Melting tank fails at World Kitchen inc. Pressware plant

[Willrobinson]

Reprinted from The Corning Leader. Tues. Oct. 28,2008. Corning. Several employees may be laid off at World Kitchen Inc's Pressware facility later this week because a glass melting tank failed Sunday morning inside the tioga avenue plant.Firefighters battled intense heat and Molten glass at 6:55 a.m. Sunday after a 50 foot melting tank at the World Kitchen facility ruptured." I really don't know the extent of the damage at this time," John Warner, president of American Flint Glass Workers Union Local 1034T. " I'm expecting layoff's, but to what degree, I'm not sure." The leaky tank , called Tank 47, is one of three tanks at the plant. The tank also failed in August 2002, spilling an estimated 200 tons of 2,300-degree molten glass liquid onto the floor of the plant. That disrupted production and forced 45 employees to be laid off."This (accident) was worse than in 2002," Warner said. " It was quite a bit larger. I have no idea of the amount. But it took six or seven minutes for the tank to drain. Thankfully nobody got injured." Corning Fire Department Lt. Brian Gardner said 25 firefighters sprayed water on the molten glass that leaked from a hole in the tank. Spot fires broke out and some equipment was affected." There was a small hole in the tank (that employees ) were trying to fix before they contacted the fire department," Gardner said." There were some minor flames and some wooden partitions caught fire when the glass flowed over them." Bryan P. Glancy, World Kitchen vice president and chief human resource officer, said the company is evaluating the incident to ensure the future safety of the plant and it's employees. The plant, which manufactures Corelle and CorningWare Simply Lite, will remain open for production. " We are grateful for the support provided by the fire department and thank them for their prompt and efficient response," Glancy said. Gardner said the spill was worse than what occurred in 2002 when eight people, including five firefighters,were injured at the plant.Warner said attempts are under way to see if the damaged tank can be partially used. But the tank will likely be out of service for several months. It will likely take between four to five weeks to get the melting tank up and running.

[BIZOT]

" Thankfully nobody was injured," Is this guy for real ? more like thank GOD no one was KILLED by the glass lava spreading across the floor.This company sounds unsafe and to think they want to keep on using the damaged tank. All they care about is selling plates, who cares about the safety of the slaves who work there.

[MIS-LEADER]

Did anyone notice there has been no further articles about the number of layoffs this accident has caused? As far as I have heard, there has been two rounds of layoffs already.

[wki worker]

I was there when it all took place and it was scary and it is lucky no one was killed. There was a good number of lay offs, and probably will be out of work for a long while. But it was getting bad anyways i just hope that 52 tank can keep going until 47 is ready for production.

[col klink]

Does anyone know if they laid off anyone today

[the grinch]

YOU'RE LAID OFF. HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM PLATE WORLD .

[thetruthwillout]

I bet ole' Freitag had a happy Thanxg. Get stuffed you old bird !

[wth]

THEY FIRED LARRY!

[haha]

suckers...dumb enough to work there