Glass Futures has launched an AI-powered digital twin of its pilot glass furnace at its St Helens centre, enabling manufacturers to virtually test process changes and promote decarbonisation efforts across the industry.
Glass Futures has brought an artificial-intelligence-driven digital twin of its pilot glass furnace into operation at its global centre of excellence in St Helens, creating a virtual environment in which manufacturers can test process changes before trying them on the real furnace.
The model combines live data from the physical furnace with simulated inputs and physics-based modelling, giving the system the ability to run more than 11,000 calculations at once and generate predictions about glass output. In practical terms, that allows industry to explore how changes in temperature, pressure, density and other variables might affect production, without the cost and risk of full-scale trials.
The AI-GLASS project has been developed over the past year with NVIDIA and the University of Liverpool’s Virtual Engineering Centre. The VEC, which specialises in digital testbeds and virtual prototyping for industry, has also created an immersive version of the furnace that can be viewed through VR headsets.
Glass Futures says the system is designed to help manufacturers experiment with lower-carbon options such as hydrogen and biofuels, as well as electric heating and bubbling techniques, while also improving efficiency and product quality. The organisation’s wider mission is to support decarbonisation, circularity and digital transformation across the glass sector and beyond.
Dr Jim Scotson, project lead for industrial digitalisation at Glass Futures, said the digital twin makes it possible to test ideas that would previously have been too difficult or expensive to attempt. He added that the team had to solve the challenge of translating visual signs from the furnace, such as flame shape, into data the computer could interpret, and that this process had sharpened its understanding of how digital tools can extend the life of existing industrial equipment.
Anthony Hills, director of UKI at NVIDIA, said the project demonstrated how advanced AI can improve understanding of complex industrial processes and help businesses move faster with greater confidence.
The collaboration sits within a £1.5 million Innovate UK-funded programme delivered through Make UK. Glass Futures now plans to work with members and partners in sectors including steel and ceramics, using the digital twin alongside the pilot line to support further trials and wider industrial digitalisation.
- https://glasstimes.co.uk/news/ai-driven-glass-furnace-driving-innovation/ – Please view link – unable to able to access data
- https://www.glassonweb.com/news/glass-futures-launches-ai-driven-digital-twin-reinvent-glass-manufacturing – Glass Futures has implemented an AI-driven ‘digital twin’ of its glass furnace at its global centre of excellence in St Helens. This digital twin combines real furnace data with simulated information and the laws of physics, enabling over 11,000 calculations to accurately predict glass output. The AI-GLASS project, in collaboration with NVIDIA and the University of Liverpool’s Virtual Engineering Centre, allows the industry to test changes in temperature, pressure, and density, providing accurate predictions of real furnace performance. This innovation facilitates experimentation with new fuels, electric heating, and other techniques to drive efficiency and decarbonisation in glass manufacturing.
- https://www.virtualengineeringcentre.com/ – The Virtual Engineering Centre (VEC) at the University of Liverpool offers innovative solutions for real-world industry problems by leveraging academic research and advanced technology. The VEC provides access to digital testbeds and high-performance computing, enabling the creation of virtual prototypes and the testing of products in a virtual environment. Their expertise supports various industries in improving quality, safety, and reducing costs and time to market. The VEC fosters collaboration to address common barriers through exploratory projects and harnesses specialist technologies and leading research to inform future government policy in applied digital technology.
- https://www.glass-futures.org/news/glass-futures-and-vec-partner-on-1-5m-ukri-funded-ai-glass-initiative-to-drive-process-optimisation-and-reduce-emissions/ – Glass Futures and the University of Liverpool’s VEC have launched AI Glass, a digital twin project designed to accelerate decarbonisation and drive innovation in the glass manufacturing industry. Funded by a £1.5 million UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) grant, the project aims to help industry partners improve efficiency and adopt new low-carbon fuels and materials. Located at Glass Futures’ Global Centre of Excellence in St Helens, the initiative integrates advanced physics modelling and artificial intelligence to create a virtual replica of the glass manufacturing process, facilitating sustainable technology development.
