Insights into Float Glass
Technology for float glass manufacturing is inextricably linked to the name Grenzebach. Quality, efficiency and reliability in cold end plants is what our customers value.
Technology for float glass manufacturing is inextricably linked to the name Grenzebach. Quality, efficiency and reliability in cold end plants is what our customers value.
Ranging from endless glass ribbons to stacked individual sheets to the glass warehouse: Whether we are talking float glass, structured or wired glass, thin glass, coated glass, laminated glass or other special glasses. We are setting standards for processing and handling flat glass. More than 300 Grenzebach lines worldwide are relying on maximum cutting and stacking precision. Grenzebach’s unique technology in float glass manufacturing all starts with the perfect design followed by the mechanical and electrical assembly, the commissioning on site and customer service throughout the entire life span of the plant- everything comes from one single source. We excel as all-rounders supplying technology for the entire range of sheet glass products: thin and thick sheets from 0.3 t 25 mm; sheet lengths of up to 24 m. Daily output is up to 1,200 tons.
Thin glass production thrives from innovative technologies – Chinese thin glass producer installs new production lines made by Grenzebach.
Grenzebach Cutting Force Controller CFC-250mag - improved cutting quality and increased yields.
In the Fuyao float glass plant Mount Zion in Illinois (USA), handling equipment and cutting and stacking systems from Grenzebach guarantee 24/7 operation.
We are transporting glass gently and safely - even over long distances exceeding 100 meters. Grenzebach's conveyor technology stands for efficiency, precision, smooth operation and long life spans.
We have successfully implemented special solutions, such as cleaning devices of the bearing races, non-contact alignment or special glass widths up to 6 meters.
Now more than ever, glass manufacturers rely on a stable production process. Grenzebach's optical inspection and measuring process stands for state-of-the art production control systems paired with maximum product quality.
The inline stress and thickness measurement of float glass helps measure glass stress, thickness, width and temperature for early detection of process deviations.
The inline fault detection for float glass detects any typical glass defects. Inclusions and optical distortions are being classified. FPI float vision equips process control with high transparency and an almost complete product analysis.
The inline glass inspection allows for monitoring of contours and size of the glass as well as the evaluation of edge defects occurring due to scratching and cracking. Trend analysis for recurring deviations can minimize losses.
While using high-performance analysis tools for the evaluation of data that has been recorded by various measuring systems, the manufacturing process can be improved overall and productivity increased. The production process is effectively improved and productivity enhanced, by means of a powerful analysis.
The cutting technology sits at the core of the cold end of a float glass production line. Highest cutting accuracy and availability are just two of the many standards Grenzebach relies on. Longitudinal and transverse cutters are equipped with field-tested Grenzebach cutting heads. The electromagnetic cutting force controller allows for accurate adjustment of the cutting pressure which can be fine-tuned with newly developed controls. The cutting technology achieves its highest level of functionality in combination with the surveillance camera Float Scan Edge and the "look-ahead" cutting optimization -granting highest precision, quality and performance.
Defects in the glass ribbon from inclusions, bubbles or stones force the glass manufacturers to dispose off the defective glass in the trough. So far, the shortest cullet plate, depending on the division of rollers, is at least 500 mm long. With the system, 'short cullet plate' of Grenzebach the speed can be reduced down to 170 mm. This is possible because the trough strip is disposed of immediately after the snapping roller. This Grenzebach technology improves the glass yield by up to 2%.
For precise stacking at the end of the glass line, Grenzebach offers high quality technologies: from simple manual removal to a fully-automated stacking for small, medium, jumbo and jumbo XXL sizes for up to 3 tons. These include:
For medium and large sizes
Stacking positions on right and left side of the line (for example, for quality sorting ...)
No alignment of the glass sheet required due to measuring device and automatic correction
For small, medium and large sizes
Crank drive in end position is very slow; very fast when in operation
Stacking performance up to 20 cycles / minute
For small, medium and large sizes
Bathroom-air function without additional mechanics
Independent of frame geometry
Removal height- and parking height can be parametrized
For medium- jumbo and XXL-jumbo sizes up to 24 m
Ideal for subsequent coating processes
For small and medium sizes
For single and dual pick-glass
Pick-on-the-Fly (removal during transport)
Grenzebach plants are characterized by the use of intelligent software. The current status of the plant and individual parts are readily available while data of the individual glass is being tracked, updated and managed through the whole process. Grenzebach offers a wide range of process control for each automation level:
We’ve especially developed PPC (Production Process Control) for the cold end of a float line. This allows for controlling the entire process at the cold end.
The Production Process Control Software (PPC) and optimization system performs primary tasks, such as production planning, order management, capacity and quality-optimized production reporting to an ERP system and featuring upload/ download functions. Grenzebach systems therefore can be fully integrated into an existing ERP concept.
Interfaces to subordinate systems allow for order download as well as feedback from production data. Optional reporting provides detailed analysis of the production process, and facilitate improvement of the overall process all the way up to the hot end.
