Gomel. Gomel Glass Factory tour.

JSC Gomelsteklo is not just a factory, but a real flagship of the Belarusian glass industry and the only manufacturer of flat float glass in the country. The company with a rich history that began in 1933, today offers a unique opportunity to plunge into the world of high technology through guided tours of industrial tourism.

Three routes to choose from

The plant has developed three sightseeing routes that allow you to see the production from different angles.

Route No. 1 (90 minutes) is the most complete. It includes a visit to the historical showroom, the sand warehouse and the composite workshop, followed by the processing line No. 2, the polished glass workshop and the shipping area. The guests observe the full cycle: from the preparation of raw materials to finished products.

Route No. 2 (60 minutes) is focused on exploring recycling: in addition to the main production, tourists visit an industrial recycling workshop and a special glass site.

Route No. 3 (45 minutes) is a chamber option that involves only visiting the historical showroom, which is suitable for those who want to learn the history of the enterprise without spending a long time in the workshops.

All routes are available on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays at 11:00 by appointment. Visitors over the age of 9 (accompanied by adults) are allowed, however, only persons over the age of 14 are allowed to take a full tour of the workshops. The cost varies depending on the route and the size of the group.

Production at Gomelsteklo is a high-tech, fully automated process. Tourists can see how the charge enters the melting furnace, where the temperature exceeds 1,500 °C. Then the molten glass mass falls into a bath with molten tin - this is where the glass strip of the ideal surface is formed by the float process. Next, the glass undergoes an annealing furnace to relieve internal stresses, after which special scanners detect defects, and an automatic system cuts the tape into sheets of specified sizes.

The capacity of the enterprise is impressive: two flat glass production lines are designed for 780 and 800 tons per day, the total output reaches 40 million square meters per year. From 2023 to 2027, a large-scale modernization is planned to introduce new types of products, including extra thick and thin glass grades.

Gomelsteklo products are in demand far beyond the borders of Belarus - more than 80% are exported to Russia, Ukraine, Poland, the Baltic States, as well as Hungary and Romania. The plant produces not only polished glass, but also tempered, energy-saving, sun protection, laminated glass (triplex), as well as double-glazed windows using innovative TPS technology.

It is especially interesting to learn that glass with the Gomelglass brand is used in the manufacture of "Atlant" refrigerators, as well as for glazing greenhouses, furniture and ground vehicles, including products from MAZ, MTZ and Gomselmash plant. On the tour, you can see firsthand the test of tempered glass - it is able to withstand the impact of a massive metal ball falling from a height of more than two meters.

How to sign up

The application must be sent to TSabko@gomelglass by email no later than 5 days before the expected date of the visit.by or by phone +375 232 92 70 51 .

A visit to Gomelsteklo is a rare opportunity to see modern industrial production from the inside, realize the scale and power of a real giant factory and learn how a product that Belarus is rightfully proud of is born.