The project, carried out between January and May 2026, focused on upgrading critical equipment within the tin bath to improve production stability, process control and operational efficiency. A major achievement was the successful ribbon pull on 29 April 2026, confirming the successful commissioning of the modernized system and allowing production to resume on schedule.

As part of the modernization, HORN supplied and installed a comprehensive package of process equipment designed to optimize tin bath performance. The scope included 14 top rollers equipped with integrated camera systems for enhanced ribbon monitoring, a new pusher, a tweel upgrade for improved glass thickness control, an upgraded exit cooler and a new dross box hood to enhance process reliability. HORN also delivered a complete SCADA-based control system, integrating all newly installed equipment with Guardian Glass’ existing automation infrastructure to provide centralized monitoring, improved diagnostics and greater operational control.

Beyond automation, HORN carried out extensive refractory repair and replacement work throughout the tin bath. The refurbishment included bottom blocking as well as repairs to the tin bath roof using new refractory materials and replacement heating elements, ensuring long-term thermal stability and extending the operational life of the installation.

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A defining feature of the DSC-VB is its controlled separation process for laminated glass. The system clamps the sheets securely while ensuring the top surface remains untouched, eliminating the risk of optical defects or surface damage. Separation is supported by accurately regulated infrared heating elements, which soften the interlayer (PVB or similar foil) at the cutting line. This targeted heating ensures clean breaks and prevents irregular tearing of the foil, a common issue in conventional processes.

To further enhance edge quality, the line includes an additional grinding unit dedicated to edge deletion. This is particularly important for applications involving coatings or lamination, where edge precision directly impacts bonding performance and durability.

The DSC-VB also features fully automatic glass positioning, ensuring exact alignment before cutting. This reduces dependency on operator skill and improves consistency across batches. Combined with its compact machine layout, the system optimizes factory floor usage while maintaining high production flexibility.

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At the fair, Şişecam will showcase Şişecam SolarMax, a high-performance glass designed to enhance efficiency in photovoltaic (PV) modules. With its low iron composition, SolarMax will ensure high light transmittance, while its special Anti-Reflective (AR) coating will reduce light reflection, increasing the amount of light absorbed by solar panels. This will translate into higher energy generation and long-lasting performance. Its temperable structure will further strengthen panels, protecting them against harsh environmental conditions. SolarMax will be offered for commercial-scale solar projects, reflecting Şişecam’s commitment to supporting large-scale renewable energy investments.

Şişecam will continue to expand its production capacity and invest in next-generation solar technologies, demonstrating its advanced manufacturing capabilities. SolarMax not only will enhance PV panel efficiency but also will strengthen Şişecam’s position as an innovator in solar energy and glass technology.

Another highlight will be Şişecam Charger by ML System, a façade and roof solution that will transform glass surfaces into energy-generating structures using building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) technology. Developed in partnership with ML System, this solution will combine architectural design with electricity production, enabling façades and roofs to generate energy without compromising aesthetics. Tempered for durability, it also will offer comprehensive documentation for smooth technical integration, turning buildings from energy consumers into energy producers.

Throughout Solarex Istanbul, Şişecam will welcome visitors to its booth, where it will showcase its expertise in solar energy, advanced glass technologies, and innovative solutions that will support sustainable energy transformation.

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Keraglass will feature Vivida, a state-of-the-art digital printing solution for glass. Vivida combines precision, process control, and exceptional visual quality, enabling manufacturers to produce highly customized designs with efficiency and reliability.

Digital printing is transforming the glass industry by offering increased flexibility, faster production times, and consistent results. Keraglass’s demonstration will highlight how Vivida can enhance production processes, support creative design, and meet the evolving demands of the market.

Industry professionals, designers, and manufacturers are encouraged to visit Keraglass at Stand 283, Hall N1 to discover how the company is shaping the future of digital glass printing.

The post Keraglass to Showcase Digital Glass Innovation at China Glass 2026 appeared first on GlassBalkan.

