SLI Glass could be saved from administration by an entrepreneur who says he will keep all 165 employees on and plans to recruit up to 600 more staff over the next five years. Howard Denby, who runs Glaztek, is hopeful he can complete a deal with administrators to acquire SLI Glass. Mr Denby has been looking for a manufacturing plant for Glaztek to develop a series of glass-based products for the construction industry including marble-effect glass floor tiles. SLI, who make glass light bulbs and fluorescent tube casings, was put into administration in January with spiralling gas costs and the loss of a major client blamed. Deloitte were appointed administrators and have been working to find a buyer for the operation. Mr Denby said:"Glaztek was formulated specifically to make special glass products for the construction industries. We have been looking for a suitable site for considerable time. The SLI site at Doncaster fits all our requirements, as does the benefit of a ready trained workforce. When the deal is completed, we will continue with the manufacturing of the glass tubing for the specialists markets and continue to trade in that sector & as time proceeds will introduce our own specialist producers which will work in tandem from the same site and for which we already have orders plus a great deal of interest in both public and private sectors."
