Auto Windscreens celebrates a ‘glass’ act with its factory

Production has grown twenty-fold, staff numbers have increased ten-fold and windscreen sizes have doubled – just a few of the changes Auto Windscreens’ factory has seen in its 25 year history.

The factory, which was purpose-built in Chesterfield on the company’s head office site on Storforth Lane in 1983, is celebrating 25 years of windscreen manufacturing. It now employs 60 people and produces 250,000 windscreens a year for more than 860 models of vehicles.

Factory Development Manager Paul Lockwood, who celebrated 37 years of service with Auto Windscreens this year, oversaw the building of the factory. He remembers: “When the factory was built no-one had a clue about windscreen production. We had a day’s training in Sweden before we commenced production. However, by today’s standards, windscreen production in 1983 was very simplistic. Six people produced 15,000 windscreens a year and every one was cut by hand.”

The company celebrated its first year of operation by achieving the licence to use the Kitemark® symbol on the windscreens it produces. The Kitemark® is the world's premier symbol of trust, integrity and quality. Manufacturers having this associated with their product reassures customers that they have satisfied the most rigorous of quality processes.

Earlier this year Auto Windscreens’ factory was also commended in the World Class Manufacturing Award category in prestigious Manufacturer Awards.

Auto Windscreens remains the only automotive glazing services company in the UK to manufacture its own windscreens. Producing its own windscreens gives the company greater control of the supply chain and ensures it is less at risk from market forces.