Forming is where a glass producer spends capital, so the announcements in this space matter more than any other. Here is what changed this year, and what to ask before signing.
Sectional machines
The gains are in changeover time rather than raw speed, which matters more than most published specifications suggest. Ask for changeover time measured at production settings, not at line speed.
Servo transfer
Servo-driven transfer sections are now standard on premium lines. The benefit is alignment repeatability; the cost is maintenance competence.
Annealing control
Closed-loop lehr control has moved from pilot to mainstream. This is the least glamorous and most consequential item on the list.
Questions to ask
What is the measured MTBF on the wear components? Who services it, and where? What is the worst-case changeover? If the answers are vague, the machine is early.