The newly installed system is designed to optimise almost every stage of IGU production, delivering operating speeds reported to be up to three times faster than previous processes. The upgrade enables daily production capacity of up to 500m², while accommodating glass thicknesses from 3mm to 19mm and supporting triple-glazed configurations up to 70mm thick. Oversized units up to 3.2 x 2.5 metres can also be processed thanks to an integrated tilt table, expanding the company’s flexibility for large architectural glazing projects.

A key feature of the new line is its automated gas-filling technology. Unlike conventional systems that require manual filling after assembly, the integrated press uses built-in calculations to complete gas filling inside the production cycle. This removes an additional handling stage, reduces labour input, and ensures units exit the press ready for sealing, supporting faster throughput while maintaining consistent quality standards.

The line also incorporates intelligent detection systems capable of recognising coated glass and confirming correct orientation before processing. This automated verification minimises the risk of human error and helps ensure smoother workflow continuity across the factory floor.

With the new machinery handling nearly the entire IGU assembly process, excluding final sealing, UKO Glass has reduced reliance on multiple standalone machines. The resulting floor-space efficiency has allowed the company to expand its dispatch area, supporting increased daily output as demand grows.

Commenting on the investment, Production Manager Tony McAspurn described the system as a major leap forward, highlighting improvements in speed, precision and workflow efficiency. The upgrade aligns with broader industry trends toward greater automation and high-volume manufacturing in IGU production, enabling manufacturers to meet rising demand for higher-performance glazing solutions in both commercial and residential sectors

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Pennekamp commissioned three gas-heated annealing lehrs, each running controlled cooling profiles from approximately 520°C at entry to 90–110°C at exit. Commissioning thermal scans confirmed less than ±3°C cross-belt deviation, securing stress-relief stability and reduced cold-end fracture rates. The lehrs feature multi-zone burner modulation with individual lambda control, enabling targeted adjustments without full-line disruption, an operational necessity for high-throughput filling environments.

Energy performance was addressed through exhaust heat recirculation and optimized airflow tuning, reducing fuel consumption by an estimated 8–10% per tonne compared to conventional zoned lehrs used in similar Brazilian container plants. These measures support Ambev’s circular packaging commitments and lower total emissions per production cycle.

In parallel, Pennekamp installed three cold-end coating stations calibrated for MSVD-compatible silane deposition, achieving consistent 0.15–0.22 COF values to prevent scuffing during automated conveying and palletizing. The accompanying mould pre-heating equipment and deflector firing ovens operate on digitally sequenced burner curves to ensure stable thermal preparation before IS handling.

The collaboration enabled the plant to reach commercial stability in under 12 operating days, positioning Carambeí as a technical reference point for next-generation container glass manufacturing in South America.

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Glass Futures has partnered with the University of Liverpool’s Virtual Engineering Centre (VEC) to introduce AI-GLASS, a pioneering digital twin project designed to support decarbonisation and reshape innovation in the glass manufacturing sector. Backed by £1.5 million in UKRI funding, the initiative aims to help manufacturers transition toward cleaner fuels, reduce energy use and adopt advanced digital tools with confidence.

Developed at Glass Futures’ 165,000 sq ft Global Centre of Excellence in St Helens, AI-GLASS creates a highly detailed virtual replica of the glass production process. By combining artificial intelligence with physics-based modelling and real-time data, the platform allows manufacturers to safely test new technologies and process adjustments without interrupting live operations or risking equipment. This includes trials with low-carbon solutions such as hydrogen, biofuels and electrification pathways.

The system can instantly predict how changes in fuel, energy input or batch composition will affect melt quality, emissions, operating costs and furnace performance. This level of insight makes decision-making faster, more reliable and significantly more sustainable.

A central element of AI-GLASS is its immersive 3D digital twin of the entire Glass Futures site, developed using BIM modelling, LiDAR scanning and UAV photogrammetry. This photorealistic environment will support training, remote walkthroughs, safety planning and live operational visualisation.

Dr Konstantin Vikhorev, Chief Technology Officer at the VEC, said the platform will completely transform how decarbonisation strategies are tested. By enabling manufacturers to run simulations “in seconds,” AI-GLASS reduces risk and speeds up the adoption of low-carbon solutions.

