When Andrew Taylor founded Specialist Glass Products together with Jonathan in 2003, the starting point was anything but comfortable. No existing factory, no finished machinery – just a wealth of experience in bending and laminating glass and the will to consistently seize opportunities. "We started from scratch – new hall, new furnace, new customers," recalls Andrew. "We were fortunate that the industry was steadily shifting from float glass to toughened laminated glass. We already had the know-how and the technology."
From over 6,000 curved laminated glass panes for the Royal Botanic Garden in Edinburgh to all the laminated glass signs on London's Elizabeth Line to a project that has made SGP visible worldwide: eight high-precision curved Optiwhite glass panes for the famous Top of the Rock at Rockefeller Center in New York. At a height of over 260 metres, they now frame the Manhattan skyline – manufactured in Yorkshire. "Seeing our glass on one of the world's most famous viewing platforms makes the whole team proud," says Taylor.
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The need for reliable jumbo processing
However, with increasing demand for large-format and complex glass panes, SGP reached its limits: the previous vertical CNC machine could only process up to 2.6 metres – and was also prone to malfunction.
Phil Birchhall, systron's long-standing sales partner in the UK, was also closely involved in the decision-making process: "SGP operates at a consistently high level. Businesses like these need machines that deliver reliably every day."
After intensive research and several reference visits, the choice finally fell on the systron 6033proHD all-in-one machining centre – a vertical solution that combines large formats, waterjet cutting and all central machining steps in a continuous process. "We wanted honest feedback from the operators, not just brochures," emphasises Andrew. "What convinced us about systron was that the systems were still running smoothly after years of use – and that we were getting a proven solution rather than an experimental configuration."
How the proHD transformed the workflow
Instead of distributing several work steps across different machines – edge processing, washing, cutting, drilling and rehandling – the proHD handles the entire machining process in a continuous production flow.
The advantages for SGP are noticeable:
• 20–25% higher performance for shaped glass
• Significantly less handling and rework
• Homogeneous, high-quality edges even with coated and laminated glass
• No set-up times between different types of glass
• A tidier material flow with fewer intermediate buffers
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Since its commissioning in February 2025, the systron 6033proHD has been running at SGP in two shifts from around 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. "Start-up and clean-down each take around 30 minutes, but the bottom line is that we have gained massively in productivity. Even though the movement appears slower than with a horizontal CNC, the glass runs through the continuous process much faster."
Water cushion and water jet
Andrew Taylor rates the quality of coated and laminated glass particularly highly. The water cushion technology is a real advantage. "The glass pane is guided without mechanical support, which minimises the risk of scratches – especially with high-quality coatings," he explains. The system also ensures consistent edge quality for slightly curved laminated glass.
The integrated water jet has also become a key tool for SGP for cut-outs, special shapes and precise radii. "A large part of our production consists of non-rectangular parts,’ explains Taylor. ‘The water jet is ideal for this because there is no set-up time between shapes. You can switch directly from a circle to a triangle or to a completely free contour."
The process is also faster: "Radii can often be cut actually faster than rectangular corners," says Taylor. The water jet is used for a wide range of applications – from architectural cut-outs and kitchen splashbacks to socket and switch openings.
Reliability that ensures delivery times
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The well-designed machine construction with good accessibility, clear fault diagnosis and reliable remote support makes everyday work noticeably easier. ‘We haven't had any serious breakdowns so far,’ reports Andrew Taylor. ‘And if something does happen, it's quickly resolved. This stability is extremely important for our short delivery times.’
The added value is also clearly evident when it comes to maintenance. The previous system was costly to maintain and prone to faults – today, service costs and downtimes are noticeably lower. Many tasks can be carried out by the company's own maintenance staff because all relevant components are easily accessible.
Efficiency, flexibility and smart further development
After several years of intensive investment, SGP is now focusing on further refining its modern plant: Streamlining processes, optimally balancing the capacities of the six CNC systems and strategically preparing future sustainability measures.
For Andrew Taylor, the collaboration with systron is characterised above all by reliability and uncomplicated support. At the same time, he appreciates the company's clear focus on innovation. The systron 6033proHD is currently one of the most valuable pieces of equipment in the machine park.
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