Glass Industry in Firozabad

Firozabad city is also called as the Glass City of India or the city of bangles. The city produces multi-range of glass products and related products on varied designs and styles to decorate the home and ornament collection. The city is one of the leading manufacturers and exporters of glass; nearly 50% of the glass production is exported.

The glass manufacturing industries comprises of major industries, small scale industries and Gail units. Various glass products manufactured by these industries were bangles, kada, kangans, jars, glasses, candle stands, flower vases, decorative lights and many more. Glass art wares and glass domestic wares are the types of glass products manufactured in Firozabad glass industries. The present industries use natural gas as fuel. The glass blowing is done through pot furnace and glass modelling is done through regenerative tank furnace.

History of Glass in Firozabad

In ancient period the invaders got glass products to India. When these glass products got worn out the particles were collected and stored in a furnace known as “Bhainsa Bhatti” in Firozabad. This incident lit the start of glass industries in the city. Using wood as fuel the glass particles were melted inside the furnace. This age old methodology of glass melting is still followed in some regions of Firozabad. From the metal glass new glass bangles were produced, at a time only one bangle can be produced which has no joints; these joint-free bangles are called as “Kadechhal Ki Chuddi”. White and coloured glass products were manufactured by these industries to decorate the assembly and drawing rooms of the royal courts. Slowly other glass products were manufactured in these industries which become much popular in Indian markets and marriages.

Centre for Development of Glass Industry in Firozabad

The centre for the development of glass industry - CDGI was set up in Firozabad in 1992 by the Government of India. This project is a joint venture in collaboration with the Indian government, the state government of Uttar Pradesh and the United Nations Development Program which is also termed as the United Nations industries development organisation. The project was setup in Firozabad since glass manufacturing is the major form of industrial occupation in the city as it runs nearly 500 units of small scale industries on glass manufacturing only.

The small scale glass manufacturing units in Firozabad alone contributes about 70% of glass production in its sector in India providing employment for more than 150,000 people from and around the city. The project CDGI primarily aims on providing the required technical and developmental facilities to the small scale glass manufacturing sector in the city. The services include laboratory services, pollution control division, combustion engineering, product & technology development unit, pot development unit, consultancy & trouble shooting services, design & decoration units and the training centre.

The entire CDGI project works on the strategy put forth by the Ministry of micro small and medium enterprise. The main focus the project is to create employment chances, skill improvisation, proper deployment of energy & resources, formulation & introduction of new methodologies and environment protection.