IG Production – GlassBalkan

Fenzi Group Achieves EPDs for Entire IG Sealant Range, Solidifying Green Future Commitment

GlassBalkan — Mon, 10 Mar 2025 09:47:51 +0000

As part of the ongoing Fenzi Green Future Action Plan, the Fenzi Group has taken a significant step forward in its commitment to sustainability by achieving Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) for its entire range of Insulating Glass (IG) sealant products.

This achievement provides transparent, objective, and comparable data on the environmental impact of these crucial components for energy-efficient building construction.

These documents, known as EPDs (Environmental Product Declarations), are voluntary environmental declarations verified by an accredited third-party body. They are applicable to any type of product or service and are based on international standards. Through EPDs, the environmental impact of a specific product or service can be described in a transparent, objective, and comparable way using the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of the product.

The LCA is the most structured, comprehensive, and internationally standardized method for assessing the environmental impact of products and systems. It considers the entire life cycle, from upstream stages (pre-production), through the core stage (production), to downstream stages (installation, use, maintenance, recovery, disposal).

While EPD certification is voluntary, an increasing number of companies are choosing to obtain it because of its benefits to producers, distributors, and consumers, especially in terms of environmental communication.

Furthermore, EPDs play a key role in developing GREEN BUILDING by contributing to obtaining credits that are valid for:

– The evaluation of CAM (Minimum Environmental Criteria)

– LEED certifications (in Energy and Environmental Design)

– GBC Italia UNI / PdR 13.1: 2015 protocols, known as the ITACA and BREEAM protocols (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method).

Detailed Look at FENZI’s EPDs

Published in July on the leading platform, EPD International, the Fenzi EPDs were developed in compliance with UNI EN ISO 14045 standards and PCR 2019:14, specific to construction products.

The data collection phase, coordinated by Fenzi Group’s ESG Department, involved the direct participation of three European production sites: Tribiano (MI) in Italy, Vilvoorde in Belgium, and Jaworzno in Poland.

The LCA analysis followed a Cradle-to-Gate with Modules C1-C4 and Module D approach (A1–A3 + C + D). This analysis assesses the life cycle of Fenzi products from raw material extraction and production (“cradle”) to the factory gate (i.e., before transportation to the customer), including the packaging of the finished product and an end-of-life evaluation. Distribution, installation, and product use stages were excluded from this analysis.

The chosen declared unit for the EPD is 1 kg of product.

Within phases A1-A3, data was analyzed for raw material extraction, electricity production, natural gas consumption, waste generation, emissions, packaging use, the sealant production cycle, and material transportation to production sites.

Subsequently, based on sales volume, the most representative product was selected for each product family: Butylver TPS, Butylver, Hotver, Thiover, Thiover Hardener, Poliver, and Poliver Hardener.

An analysis of the results reveals that across all impact categories, the primary contributions stem from Upstream processes (A1), especially those related to raw material sourcing.

As an example, the following charts provide insights into Butylver TPS:

By achieving EPDs for its entire IG sealant range, Fenzi Group not only demonstrates a commitment to minimizing its environmental impact but also provides its customers with the transparent and verified data they need to make informed decisions. This initiative is a crucial step in Fenzi’s journey towards a more sustainable future, and the Group looks forward to continued innovation and collaboration with partners to achieve even greater progress.

Source:Fenzi Group with additional information added by GlassBalkan

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LiSEC: Overcoming the Challenges in IG Production

GlassBalkan — Fri, 07 Mar 2025 09:50:43 +0000

The production of stepped glass units presents a significant challenge in IG production.

Particularly façade units made of larger and heavier glass panes require specialized machinery and techniques to ensure safe transport and precise assembly.

Areas of use for stepped units
When it comes to IG units, there are specific applications in which the offset between the outer and inner pane is crucial. Examples include:

Cold storage display doors
Glass façades

In both applications, the steps are on all four sides to completely conceal the underlying construction behind the glass pane.

How to produce stepped units
The production of units with steps on all four sides requires significant adjustments to the machine design in order to provide sufficient support for the glass at the stepped edge. To be able to process different step heights flexibly, the machines must be height-adjustable.

The latest generations of LiSEC machines are capable of producing steps with a height of 0 to 150mm on the bottom edge and up to 200mm on the other sides, with optional steps up to 1000mm also possible. This adaptability is crucial to meeting the diverse requirements of different construction projects while ensuring the high quality of the glass units.

In a LiSEC insulating glass line the larger glass pane of a stepped unit is always aligned towards the rear wall. In the case of triple units, the larger glass pane is also aligned towards the rear wall, while the two smaller, identical glass panes are positioned in front of it.

Continuous support at the bottom edge
In the case of glass units with a step on the bottom edge, depending on the dimensions of the glass and the stability of the spacers, the smaller stepped glass may tip or sink due to its own weight. Therefore, the smaller glass panes must be supported at a higher position than the usual glass transport height.

To effectively address this challenge, LiSEC has developed machines that provide continuous bottom-edge support for all glass sheets, such as the AGP-A press and the VFL-1F / SRP-A sealing station. These machines ensure that all glass sheets are continuously supported from the gas filling press to the end of the production line.

Step support in action
The use of stepped units increases reliability in production and enables excellent product quality. The video shows the production process with rigid and flexible spacers.

Source: LiSEC with additional information added by GlassBalkan

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Experience Revolutionary TPS® Technology in Glaston’s Insulating Glass Manufacturing Series

GlassBalkan — Tue, 04 Jul 2023 19:37:41 +0000

Unleashing the Future of Insulating Glass Production: Glaston’s Remarkable TPS® Technology

Discover the extraordinary capabilities of Thermo Plastic Spacer (TPS®), a game-changing technology that transcends the realm of mere acronyms. Dive into the realm of precision and durability as TPS® revolutionizes the production of double to quadruple IG units.

Tracing the Origins: A Visionary Journey

Delve into the captivating history of TPS® technology, tracing its roots back to 1994 when Karl Lenhardt, Glaston’s visionary founder, recognized the urgent need to automate IG production. Witness the transformative power of an innovative applicator that replaced manual spacer application, forever changing the landscape of insulating glass production.

A Global Phenomenon: TPS® in Action

Join the ranks of over 160 operational TPS® IG production lines worldwide, responsible for crafting over 100 million impeccable TPS® IG units to date. Experience the unparalleled efficiency and precision that have made TPS® an industry benchmark.

Unparalleled Advantages: Embracing TPS® Technology

Unlock a myriad of advantages offered by the TPS® technology. Bid farewell to separate production steps as TPS® enables the production of all IG units on a single line, regardless of their format. Embrace sustainability as TPS® ensures precise spacer quantities, leaving no room for waste or offcuts. Witness the pinnacle of automation with a streamlined process that requires only two operators.

Seamless Operations: Uninterrupted Excellence

Experience uninterrupted production with TPS® technology’s dual-drum pump system, allowing seamless drum changes without halting operations. Marvel at the newly developed Glaston-patented follower plate, optimizing material flow and achieving up to 35 percent improved material output.

Unleash Efficiency and Savings: Empowering IG Producers

Harness the power of TPS® technology and witness a remarkable reduction in time and cost for IG producers. Embrace enhanced productivity, sustainability, and cost-effectiveness, placing your production at the forefront of the industry.

Glaston’s TPS® technology – transforming the world of insulating glass production, one innovation at a time.

Source: Glaston with additional information added by GlassBalkan

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