Glasstech to exhibit at Glasstech Asia 2008

The Cylindrical Radius Bender – Solar Parabolic Shapes (CRB-S) processes parabolic trough reflector glass shapes for concentrated solar power. Depending on the surface-strengthening treatment required, the system can process glass from 1.6 millimeters up to 5 mm. It forms constant radius shapes, J-bends and other parabolic trough shapes using patented, computer-controlled technology, instead of dedicated tooling. Shape changes take minutes. Additionally, the system can produce low-stress glass for lamination and heat strengthened or fully tempered glass parts with minimal system changes. Since the system utilizes no molds, energy savings versus a gravity-sag mold process are significant. Only the glass is heated in the Glasstech CRB-S.



For the photovoltaic market, the Glasstech Electric Radiant Heater – Solar Features (ERH-S) and the Forced Convection Heater – Solar Features (FCH-S) offer high productivity flat-glass systems. The ERH-S is a continuous tempering line featuring Glasstech’s electric radiant heater. The system will flat temper high transmission (low-iron) glass for cover panels and active (coated) glass as well as clear glass for PV panels. It processes at fast cycle times with accurate perimeter and surface tolerances.



The FCH-S also is a continuous flat-tempering system. It requires less floor space than the ERH and achieves the speeds and tolerances important to the PV market. In most countries, the FCH-S offers a significant energy cost savings, when compared to an electrically heated system.



For processors involved in the architectural glass market, Glasstech will show the Architectural FCH2 Forced Convection Heater Flat Glass Tempering System and the Architectural ERH2-C2 Electrical Radiant Heater Flat Glass Tempering Systems.



The FCH2, fired by natural gas, can heat clear glass at a typical rate of 30 seconds per mm of thickness and high-performance, soft-coat low-E glass at a typical rate of 33 seconds per mm. This reduced heating time yields higher quality, improves productivity and reduces processing cost.



Convection nozzles on the ERH2-C2 are located above the glass line and deliver heat to the top coated surface of the glass, improving heating time for low-E coated glass to 40-50 seconds per mm of thickness, compared to a standard radiant heating system’s 70 seconds per mm.



The recently introduced AutoGlassInspector quantifies the optical quality of automotive backlites and windshields. The in-line system numerically evaluates the transmitted optical distortion in a just-formed glass part and digitally compares it to the industry’s recently emerged, de facto world standard, the VW-authored TL957 standard for optical distortion. The state-of-the-art analysis computer scrutinizes a part in less than 10 seconds and displays the results on a video screen.



The EPB automotive systems enable manufacturers to produce sidelites, quarterlites, backlites, laminated backlites and windshields that meet stringent optical quality requirements. EPB systems process with tight tolerances and produce parts with reflective and transmitted optics. The patented EPB-T-DS (dual-stream) Bending and Tempering System can press-form parts in 3.5 seconds per part.



The EPB family of systems includes the following: EPB-L system for forming and annealing windshield glass; EPB-T-SS system for forming and tempering a single-stream of sidelites; and EPB-T-DS system for forming and tempering a single backlite or a dual-stream of sidelites.



Glasstech has added Quick Change and Fast Cycle options to its Advanced Bending and Tempering System for Deep Bend Automotive Glass, the DB4. The Quick Change option reduces tooling changeover time to 90 minutes. The Fast Cycle option reduces cycle times on average to 17 seconds. Taken together, the two options can increase productivity approximately 40 percent.



Additionally, Glasstech researchers have demonstrated a significant reduction in DB4 off-form losses caused by upstream/downstream position variation. Also, new methods have been developed to run some parts two-at-a-time, increasing productivity, using energy more efficiently and reducing fabrication costs.