass. Operating from JAM House, a 34,000 sq ft unit with nine metre ceilings on a freehold site close to the M1 and M25 motorways, the company is expecting to score major efficiencies with its high-tech cutting operation. A Hegla TwinCut jumbo cutting table with Remaster sub-plate re-use system is already operational, along with robotic cranage and handling equipment.

Hegla’s TwinCut and Remaster systems are expected to deliver significant efficiencies. The ability to cut from jumbo 6 x 3 metre sheets and save up to 25 offcuts horizontally above the cutting table for future use brings a higher level of optimisation to this stage of processing. This will have a big impact on profitability, particularly when processing expensive thick and coated glasses. The laminated bridge can cut glass up to 4.6m in length and has high speed cutting, separation and automatic plate turning. Clear Thinking optimisation software can check the Remaster at any time to see which sizes and substances are available and make these the priority for the next optimisation run. The software will barcode every piece of glass and will rack glass together that will go to the same workstation (e.g. for drilling or polishing).

PAL Glass Machinery Ltd has installed two machines at JAM House: An Adelio Lattuada TLR11AVC variable mitre straight line polishing machine, for highly polished glass ranging from 3mm to 35mm thick; and a Lattuada Delta M4 Cerio radius corner machine to produce radius corners ranging from 5mm to 150mm in one pass in approximately 20 seconds per corner. Other processing machinery includes a Bohle drilling machine and a sandblast booth.

Chand Modha, founder and Chairman, is confident that there is room in the market for JAM Glass. ‘Service and quality is very important to us.’ he says. ‘In business, if you look after your customers you can make a market.’

The company takes its name from the initials of Chand's father. Other members of the management team include Neil Modha, Chand’s son, and another relative, Jitu Thanky, who will develop efficient practices thanks to his experience in the automotive industry. JAM Glass is already operational and delivering cut sizes to customers but there will eventually be up to 50 staff, most being delivery drivers. The company will operate a profitshare scheme.

Glass for balustrading, flooring and partitioning applications will be a major area for JAM, which will be processing glasses up to 25mm thick. Other good areas for JAM’s cutting and handling efficiencies are clear low iron and low-e glasses for energy rated windows, and conservatory roof glass in cut shapes. It’s here that the patented Remaster process really comes into its own, storing offcuts until they can be used again. For the kitchen and bathroom market, JAM Glass will also be using a new colouring process for splashbacks. ‘It’s something quite different to paint’, says Chand. The company has accounts with all major glass manufacturers, including fire resistant specialist CGI.

Chand Modha is confident that JAM Glass will have the flexibility to cut and deliver glass at short notice for shopfitting. Here he draws a parallel with restaurants: ‘If the wait is too long, the customer will go somewhere else’. Overall, he is excited about building the customer base for this new business, where he has assembled his ‘wish list’ of fellow directors, equipment and facilities, in an ideal location. ‘We have the opportunity to start off with new thinking and carry it forward’, he concludes. Look out for JAM Glass.