Warm Edge IG Production Up and Running at FGI

Float Glass Industries' investment in the latest warm edge IG production line, capable of producing some of the largest insulating glass units in the country, has been widely welcomed by the curtain walling and commercial glazing market. Testing is now complete and production of the first units is on target for February.

As part of its investment in large IG unit production, FGI is also installing the latest Hegla ProLam Cutting Table for automatic cutting of glass sheets up to 6000 x 3210mm and 19mm thick. The equipment features edge deletion and automatic X breakout for annealed glass and over 40 products will be available in jumbo size.

FGI's new Bystronic commercial IG production system utilising Thermo Plastic Spacer (TPS) warm edge technology satisfies a growing need for higher specification and added value commercial glazing to comply with increasingly stringent building regulations regarding energy efficiency.

TPS, manufactured by Kommerling, describes the all round, homogenous seal which reduces the heat transfer coefficient value of the window by up to 12% compared with a conventional edge seal with aluminium spacer bar. This results in a higher performance window offering significantly greater energy savings - an essential factor in modern commercial buildings. Indeed, TPS in domestic window systems is already proven to achieve an 'A' Window Energy Rating.

FGI's TPS production line is able to produce IG units up to 5m x 2.7m and each stage is automated and computer-controlled for efficient output and faster delivery times. An on-line inspection system ensures any imperfections within the glass are identified early for optimum quality thus ensuring units supplied to customers are of the highest possible standard practically eliminating the possibility of imperfections. Furthermore, TPS enables the versatile and flexible design of any shape with consistent quality via CAD-technology.

Summing up, Joint Managing Director Dawn Offland says, ‘FGI has the experience in the commercial sector together with the sound financial base and necessary infrastructure to succeed in a challenging market like IG units - and that's a winning combination for the company and its customers.’

Tel: 0161 946 8000
Web: http://www.floatglass.co.uk