Consistency, Speed and Quality: Kristal’s New Standard with a LiSEC Glass Cutting Line

Founded in 1994, Kristal d.o.o. has grown from a small glass workshop into one of the leading processors and distributors of flat glass in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Today, the company is led by Nikola Franjić (CEO) and his daughter Matea Franjić (Executive Director) and employs around 230 people in modern production facilities covering approximately 25,000 m² at its locations in Vitez (Bosnia and Herzegovina) and Trilj (Croatia). In Vitez a new LiSEC glass cutting line was installed recently.

Kristal at a glance

Kristal offers a broad range of processed flat-glass products, including insulating glass units, safety glass and customized solutions for interior and exterior applications. The company distinguishes itself through extensive processing capabilities, strong technical expertise, flexibility and a clear focus on quality.

Customers benefit from tailored solutions and comprehensive support across the entire project lifecycle – from technical consulting to delivery and installation. Kristal supplies window and façade manufacturers, glass processors, furniture producers and construction companies, with a strategic focus on advanced technologies, efficient production, regional and EU market growth, and sustainable, resource-efficient glass solutions.

More than 20 years of cooperation with LiSEC

The cooperation between Kristal and LiSEC began more than 20 years ago. At the time, Kristal was looking for reliable machinery and comprehensive solutions across multiple glass processing steps. The company first became aware of LiSEC through European trade fairs, where LiSEC consistently positioned itself among the leading technology providers in the glass processing industry.

"We started working with LiSEC because we needed reliable machines and good solutions. LiSEC offered a wide range of equipment for different processing stages", says Matea Franjić (Executive Director).

Today, Kristal owns several LiSEC machines, including glass cutting machines, BSV-45NK bending machines, desiccant-filling machines and a LBH-60M butyl extruder. In addition, the company has recently invested in a modern, fully automated LiSEC cutting line for laminated and float glass, combined with a digitally integrated crane solution for automated glass handling. The decision to invest in this solution was driven by clear objectives: higher automation, improved cutting precision, better material yield and stronger digital integration within production.

High-performance glass cutting line for continuous production

Kristal operates a LiSEC DSC‑A with LiTEC Temperature Control, combined with a LiSEC VSL‑A, setting new benchmarks in automation, quality and efficiency. At the end of 2025, the customer visited LiSEC’s Training Center, where they closely followed the live demonstration of the line. The high cutting speed and, in particular, the exceptionally consistent edge deletion results clearly demonstrated the performance of the DSC‑A technology and convinced Kristal of its advantages.

With the LiSEC DSC‑A system, Kristal processes float glass with stepped elements and black enamel coatings, achieving outstanding homogeneity and edge quality. The result is completely free of white lines – a unique quality feature enabled by the DSC‑A edge deletion technology with LiTEC Temperature Control.

The LiSEC VSL‑A allows Kristal to process laminated glass up to 4,700 × 3,210 mm without operator intervention. Integrated automatic rotation functions ensure consistently high quality throughout the entire process. Thanks to the LiTEC SIR foil heating, heating times of less than four seconds at 44.2 are achieved, enabling fast and continuous production while keeping interlayer heating (PVB/EVA) to a minimum.

In addition, the VSL‑A’s minimum edge and residual cut of just 20 mm significantly improves cutting layout optimization. This results in more efficient raw material usage, reduced glass waste and lower disposal costs. With this unique combination of technologies, Kristal has made a major investment in automation and quality to reliably serve the growing Balkan market.

Clear goals – and the right LiSEC technology to achieve them

Kristal’s goals were to increase production capacity, improve cutting precision, reduce breakage and edge defects, optimize cutting layouts and move toward a more digital and data-driven production environment. LiSEC’s cutting solutions provide the technological foundation to achieve these goals. Also, the LiSEC insulating glass lines for thermoplastic spacer application make LiSEC stand out from the rest. Matea Franjić (Executive Director) highlights: “LiSEC solutions help us increase productivity, reduce waste and raise overall process stability. This is a key factor in remaining competitive.”

A reliable, future-oriented partnership between LiSEC and Kristal

Kristal describes LiSEC as a company to work with in the future – reliable, competent and innovative. What defines the cooperation most is the trust built over many years, based on respecting agreements, dependable delivery and strong service support. As Matea Franjić (Executive Director) states: “LiSEC is reliable – they respect what is agreed upon, in delivery and in service.”

LiSEC’s innovation strength is particularly evident in automation, digital integration and process optimization. The combination of cutting technology with software-based cutting optimization, real-time process control and automated handling supports Kristal’s transition toward smart, digitally integrated glass manufacturing.

Market trends and future production strategy

The flat glass industry is evolving rapidly, with trends toward higher-performance glass solutions, stricter safety standards, greater customization and increasing digitalization. Kristal actively responds to these developments by continuously modernizing its production and investing in advanced technology.

Looking to the future, Kristal aims to further enhance automation, improve efficiency and quality and strengthen its market position in regional and EU markets. LiSEC will continue to play a key role in supporting these ambitions as a long-term technology partner.