The award is made each year by the member organisation as part of its annual awards. In a break with tradition – due to the coronavirus pandemic – the traditional Award Dinner couldn’t take place, but Scottish Engineering chief executive Paul Sheerin visited the manufacturer’s Stirling plant to present Ken Munro, CEO of Superglass and its parent company, TN International for Western Europe & North America, with the trophy in person, adhering to the site’s social distancing rules.

A video of the presentation was included in Scottish Engineering’s virtual awards ceremony streamed today. 

For over 150 years, Scottish Engineering has represented and championed the work of manufacturing and industry in Scotland. It conducted an in-depth analysis of all shortlisted businesses, taking in to account the companies’ growth, turnover, profitability, customer service and continuous improvement. 

The judges also looked for evidence of capital investment, innovation (particularly in regard to the UK Government’s Knowledge Transfer Partnership scheme) and commitment to safety and training. 

Paul Sheerin said: “Picking an overall company of the year is always difficult with such stiff competition, but choose we must and this year the judges have recognised Superglass as the stand-out company of 2020. We were especially impressed by their honesty around their need to improve in the early 2010s, and that improvement has progressed upwards to include health, safety and environment, revenue and profitability improvements along with significant and welcome investment to deliver improved efficiency.

“Their product is a great example of how circular economy principles drive good business, manufactured using over 80% recycled glass and every ton of their product installed saves 300 tons of carbon dioxide. They are an outstanding example of Scottish Engineering and Manufacturing and worthy winners of our 2020 Award.”

Ken Munro said: “We are very proud to win such a prestigious award. It is recognition of the strategic, commercial and engineering accomplishments that have put the Superglass business in such a strong position.  

“It is also a great marker on a continuing journey towards further growth, enabled by the product range and logistics capability that come from being part of TN International. I would like to thank Scottish Engineering for their support on that journey.”

Mark Atherton, head of operations for Western Europe & North America for TN International, which operates the Superglass plant, added: “This award is testament to the incredible work that the whole Superglass team has put in over recent years, and the belief from our parent company in what the Stirling site is capable of. 

“It is difficult to find a UK company, which has undergone such a turnaround as Superglass. When I started in May 2012, Superglass was the only independent glass-wool insulation manufacturer in the UK and required significant operational financial restructuring. 

“Now we have completed a £37m investment programme, completely modernising the infrastructure to create a state-of-the-art facility. The project was completed on time and on budget, all while maintaining high levels of production from the old plant on the same site. This was a substantial challenge, and I am very proud to see our collective efforts recognised by Scottish Engineering. Our product quality is second to none and we are developing a world leading environmental product here in Stirling.”