In an era where operational excellence and sustainability are paramount, FLACHGLAS, a leading glass manufacturer, has once again partnered with Glaston to modernize its glass processing capabilities.
The latest project, a comprehensive upgrade of FLACHGLAS’s 50-year-old lamination line at its Wernberg site in Bavaria, Germany, has propelled the company’s efficiency and automation to new heights.
A Culture of Continuous Improvement
FLACHGLAS has long been committed to staying at the forefront of glass processing technology. The company’s culture of operational excellence has driven it to continuously invest in emerging technologies across its three German locations. Glaston, a trusted partner in this journey, has been instrumental in supplying the equipment and expertise to support FLACHGLAS’s modernization initiatives.
The Lamination Line Upgrade: Embracing Efficiency and Sustainability
The focus of the latest project was FLACHGLAS’s venerable lamination line, a cornerstone of its operations since the 1970s. The goal was to upgrade the line with Glaston’s ProL technology, enabling the company to meet efficiency and sustainability standards while preserving the line’s unique capabilities in producing specialized glass products.
Overcoming Challenges, Achieving Success
Upgrading the longstanding lamination line was no easy feat. FLACHGLAS had developed a vast portfolio of specialized glass products on this line, requiring considerable expertise. The company was determined to ensure that the quality of these specialized products would not be compromised after the upgrade.
The upgrade process involved replacing the old heating chambers and press rollers with a single heating chamber and roller pair, along with the addition of a reporting system and thermoscanner. Despite the complexity, the line was back in full operation in just 15 days, including operator training and a successful acceptance test with specialized products.
Empowering Employees, Enhancing Efficiency, and Saving Energy
The upgraded lamination line has delivered tangible benefits to FLACHGLAS. The “split drive” feature, a key innovation of the Glaston ProL technology, has enabled the line to process sandwiches with slightly different thicknesses seamlessly, improving productivity and reducing employee intervention.
Furthermore, the automation of process parameter settings has significantly reduced the need for manual input, allowing employees to focus on more value-added tasks. This, in turn, has contributed to energy savings and enhanced overall efficiency.
Forging Ahead with a Shared Vision
The successful upgrade of FLACHGLAS’s lamination line is a testament to the enduring partnership between the company and Glaston. By continuously investing in cutting-edge technologies and modernizing their operations, FLACHGLAS and Glaston are setting new benchmarks for the glass processing industry, driving efficiency, sustainability, and innovation.
Source: FLACHGLAS with additional information added by GlassBalkan
