Marking the start of a new quality age in float glass manufacturing

Float glass is primarily used as a base product with which to further process additional glass products – and yet it is in higher demand than ever before: The German Bundesverband Flachglas (BF; Federal Flat Glass Association) is forecasting an annual sales volume of 137.6 million square meters in Germany alone in 2014, an increase of over 4 percent compared to the previous year.Quality and productivity are the key criteria that allow manufacturers to stand out from the competition. Both are ensured with the optical inspection solutions offered by ISRA VISION, in which global players of the industry have placed their trust for many years. Moreover, ISRA has set new standards for the next generation of float glass quality assurance: The FLOATSCAN 5D product line introduced multi-dimensional inspection, a worldwide unique solution which pushes the boundaries with regard to detecting specific types and sizes of defects. These systems have asserted themselves on the market quickly and have established themselves as the global common industry standard.

The FLOATSCAN 5D product line introduced the worldwide unique multi-dimensional inspection, which pushes the boundaries with regard to detecting specific types and sizes of defects.

FLOATSCAN 5D is based on a unique optical and technical concept. It integrates a sensor, which combines five optical channels in one: Multi-Mode, Multi-View and Multi-Dimensional are the key attributes of this highly innovative solution, which guarantees that the manufacturing process is constantly inspected, and as such producing float glass in a quality unsurpassed to date.

Highly precise measurement of all defects with FLOATSCAN 5D – not only on the upper or bottom side of the material, but also inside the glass ribbon.

Detecting and defining defect positions in z direction

Multi-dimensional inspection of FLOATSCAN 5D opens up an entire new range of benefits, which common systems of the past simply could not realize. For example, it can supply the exact position of defects not only on the upper or bottom side of the material, but is also able to localize defects inside the glass ribbon. At the same time, it offers highly precise measurements. In addition, the option to define defect positions in the z-direction expands the classification capabilities by a new dimension, allowing even more detailed statistical analyses.

ISRA’s patented Online Moiré Technology, proven in many applications, measures the optical refraction in the glass while being entirely immune to environmental influences. The smallest tin defects on the surface of the glass ribbon are detected in the reflection. Another channel for measuring transmission optics detects not only tin defects, but also scratches, bubbles, inclusions and non-metallic impurities with the aid of a second LED unit and the same camera arrangement. A variety of filter options allow fine to wide distortion lines to be gauged reliably. This is supported by the unique Multi Mode illumination concept that uses ultra-fast and individually switchable LEDs. All results are available to the user in real time. The technology is tolerant with respect to variations in thickness, color and translucence while supplying the most accurate results even for very dark glass.

The innovative systems are successfully being used by large producers around the globe and accepted as the standard technology for float glass inspection.

Powerful and compact with the all-in-one design

The Multi-View technology makes multi-dimensional inspection possible with a single camera arrangement for different viewing angles. No complicated additional equipment is needed. In fact, the entire system design is based on very compact dimensions, which integrates easily.

Users benefit from the assured high product quality with low operating and maintenance costs and a demonstrated fast Return on Investment. In brief: Flat glass manufacturers are guaranteed an unreachable competitive advantage with FLOATSCAN 5D. These strong arguments have convinced the industry: Only two years after their introduction to the market, the systems have been integrated successfully around the world and have become the standard technology for float glass inspection.