This year, Glasstech has expanded into an area it understands quite well, processing of parts for solar energy collection.
Glasstech’s specialized systems, based on its production-proven technology, are ideal for bending glass parts for parabolic troughs used in concentrated solar power applications as well as for the extremely flat panels used in photovoltaic solar modules.
Reporters and media representatives are urged to visit Glasstech in Hall 13, C49, during the show. Appointments and interviews are encouraged and can be arranged in advance by contacting Matt Schroder (mschroder@hartinc.com) prior to the beginning of the show.
Glasstech Features High-productivity Automotive,
Architectural and Solar Glass Systems at Glasstec 2008
Perrysburg, Ohio, U.S.A. Glasstech, Inc., the leading innovator of bending and tempering systems for the worldwide automotive, architectural and solar glass markets, will feature an array of the world’s most innovative and advanced glass processing systems at glasstec 2008, October 21 to 25, at the Dusseldorf Fairgrounds, Dusseldorf, Germany, Hall 13, C49.
Automotive Systems
The EPB family of systems includes the following three systems:
- EPB-L™ system for forming and annealing windshield glass
- EPB-T-SS™ system for forming and tempering a single-stream of sidelites
- 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 automotive industry-leading Advanced Bending and Tempering System for Deep Bend™ Automotive Glass, the DB 4. 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 up to approximately 40 percent.
Architectural Systems
Glasstech’s FCH2 Forced Convection System, fired by natural gas, can heat clear glass at a typical rate of 30 seconds per millimeter of thickness and high-performance, soft-coat Low-E glass at a typical rate of 33 seconds per millimeter. This reduced heating time yields higher quality, dramatically improves productivity and reduces processing cost.
Solar Systems
Glasstech’s technology meets the solar energy industry’s burgeoning demand for flat and bent glass substrates. Glasstech has developed specialized systems that meet the solar industry’s requirement for repeatability, tight specifications and cost effectiveness.
The CRB-S forms constant radius shapes, J-bends and the other parabolic trough shapes using patented, computer-controlled technology, instead of dedicated tooling. Shape changes on the CRB-S take only minutes. Additionally, the CRB-S can produce low-stress glass for lamination and heat strengthened or fully tempered glass parts with minimal system changes. And, as the system utilizes no molds, energy savings versus a gravity sag mold process is significant, since only the glass is heated in the Glasstech CRB-S.
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. The ERH-S processes these glass parts at fast cycle times with highly accurate perimeter and surface tolerances.
For a system that also will process Low-E glass, an electric convection heater can be selected as an option.
Auto Glass Inspection
Glasstech’s recently introduced AutoGlassInspector™ (AGI) efficiently and automatically 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 AGI’s powerful state-of-the-art analysis computer scrutinizes a part in less than 10 seconds and displays the results on a video screen. This affordable solution is usable on Glasstech and other glass processing systems.
About Glasstech
Glasstech, Inc., based in Perrysburg, Ohio, is the leading, world-class innovator of highly productive bending and tempering systems used to supply the worldwide automotive, architectural and solar glass markets. Glasstech glass bending and tempering systems have become standards for the efficient fabrication of high-quality glass products.