The NSG Group, formerly known LOF and Pilkington, plant of Laurinburg celebrated 50 years of operation over the weekend with two days of festivities including food, music, activities, and plant tours.
Stephanie Walcott | The Laurinburg Exchange
LAURINBURG — The NSG Group, formerly known LOF and Pilkington, plant of Laurinburg celebrated 50 years of operation over the weekend with two days of festivities including food, music, activities, and plant tours.
Saturday was designated employee and retiree family day while Sunday was open to the community.
Both days featured music blaring from the speakers while bounce houses, giant inflatable slides, mini golf and other fun pastimes were available. There was a large display of the various glass types made at the facility. The Lifeflight helicopter was on site for tours too. Food trucks sold icees, pretzels, sausage dogs, ice cream and more. Lunch was provided on Saturday.
The plant tours were a big draw, with guests beginning in the hot end at what is called the batch where pre-mixed materials are added to the front of the furnace. Participants were then able to view the rest of the glass making process which included a pass by the 3,000-degree furnace for melting the materials, all the way through to warehousing and shipping.
According to plant manager Chris Markotich, Laurinburg’s NSG plant is one of the largest glass plants in the world. They make glass in various colors, sizes, and thicknesses and for many different applications.
He said, “Our glass can be found on all seven continents in a variety of buildings like the New Orleans Saints stadium, skyscrapers in Dubai, and the Empire State Building. We also make solar glass for solar panels and Low-E glass for windows.”
NSG’s glass is manufactured for bullet-proof glass and digital signage as well, according to Markotich.
“We are also the only manufacturer in the US of one-way glass like they use in police departments. And it’s all done by our employees here in Laurinburg,” the plant manager said.
NSG opened as LOF (Libbey Owens Ford) in Laurinburg in 1974 and has always been one of Scotland County’s biggest employers. The plant currently employs 330 people and produces 320,000 tons of glass a year.