Glossary

Abrasive Wheel
Used to cut and grind glass these are solid or coated discs, which are rotated at variable speeds and applied with variable pressure
Acid Etching
Process where hydrofluoric acid is used to inscribe patterns, create frosting or decorate parts of the surface of glass products
Ampoule
Enamelled glass capsule used to seal small quantities of liquids ready for use. An example is pharmaceutical substances that are ready to be injected
Analyse
Perform investigation, study or explore problems
Annealing Stage
Cooling process in glass manufacturing
Ancillary (job type)
Support function, secondary to main activity of business
Appraisal
An assessment of someone’s skills and performance in their job/workplace
Autoclave
A strong vessel used for the high-temperature processes e.g. sterilisation and/or mixing of chemicals
Batchman
Job title for glass sector employee who controls raw materials used to create glass
Budgets
Business spending plans
CIMA
Chartered Institute of Management Accountants - one of the oldest professional organizations devoted to financial management and cost accounting
CIPD
Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development- UK organisation providing courses and support for training and staff development
Cold End
Cold end processes include grinding, engraving, cutting etc. It is the name given to glass processing, once the glass is cold
COSHH
(Control of Substances Hazardous to Health ) The CIEH "Principles of COSHH" Certificate is a stand-alone level 1 qualification, which complements the CIEH Health and Safety programme.
Cullet
Scrap glass
Dynamic
Forward thinking, energetic and able to react quickly to market changes and customer demands
Fibre Glass
Very fine strands of glass used to create glass wool for insulation glass fibre for matting etc
Float Process
A method of production for high-quality sheet glass where a ribbon of molten glass is fed across a bath of heated liquid (usually molten tin) in a carefully controlled atmosphere
Flue
A duct or channel for conveying heat or exhaust gases
Foreheath
Tank that receives molton glass from the furnace, reduces its temperature and then discharges it to a feeder mechanism
Furnace
Furnaces are used for melting the batch materials and maintaining pots of glass in a molten state
Gathering Iron
A long, thin rod used to gather molten glass for testing
Gobs
Drop of molten glass formed by the cutting of the stream of glass as it flows from the forehearth through a feeder
HNC
(Higher National Certificate) Qualification taught in colleges and Universities
HND
(Higher National Diploma) Qualification taught in colleges and Universities
ILM
Institute of Leadership and Management - organisation that provides management training and qualifications
Implement
Put into effect - e.g. set up new working practice
Innovate / Innovative
Inventive - able to create new products and drive change
Laminated glass
Safety glass - consists of two or more sheets of glass with one or more viscous plastic layers "sandwiched" between the glass panes. Manufactured in a pressurised Autoclave
Lehr furnace
Special type of over or kiln used specifically for annealing glass
Molten
Something that has been reduced to liquid form by heating (e.g. glass)
Mosaic Glass
Produced by a glassblower rolling the hot glass globe over a marble or iron plate covered with small pieces of coloured glass. The pieces stick to the surface of the hot glass globe. The object is then overlaid with clear glass before being finished
NCFE
NCFE is a professional body that co-ordinates further education provision. They provide awards and certificates accredited by the QCA
NEBOSH
(National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health)- Raising standards of occupational health, safety and environmental management by creating certificates and other relevant awards
Optical Glass
The glass used in lenses and prisms
"Pontil" Puntil Mark or "Punty"
Tool also know as a "blowing iron" - used in Glass Blowing
Pyrometer
An instrument used to measure the temperature inside the furnace or kiln
QCA
"Qualifications and Curriculum Authority" this national government body lead developments in curriculum, assessments, examinations and qualifications in the UK
Refractories
Material capable of withstanding extremely high temperatures and thus used in furnaces for industries such as glass and steel where raw materials have to be heated to a molten form
Silica
Silicon dioxide, a mixture that is the main ingredient of glass. The most common form of silica used in glass making have always been sand
Silvering/Silvered
The addition of a layer of silver onto one surface of a piece of flat glass to produce a mirror
Vials
A small cylindrical glass vessel especially for holding liquid medicines