Saint-Gobain’s glass plant in La Maruca, Avilés is facing its most critical moment in years after a serious malfunction crippled its main float furnace, the very core of its operations. The damage occurred early Wednesday morning, triggering emergency response and widespread concern among workers and management alike.
Furnace Lifespan Nearing the End
According to employees, the breakdown is directly linked to the advanced age of the furnace, which was installed in 2008. These high-temperature furnaces typically have a lifespan of 15 to 20 years, and workers had been raising red flags for months about its deteriorating condition. The vault (roof) of the furnace is the most severely damaged part and is set to undergo critical stabilization efforts today, Thursday.
Tensions are high among the workforce, who now fear this may mark the permanent end of the current furnace, and potentially, the entire plant’s future. The Avilés factory, once more diversified, now only produces construction glass after the closure of its automotive glass line (Sekurit) last year.
New Furnace Under Consideration, But at a High Cost
Saint-Gobain reportedly has a project for a new furnace on the table, but two major factors will determine whether it moves forward: 
- Access to EU funds through Spain’s PERTE program for decarbonization, with criteria expected to be clarified this autumn.
- A controversial proposal to reduce worker salaries by 20%, suggested informally by the company to offset investment costs, a proposal already rejected outright by unions.
The furnace failure could not have come at a worse time. Saint-Gobain is now caught in a high-stakes balancing act between strategic reinvestment and operational collapse. Without quick decisions and external support, one of Spain’s most iconic glass production sites could face shutdown.
The fate of the Avilés plant, and hundreds of jobs, hangs in the balance.
Source: lne.es with additional information added by Glass Balkan
