Brighter Shop Shelves

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31087, 16 June 1966, Page 12

Brighter Shop Shelves

The cosmetic counters and shop shelves of New Zealand would soon look brighter and more attractive because of an entirely new type of glass, said the manager of the Sydney technical centre of Australian Consolidated Industries, Ltd. (Dr. A. Draycott), in an interview in Christchurch.

The latest research from the centre, with a staff of 170, had evolved a technique for spraying virtually any colour on to glass. Within six months a range of coloured small containers, using this process, would be

available to the cosmetics industry. The new glass would also be used for vases and other articles. It would be used in great quantity in specialty lines where premium packaging was required, said Dr. Draycott. The process was distinct from ceramic treatment, he said. It was a more economic approach to glass decoration. The colour was sprayed on and later temperature-packed. Dr. Draycott, who is in charge of more than 50 university graduates at the group’s Sydney research centre, is visiting all of A.C.l.’s plants in New Zealand, including the Christchurch, Wellington and Auckland centres, to assist and advise on the latest technological advances. As a result of Dr. Draycott’s visit, A.C.l.’s plant at 1 Hornby will manufacture three new products within the next 12 months.

They are the new type of coloured bottles, opal containers for cosmetics and pharmaceutical packs that previously had to be imported, and new types of glassware for light fittings. Dr. Draycott said that other developments were expected soon that would strengthen all types of glass containers, including beer bottles and milk bottles.

The group's scientists in Sydney were doing continuous

research in glass manufacture, new glass products, metallurgy, paper and packaging, plastics and refractories, he said.

The equipment includes a big spectograph, which can make an analysis of glass or other material in less than two minutes. This is a task which would normally occupy a chemist for two days. Dr. Draycott said that as an example of what the group’s research centre meant to New Zealand, in economics, a type of heat resistant ovenware developed at the centre and now produced at Hornby, would save New Zealand £lOO,OOO in the next 12 to 18 months. Two of the group's staff in Sydney will visit Christchurch I within the next three months Jto assist. ! “The new coloured glass containers will be produced in I Christchurch within six months of their first intro- | duction in Australia." ; The regional manager of A.C.I. (Mr J. K. Dobson) said that in a general expansion and diversification programme the Christchurch plant would manufacture new ranges of products each year. The photograph shows Mr Draycott inspecting a gravity test with Mr F. Schuitman. head chemist at the Crown Crystal Glass Company.