Vitrum
2005 Visitors up 23%
The 14th edition of Vitrum, the Milan glass show held earlier this month,
recorded a healthy increase in the number of visitors, up nearly 23% over
the previous event, although the 2003 show was lower than average due
to being moved to June that year . Overall, during the four days of the
exhibition, 16,018 glass professionals visited the show, still below its
1997 peak of 16,702. There were 10,103 Italian professionals in attendance
(+24.89%), and 5,915 foreign visitors (+19.70%).
An increase in the number of exhibitors brought the total to 438 (269
from Italy, including direct and represented companies; and 169 foreign
exhibitors from 24 countries). There were 53 exhibitors from Germany,
18 from China and Hong Kong, 16 from the UK, 15 from the United States
and 8 from France and Spain.
Remarking
on the numbers of exhibitors and visitors at Vitrum 2005, Renata Gaffo
-the show's manager- said: 'these figures confirm the dual role that Vitrum
plays - as an elite observatory and a not-to-be-missed meeting place for
Italian and foreign professionals in the industry.'
The exhibition offered the latest technological advances in glass manufacturing
and processing. In fact, for each industry sector, exhibitors brought
forth a show full of innovative creations. Visitors were very impressed
with what they saw, and the exhibitors were content with the volume and
quality of the contacts produced during the four days of the fair.
As proof of the climate of business optimism generated, there have already
been numerous confirmations of participation in the next Vitrum, which
will be held in 2007, from October 3rd to 6th in the new Fiera Milano
Rho-Pero complex.
Appreciation ran high for the new exhibit layout that offered exhibitors
and visitors 5000 sq. m more compared to the past Vitrum, making it possible
for new exhibitors to participate, and to conduct comfortable business
meetings at all levels.
The Art & Technology show- the Past and Future of Glass, one of the
parallel events at Vitrum 2005, offered visitors a broad survey of historic
finds on loan from the museums of Colle Val d'Elsa and Altare, as well
as a look into the technologically advanced future of products, as envisioned
by the leading international manufacturers in this industry sector.
http://www.vitrum-milano.it/indexEng.htm
Successful
VITRUM 2005 for Bystronic
Bystronic
says that 'a decisive factor in VITRUM 2005 being so successful for the
company was the fact that Bystronic, in its role as a global supplier
of total solutions for the economical, application-engineered manufacture
of architectural and automotive glass, has an excellent reputation internationally.
‘With its system solutions, technologies and services for integrated
glass applications, the brand Bystronic stands for lasting customer benefit,
reliability and the best products on the market.’
Bystronic operates globally, with customer advice and services available
locally.
This year at the Bystronic exhibition stand in Hall 15 the following new
or advance developments were the focus of interest during 6 presentations
a day:
smart’lamicut
– Economical cutting of laminated glass
With its smart’lamicut, Bystronic-Armatec Technology presented a
semi-automatic cutting table for laminated glass with a previously unattainable
cost-to-performance ratio.
The smart’lamicut enables precise cutting and separating of laminated
glass jumbo sizes up to a max. 3.70 m cutting width in a diagonal cut.
All cutting, breaking and separating processes are automatically controlled.
Only one operator is required.
Further advantages:
- Precise positioning of shapes down to a millimetre using a positioning
aid.
- Accurate double cutting by a torsion-proof and bending-resistant cutting
bridge
with high-precision and stiff linear guides.
The smart’lamicut guarantees efficient processing of laminated glass
and is thus a good entry-level solution for laminated glass cutting.
spacerbender
– Fast spacer-bending machine
On the automatic spacer-bending machine of Bystronic-Lenhardt Technology
- spacerbender – both aluminium and plastic spacers can be accurately
bent.
It excels on account of its productivity, quality and flexibility.
The cycle time achieved sets new standards through simultaneous saw cutting
and bending of the fourth corner, with the result that the spacerbender
is currently the fastest automatic machine on the market.
There is no need to change tools for bending different spacer widths and
radii.
The integrated coupling tool ensures a continuous production process is
given through endless connection of the spacer bars.
A drum storage for 8 profile widths enables material to be changed quickly.
The integrated residual recovery buffers the unused profile rests up to
the next processing.
desiccantfiller
AT – integrated frame processing
The new desiccantfiller AT of Bystronic-Lenhardt Technology performs filling
of spacer frames with desiccant fully automatically without manual intervention.
The automatic operation includes transport of the frames to and from the
machine.
In combination with the butyl coating robot butyler BA, the processing
of spacer frames is completely automated.
The sequence of process steps after bending of the spacer profiles may
be retained.
The logistics will be simplified with the first-in / first-out-process.
Due to the desiccant filling and transporting in parallel operations shortest
cycle times are possible.
The drilling of the fill holes is centred in the back of the spacer profile.
A clean filling will be guaranteed by the sensor-controlled filling operation.
The new desiccantfiller AT is suitable for the processing of aluminium-,
steel-, stainless steel as well as plastic spacer profiles.
first’arris
– Arrissing on highest level
With its automatic arrissing machine first’arris Bystronic presented
yet another innovation for economic high quality arrissing.
It enables the automated arrissing of rectangles and shapes with straight
edges.
In doing so the cup wheel technology used ensures the finest arrissing
quality at low operation costs.
The first’arris can not only be deployed in the production of insulating
glass as an integrated constituent in a line, but can also be used as
a stand-alone solution in tempered glass and laminated glass manufacturing.
