Olympic Glass's Journey to Excellence with LiSEC Machinery

Gary Jenkins founded Olympic Glass in Queensborough, United Kingdom with a vision to prioritize quality and service. LiSEC machinery has been instrumental in their journey, helping them grow to employ 90 professionals and operate out of a 98,000 square feet production area while consistently meeting the highest standards of quality and innovation. Looking towards the future Olympic Glass invested into a combined float & laminated glass cutting line from LiSEC.

Gary Jenkins' vision realized with LiSEC machinery

In 1992, Gary Jenkins embarked on a journey that would transform the glass manufacturing industry in the UK. With a vision to create a company that prioritized quality and service, he founded Olympic Glass in Queensborough. Starting with a modest team, the company has grown to employ 90 dedicated professionals and operates out of a sprawling 98,000 square feet production area.

From the outset, Olympic Glass focused on the residential market, providing high-quality glass products that met the standards of homeowners and builders. Their product range includes insulating glass units, 4 mm and 6 mm thin glass, low-e glass, decorative glass, Georgian bar, and leaded glass. Each product is crafted with precision and care, reflecting the company’s commitment to excellence.

In 1995, the CEO visited the glasstec show in Düsseldorf. This visit denotes a significant turn for Olympic Glass. It was here that he first encountered LiSEC and met with a LiSEC sales representative. This meeting sparked a vision for the future of Olympic Glass. Mr Jenkins saw the potential to elevate his company’s production capabilities and quality standards by integrating LiSEC’s advanced and highly automated machinery into their operations.

BSV45-ANK: A game-changer for Olympic Glass's production quality

After thorough research and consideration, Mr Jenkins decided to invest in a full range of LiSEC equipment, including three cutting tables, a KSR processing machine, two IG lines, and two LiSEC benders, one of which is an BSV45-ANK. Olympic Glass is one of the few producers in the UK with this tool, making it a unique feature in the market. The BSV45-ANK ensures maximum dimensional accuracy and top corner quality, which is crucial for maintaining the integrity of the glass units and ensuring a tight seal for effective gas retention. The machine features an efficient production process with automatic adjustment and short cycle times, reducing the risk of errors and ensuring consistent quality. It can process various materials, including aluminium, steel, stainless steel, and plastic profiles, making it versatile for different types of insulating glass units. This versatility makes it possible to produce high-quality spacer frames that are compatible with different types of insulating glass units, enhancing the overall quality of the end product.

KSR: The key to Olympic Glass's enhanced production capabilities

Mr Jenkins states that the integration of LiSEC machinery marked a new era for Olympic Glass. The advanced technology not only increased their production capacity but also significantly improved the quality of their products.

The CEO’s favourite machine, the KSR, has been instrumental in this transformation. It ensures precise dimensional accuracy, which is crucial for maintaining the integrity and quality of the glass units. The KSR machine is renowned for its ability to fully automatically seam rectangles and shapes in a constant and rapid manner, so that the glass sheets are perfectly prepared for further processing like tempering.  The KSR is designed to integrate seamlessly with LiSEC lines, ensuring that all machines and software products work perfectly together.

Olympic Glass eyes future growth with LiSEC's combined float & lami cutting line

Mr Jenkins is particularly enthusiastic about the research and development aspects of LiSEC’s machinery. He appreciates the continuous innovation and the automation ethos that LiSEC embodies. His trust in LiSEC was the reason he decided to invest into the cutting line exhibited by LiSEC at the 2024 glasstec.

The system is currently in installation onsite. Once completed, the production process will begin on the DSC-A cutting table for float glass. This table is equipped with an edge deletion feature and LiTEC temperature control of the grinding wheel, allowing for precise float glass cutting and as well as low-e deletion. Next the VSL-A, a high-performance automatic cutting machine for laminated glass, takes over. It rotates laminated glass, performs the X, Y and Z cuts and separates the subplates. The VSL-A also performs fully automatic breaking of float glass into subplates.

The following step is a manual breaking station operated by a technician who is also responsible for quality control. This operator transfers the float and laminated glass sheets to the loading table and completes the breaking of the float glass. From the loading table, the glass moves to a high-speed tilting table and then to the KSR & KSV seaming system, where the edges are seamed for safety and higher edge quality to prevent breakage during tempering. Before the seaming system, a laser marking system engraves useful information, such as a tempered glass logo automatically onto the glass.

Next, the glass passes through a washing machine with an integrated pre-wash zone, followed by a quality scanner. The glass is then conveyed to the feeder for the future sorting system. This entire process represents only phase 1 of a highly automated production facility.

Looking to the future, Olympic Glass has ambitious plans for further expansion together with LiSEC. They aim to continue leveraging automation to increase productivity and enhance the quality of their products. With this plan, the company plans to gain a foothold in the commercial market in addition to its already well-established position in the residential market.

In conclusion, Olympic Glass’s success story is one of innovation, dedication, and strategic partnerships. With a strong foundation and a clear vision for the future, they are well-positioned to continue their growth and maintain their status as a leader in the glass manufacturing industry. Gary Jenkins’s passion for quality and service, combined with the cutting-edge technology in terms of machinery and software from LiSEC, has created a winning formula that will drive Olympic Glass’s success for years to come.