Glass Futures CEO Justin Kelly emphasised the strength of collaboration in tackling global sustainability goals. By pairing digital simulation with AI, he explained, the industry can innovate without disruption, improving efficiency, cutting emissions and maintaining product quality.

AI-GLASS builds on previous research at the facility showing that sustainable biofuels can reduce carbon emissions by up to 80 percent. With this new digital capability, the UK further strengthens its position as a leader in industrial digitalisation and clean manufacturing.

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Mr. Li Chunchao, Marketing Director and Deputy General Manager of the Processed Glass BU, delivered a keynote speech titled “Beyond Glass – How NorthGlass Empowers High-Rises to Achieve High-Quality Green Development.” He explained the deeper meaning behind the phrase, “Standards apply to products, but not to art,” noting that while technology defines physical limitations, aesthetic ambition defines expressive architectural possibility. NorthGlass’ mission goes beyond production, focusing on transforming non-standard creative visions into high-standard engineering reality.

The company’s achievements span globally recognized landmarks, from the National Centre for the Performing Arts, Apple Park, and Huawei Headquarters, to the Guinness-record façade glass of Taikang Tower, and the 11.5-ton self-supporting giant glass panels of the Beijing Sub-Center Library. Most recently, NorthGlass engineered nearly 70,000 m² of curved glass, including multi-curved, concave-curved, and saddle-shaped forms, for the OPPO Global Headquarters in Shenzhen, pushing fabrication precision and structural creativity to new extremes.

Driven by its dual-engine model of equipment and products, NorthGlass has expanded its global reach with exports to more than 110 countries. Its presence at CTBUH 2025 reinforced its role not only as a technical manufacturer but as an avant-garde force helping shape greener and more aesthetically ambitious high-rise environments worldwide.

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At the core of this system is COOL-LITE®, a family of solar control coatings produced using advanced magnetron sputtering technology. These coatings deliver low solar factor values—typically g-values between 0.25 and 0.40—while retaining high visible light transmission. This ensures façades remain bright and comfortable without excess heat gain. Complementing the glazing, Kvadrat Shade’s metallised textiles incorporate an aluminium-backed layer that reflects solar radiation before it reaches the interior, significantly improving glare control and reducing cooling demand.

A comprehensive comparative study carried out by Saint-Gobain Glass analysed the performance of this combined system across multiple European climates, including Mediterranean, oceanic, continental, and northern regions. Using dynamic thermal simulation, climate-based daylight modelling, carbon lifecycle calculations, and cost analysis, the study evaluated energy use, daylight quality, visual comfort, and environmental impact.

Key Performance Results

• 20–30% reduction in cooling energy demand compared with standard double glazing and traditional textile blinds
• Higher daylight autonomy, reducing the need for artificial lighting during daytime hours
• Lower glare probability (DGP) values across seasons, ensuring consistent visual comfort
• Reduced façade carbon footprint, supported by lower operational energy use and recyclable materials
• Optimised total cost of ownership, with minimal maintenance and competitive installation costs

These findings confirm that pairing COOL-LITE® glazing with metallised shading creates a façade solution that achieves a rare balance between comfort, sustainability, and technical performance. The system maintains outward views, enhances thermal stability, and supports carbon-conscious design strategies, making it ideal for offices, education buildings, cultural projects, and high-performance renovations.

Download the study and contact Saint-Gobain Glass for tailored project support.

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Exhibitors have only a few days left to take advantage of the early-bird rate, available until 30 November 2025. Companies that secure their participation now benefit from reduced stand fees, priority visibility, and access to one of the industry’s most influential international audiences.

glasstec 2026 will highlight key themes shaping the sector, including sustainability, digitalization, decarbonization, and cutting-edge advancements in production and processing technologies.

From machinery and equipment manufacturers to architectural glass specialists, material suppliers, research institutions, and smart-glass innovators, the fair brings together every segment of the industry under one roof.

With more than 1,200 exhibitors and visitors expected from over 100 countries, glasstec remains the top platform for launching products, strengthening business partnerships, and exploring global trends.

For companies aiming to expand their reach in 2026, this is the moment to step in – register now and secure the early-bird advantage.

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