Şişecam, a global actor in all main areas of glass industry as well as soda and chrome compounds, organized the 36th Şişecam Glass Symposium online. Şişecam Glass Symposium which was held with 608 participants attracted attention from students, academicians, industry professionals and scientists. The world's leading glass industry representatives and scientists discussed the future of the glass industry, sustainability, and new technologies during the symposium.
Şişecam Chairman, Prof. Dr. Ahmet Kırman, praised the proposal of the 2022 International Year of Glass which was formally approved by the United Nations in the opening speech he gave in the Symposium. “The history of glassmaking dates back more than 5000 years. Making glass has been one of the most important and impactful developments throughout recorded human history. Indeed, glass has proven to be one of the key enablers of modern human civilization. Our understanding of glass has grown exceptionally in the last two centuries followed by groundbreaking innovations. Advances in glass science and technology have served as essential ingredients for modern day society, including architecture, transportation, medicine, energy, communication, and display technology” Prof. Kırman said.
“Şişecam, the only global company with operations in all core areas of glass manufacturing, quickly transfers its R&D efforts into production with its highly qualified workforce. Şişecam’s culture of innovation, advanced production capabilities and expertise in corporate R&D dates back 50 years. We add value to life by introducing innovative solutions and practices to the market. Şişecam Science, Technology and Design Center is one of the world’s leading glass R&D centers” Prof. Kırman noted.
In his speech, Şişecam CEO Görkem Elverici addressed the effects of the pandemic and the role of glass in terms of R&D and sustainability. “As the COP26 drew our attention to the subject once again, we are facing the clear and present danger of climate crisis. However, with the advances in science and technology along with the emergence and maturation of digitalization, we are better equipped and more ready than ever to tackle the challenges we are facing and maintain sustainable and responsible growth as a global glass industry” Görkem Elverici said.
Stating that the glass is an integral part of renewable energy systems like solar cells or wind turbines, automotive and architectural glass with functional coatings to reduce the heating and cooling needs, resulting in significant energy savings. “As indispensable as it is in its conventional use, glass, embodying unmatched properties of transparency, formability, hardness, inertness, low cost and availability, is presenting itself as the key ingredient in a wide range of new and novel applications like in electronics, medicine, communications, and agriculture and it will continue to do so. Therefore, our message for today is Glass is Future.” Elverici said.
Şişecam Chief R&D and Quality Officer Dr. Reha Akçakaya drew attention to the fact that the glass industry, which provides long-term value with its constantly developing and expanding usage areas, promises endless potential in creating a sustainable future. “‘2022 International Year of Glass’ will be very important for all of us. Next year we have to work harder for increasing the awareness of glass.” Dr. Akçakaya said.
President of the International Commission on Glass (ICG) Prof. Alicia Duran was one of the keynote speakers of the event. Prof. Duran gave a speech about "The United Nations International Year of Glass-2022" at the plenary session of the event. As part of the symposium, 13 papers in 3 sessions were presented.