Glass beer bottle assembly line. Credit: EPA; Wikipedia.

About three weeks ago, I reported that a formal organization, called Usable Glass Strength Coalition, had finally been launched after years of behind-the-scenes work. The USGS exists to fund and support fundamental research in glass strength.

Just yesterday I learned that the UGSC will be holding its inaugural board of directors meeting Jan. 17–18, 2013, in the offices of The American Ceramic Society. (I should note that the venue is logical because ACerS’ suite of offices also houses the operations of the Glass Manufacturing Industry Council, which has been carefully coaxing the birth of the coalition.)

A really impressive group of participants are expected to be in attendance, including representatives from Alfred University, Johns Manville, Owens-Brockway Glass Containers Inc. (a wholly owned subsidiary of Owens-Illinois), Owens Corning Science & Technology LLC, Saint-Gobain Containers Inc. (a subsidiary of subsidiary of Compagnie de Saint-Gobain), Diageo Plc., AB/InBev, The Coca-Cola Co., and U.S. Borax Inc. (a wholly owned subsidiary of Rio Tinto Plc.), besides GMIC.

Robert Lipetz, GMIC’s executive director, tells me that the coalition is still soliciting additional companies and institutions to participate in the group, and suggests that this first meeting would be a good opportunity to attend and talk with USGC members.

Interested? If so, contact Lipetz via email or other routes listed on GMIC’s “Contact Us” webpage.

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