glasstec 2024 – Filling @LiSEC booth

This year, LiSEC is presenting at glasstec in Düsseldorf under the slogan: "360° of glass processing" as an all.in.one:solutions provider in global flat glass processing. The LiSEC ARL-45F frame filling machine is one system from the insulating glass production range that will be on show live at the stand. Ewald Schadauer, Product Manager Insulating Glass at LiSEC, can draw on many years of experience in the field of insulating glass production and shares some initial insights into this system in this interview.

Mr Schadauer, what is LiSEC exhibiting this year at the glasstec exhibition in Düsseldorf in the area of ‘Filling spacers’?

Ewald Schadauer: We are excited to be presenting the LiSEC ARL-45F desiccant filling machine with filling quantity measurement system and LED filling level indicator at glasstec 2024 at the end of October. Not only does the ARL-45F boast maximum efficiency and accuracy, it is also easy to use, significantly optimising the production process for insulating glass.

Why has LiSEC chosen to bring this particular machine to glasstec?

Ewald Schadauer: Our customers place great value on quality and they also want to do justice to this with their products. The desiccant in the spacer frame plays an essential role in an insulating glass unit and contributes significantly to ensuring that a window maintains optimum properties for many years. The LiSEC desiccant filling machine with integrated filling quantity measurement system maximises support so that there is no spacer frame with too little desiccant installed in an insulating glass unit.

How long has this machine design been in development and what were the key technical aspects that you focussed on?

Ewald Schadauer: Our ARL-45F desiccant filling system has proven itself over many years as a reliable machine with cutting-edge control technology. Our technicians have succeeded in making a major breakthrough thanks to the implementation of the volumetric measurement system. This system provides precise measurement in real time of the amount of desiccant filled during the filling process. The two vertical LED indicators signal the actual desiccant filling level in the spacer. The concept for the LED displays originated from a long-standing LiSEC employee who made use of his intensive customer contact to realise that such a display would not only make the system significantly more user-friendly, but also considerably reduce the probability of operating errors.

Short and sweet: What are the three key advantages of this machine variant?

Ewald Schadauer:

1. The machine fills the spacers using a hole on the back of the frame, which makes it suitable for filling all conventional spacer materials.
2. A dedicated special shape mode means that one of the two filling heads can be deactivated, making it possible to fill special moulds without a right angle.
3. Yet the major highlight is the quantity measurement system with the new LED level indicator. This system lets the operating personnel see how much desiccant is in each of the two frame legs at a glance.

What future trends will the machine be able to meet?

Ewald Schadauer: As already pointed out, a consistently high level of quality is an essential factor in maintaining a foothold in the insulating glass market. Our system is able to recognise filling errors reliably and display them clearly to the operating personnel. This gives the operator the option of reacting accordingly. Not only does our system increase user-friendliness, it also considerably minimises the error rate. These aspects will gain even more importance in the future, since the demands for precision and efficiency are constantly on the rise.

Fact box:

• Processing of all conventional spacer materials
• Filling of special shapes even without a right angle
• Measurement and display of the filled desiccant quantity for both frame legs
• Reliable detection and visualisation of filling errors
• Adjustment of the optimum working height using a lifting device for the filling heads