Pilkington United Kingdom Limited, part of the NSG Group, is harnessing immersive virtual reality (VR) technology to enhance its research and development engineering capabilities, transforming how teams design, test and validate manufacturing systems across its operations.
In a recent project, engineers at Pilkington UK’s European Technical Centre in Lathom, Lancashire, used VR to plan and review the installation of a new robotic cell, creating a full-scale 3D model of the area before any physical build began. The virtual model enabled the team to assess layout, safety, and workflow in a shared digital environment, ensuring potential design conflicts could be identified and resolved early in the process.
This approach marks a significant evolution in how the business conducts engineering reviews. By leveraging VR, teams can collaborate on complex projects more effectively, reduce the need for repeated on-site visits, and gain a clearer understanding of how people, machinery, and equipment will interact within production environments.
The use of virtual reality within Pilkington UK’s R&D function reflects a wider trend in the manufacturing sector. Globally, the VR-in-manufacturing market is forecast to grow by nearly 30% a year through to 2032, as companies adopt immersive tools to improve precision, productivity, and sustainability.
Building on the success of the robotic cell installation, Pilkington UK’s engineering teams are exploring how VR can be applied to other R&D and production projects.
Dave Ash, Regional Sustainability Manager at NSG Group, said: “Virtual reality allows us to bring our designs to life before they reach the factory floor, so we can accelerate project validation, improve safety and identify optimisations that would otherwise only become visible after installation.
“What began as a practical solution has now become an opportunity to rethink how we design and communicate complex engineering work, opening up new ways for our teams to collaborate globally, sharing expertise across borders with ease.”
This latest innovation supports NSG Group’s makechange sustainability strategy, which focuses on embracing and delivering positive change across its operations. By adopting advanced technologies such as virtual reality and automation, Pilkington UK is improving efficiency, enhancing safety, and reducing its environmental impact. Initiatives like the use of robots on its textured glass manufacturing line in St Helens, Merseyside – where glass is now handled, removed and stacked more safely and efficiently – demonstrate how the business is driving meaningful progress towards a more sustainable future.
