£200k investment for state-of-the-art kit at Houghton Regis glass manufacturer

A Houghton Regis specialist glass manufacturer has made a £200,000 investment to handle bigger orders and boost production.

Mega Glass invited local MP Alex Mayer to see some of the first items coming off the production line that are being manufactured by their new “CNC” machine.

The state-of-the-art kit can cut, score and shape glass into almost any form. At 3.8 metres long, its bigger work surface has increased by over a metre the size of pieces the firm can work on.

Mega Glass makes one of the UK’s widest ranges of glass and mirrors, selling products such as shower screens direct from Houghton Regis to homes, offices, apartment blocks, hotels, leisure centres and spas.

Director Andrew Fox says the new machine means more glass can be finished each day boosting production by a fifth in comparison to their older CNC machine.

The firm also demonstrated how they can sandblast bespoke messages with the local MP getting a chance to engrave her name on a glass panel.

Ms Mayer was also shown designs for the next phase of the firm’s Prism Showers brand launching early next year. It is the only UK shower brand backed by their own manufacturing plant.

MP Alex Mayer said: “This is good news for Houghton Regis. Mega Glass is a great example of the craftsmanship and skills we have in spades in our area. It’s great to see a local manufacturer going from strength to strength, investing in the town and backing local jobs.

"And they’re part of a proud history. After all, it’s sand from this constituency that was turned into glass used when Big Ben was first built.

Director Andrew Fox added: "Hardly any two jobs we make are ever the same. Everything is cut, shaped and finished to the project’s requirements, and that takes real skill.

"Having the stock and the processing in one place, alongside a dedicated and skilled staff-base is what lets us do it."

The growing business was founded in 2012 with 10 workers. Today it employs around 60 people, around half of whom are on the factory floor.