Further advantages of the first’arris are its space-saving, compact
design, the integrated rinsing zone that preserves the water demineralising
of the washing machine and the contactless processing of low-E glass.
smart’line
MULTISTEP – Manufacturing of up to 4-sided stepped I.G. units
The smart’line MULTISTEP (pictured below) is a versatile insulating
glass production line with manual sealing area. It is suited for the efficient
manufacturing of up to 4-sided stepped insulating glass units.
It requires a minimum of space and is simple to operate. It can be used
for processing of metallic or plastic spacer profiles.
The flexibility of this line was demonstrated with a workshop-type production
batch of 10 different I.G. units.
Handling
equipment – for quick and safe glass handling (pictured above)
Besides the above mentioned exhibits Bystronic-Armatec Technology presented
also its extensive product range of handling equipment for quick and safe
glass handling.
E.g. the glass manipulator Easy-Lift guarantees a quick and safe glass
transport with a guided hoisting mechanism. Due to the step less adjustable
hoisting speed an exact and careful positioning is possible.
The further core competencies of Bystronic
• automotive glass pre-processing solutions
• complete solutions for laminated glass manufacturing
• total solutions for glass tempering and bending
were presented at multimedia terminals or communication areas within the
booth.
Conclusion
of VITRUM 2005
With these exhibits at VITRUM 2005 Bystronic convincingly proved that
it is possible to manufacture insulating glass cost efficiently and meet
standards of high quality while enjoying an excellent price/performance
ratio. These solutions can be expanded individually and upgraded with
a wide range of additional components responding to customer’s requirements.
In comparison to the last exhibition, VITRUM 2005 experienced an increase
of the number of attendants. The Bystronic booth proved to be a central
place of action also in this years´ show where the national and
international visitors could be convinced of the efficiency and flexibility
of the Bystronic system solutions.
The quality and technical competence of the international customers and
interested parties was very high. Alongside numerous contracts concluded
with internationally renowned companies, many extremely interesting contacts
were also made, so that one can look forward confidently to further, successful
exhibition business.
Web: http://www.bystronic-glass.com
Isoclima
Debuts Next Generation SPD Light-Control Film at Vitrum
Isoclima
S.p.A.,
under license from Research Frontiers Incorporated showcased its new second-generation
SPD-Smart light control film at Vitrum 2005, the first public display
of second-generation SPD-Smart film, which has been produced by Isoclima
on large-scale roll-to-roll coating equipment.
The film's characteristics include wide-widths (the film exhibited was
0.6 meters x 2.0 meters), fast switching speeds (1-3 seconds), wide range
of light transmission, and excellent optical properties. Isoclima plans
to introduce even wider films of up to 1.4 meters into the market.
Alberto Bertolini, General Director of Isoclima, noted: 'This is the culmination
of over three years of development work between Isoclima and Research
Frontiers on SPD film and end-products. We have been working closely with
other licensees of Research Frontiers as well as directly with our customers
in the automotive industry on various projects incorporating SPD-Smart
glass which we market under the trademark ChromaLite™. We also have
been working to introduce other SPD product applications into the architectural
and marine glass markets, because we see SPD technology having great potential
there as well.'
SPD-Smart windows allow users to instantly and precisely control the amount
of light, glare and heat coming into a home, office, or vehicle by adjusting
the light transmission of the SPD film used in these products. The darkness
of SPD film and end-products can be adjusted automatically (using an ordinary
photocell or other sensing device) or manually by simply turning a dial.
SPD film has wide applicability in a variety of SPD-Smart products including
architectural, automotive, aircraft and marine windows, as well as in
instantly adjustable variable tint eyewear such as sunglasses or ski goggles.
In a window, sunroof, or other product using VaryFast™ SPD-Smart™
technology, the user can manually or automatically 'tune' the amount of
light, glare and heat coming into a home, office, aircraft, train or other
vehicle.
SPD-Smart windows, which can reduce energy consumption, also block over
99% of harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation to protect occupants and greatly
reduce the fading of carpets, furniture, and artwork. Additional information
about SPD-Smart windows and other products can be found at http://www.SmartGlass.com
About Isoclima S.p.A
With expertise in high-technology glass, speciality glass and plastics,
Isoclima produces high-end quality products for the automotive, building,
aerospace, railway and marine markets. Isoclima has over 1.2 million square
feet of manufacturing facilities in nine factories located in Italy, Mexico
and Croatia that produce curved and flat laminated, impact-resistant,
bullet-resistant, and other speciality glass products including patterned
glass and low-iron glass for solar collectors and photovoltaic panels.
Isoclima is ISO 9001 certified and is part of the Finind Group. Additional
information about Isoclima may be found on the Internet at http://www.isoclima.net.
Below are a few pictures to provide a flavour of the event:
(Left) Derek Bonnard with Steve Clarkson and Jeremy Kemp of Padiham Glass
who purchased the Forel Superspacer IG Line (Right) New Hegla laminate
cutting table bought by AC Yule
(Left) Bimatech, the CNC division of Bottero, showed edging and brilliant
cutting machinery; (Right) the customary UK Media position at one of the
balcony bars.
(Left) The view from the UK Media Position (Right) Tamglass introduces
the Sonic high convection tempering furnace which offers the fastest throughput
speeds for low e
The GP&T team, looking forward to a head to head against Vitrum in
2007; (Right) the For.El Super Spacer line, available in the UK via Promac.
(Right) Apart from the usual live demonstrations of uv bonding and decorative
glass manufacture, Bohle exhibited the Super Drill Eco, its first double
sided, fully automatic drilling machine (Right) Bystronic exhibited a
wide range of ig production equipment, including a new spacer bender.