- https://www.glass-international.com/news/glass-futures-launches-ai-glass-project – Glass Futures has partnered with the University of Liverpool’s Virtual Engineering Centre (VEC) for an Artificial Intelligence (AI) project aimed at optimising glass production and reducing emissions. The ‘AI Glass’ initiative is part of a £1.5 million project funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). The collaboration seeks to accelerate decarbonisation efforts, improve efficiency, and enable the adoption of new low-carbon fuels and materials in the glass manufacturing industry. The project underscores the power of collaboration in addressing global challenges and advancing sustainable manufacturing practices.
- https://www.ametek-land.com/pressreleases/news/2026/june/imagepro-glass-ai – AMETEK Land has launched ImagePro Glass AI, an advanced image processing platform designed to bring intelligent, data-led monitoring to glass melt tanks. Purpose-built for the glass industry, ImagePro Glass AI integrates temperature measurement, batch coverage analysis, and flame monitoring within a single, unified environment. Supporting real-time analysis from up to 16 thermal imagers, the platform provides a continuous, comprehensive view of furnace conditions, enabling operators to respond quickly and maintain stable, optimised performance. The introduction of embedded artificial intelligence moves beyond conventional threshold-based monitoring to deliver a more robust and reliable approach to furnace control.
- https://www.glass-futures.org/ – Glass Futures is a global centre of excellence accelerating innovation across the glass and foundation industries. The organisation unites industry, academia, and government to turn bold ideas into scalable, sustainable solutions, driving decarbonisation, circularity, and digital transformation. Home to the world’s first multi-fuel hybrid pilot-scale glass furnace, Glass Futures enables real-world testing, training, and innovation at scale. They offer bespoke R&D, technical consultancy, and collaborative programmes, supporting global partners across the supply chain through a flexible membership model.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
8
Notes:
The article was published on 8 June 2026, which is the earliest known publication date for this specific content. However, similar information about the AI-GLASS project was reported in December 2025, indicating that the narrative has been in circulation for several months. ([glass-futures.org](https://www.glass-futures.org/news/glass-futures-and-vec-partner-on-1-5m-ukri-funded-ai-glass-initiative-to-drive-process-optimisation-and-reduce-emissions/?utm_source=openai)) The current article appears to be a republished version of earlier content, with updated figures and quotes. This raises concerns about the freshness and originality of the information presented. The presence of updated data alongside recycled material suggests a lack of new developments to warrant a new publication.
Quotes check
Score:
6
Notes:
The article includes direct quotes from Dr. Jim Scotson and Anthony Hills. These quotes were first reported in December 2025, indicating they have been reused in this publication. ([glass-futures.org](https://www.glass-futures.org/news/glass-futures-and-vec-partner-on-1-5m-ukri-funded-ai-glass-initiative-to-drive-process-optimisation-and-reduce-emissions/?utm_source=openai)) The wording of the quotes appears consistent across sources, suggesting no significant variations. However, the reuse of these quotes without new attribution or context raises questions about the originality and timeliness of the content.
Source reliability
Score:
7
Notes:
The article originates from Glass Futures, the organisation leading the AI-GLASS project. While Glass Futures is a reputable entity within the glass manufacturing industry, the self-reported nature of the content may introduce bias. The article appears to be a press release or promotional material, which typically warrants a lower reliability score due to potential conflicts of interest. The lack of independent verification from external sources further diminishes the overall reliability of the information presented.
Plausibility check
Score:
7
Notes:
The claims about the AI-GLASS project and its capabilities are plausible and align with known advancements in digital twin technology and AI applications in industrial settings. However, the absence of corroborating reports from independent news outlets or industry analysts raises concerns about the verifiability of these claims. The reliance on a single source for such significant information diminishes the overall credibility of the narrative.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): FAIL
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The article presents information about the AI-GLASS project, but the content appears to be a republished press release from December 2025, with updated figures and quotes. The reliance on a single, self-reported source without independent verification raises significant concerns about the freshness, originality, and reliability of the information. The lack of corroboration from external, independent sources further diminishes the credibility of the narrative. Given these issues, the content does not meet the necessary standards for factual reporting.
