GPAD | Glass Processing Automation Days

The drive to reduce energy consumption through innovative products and technologies has never been stronger. Triple glazing with a thin glass inner pane is one of the possible solutions toward improving energy efficiency through greater thermal performance. Opportunity or pipe-dream, this presentation will look at the preserved manufacturing challenges and the why, what and who can mass produce it.

Viprotron is focused on providing accurate, repeatable data after the furnace to help customers produce tempered glass without distortions typically caused by heating and cooling glass. Our patented line scan camera technology enables the recently launched Temper Scanner 5D, with the all-new Rollerwave and Edge Kink channel, to deliver precise measurement data (+/- 2 millidiopters) for adjusting the furnace to minimize distortion. The Temper Scanner 5D includes the Anisotropy and Haze channels, giving customers comprehensive scan results with exceptionally reliable data for producing high quality tempered glass. Two more channels for detecting glass defects (ASTM C1036) and coating defects make the Temper Scanner 5D the most complete solution available after the furnace.

presented by Ric Schmidt, Viprotron

Laminated glass continues to be a growth area and with more people either getting into this process or looking to change the way they produce it, exploring all technologies is crucial. One fabricator did just that and in this session, you’ll hear how the entire process came together.  

presented by Kyle Lindersmith, Burkle North America with Bruce Wesner, PGT Industries

Automation and robotics are becoming more and more in demand in the glass industry. During this session, hear analysis of the steps every fabricator should go through when approaching this kind of projects. Learn how to begin, set goals and scopes, analyze benefits, educate people, avoid missteps, select the right partner and the right solution are key factors for success.

Issues on the tempering line can be some of the most costly in a glass factory. In this session, hear about the most common problems in tempering and learn what fabricators can do to immediately address issues, leading to improvements in quality, efficiency and profits.

This presentation will discuss the different types of distortions found in heat treated glass and explain why Optical Power in millidiopters is a better representation of distortion than typical peak-to-valley measurements. Additionally, there will be an overview of state-of-the-art tools and techniques available for measuring and analyzing the quality of heat-treated glass.

presented by Nate Huffman and Eric Hegstrom, LiteSentry-SoftSolution-Strainoptics

NGA's newest online training platform is custom-made for glass fabricators, available in the palm of their hands. Train new plant employees, get them up-to-speed quickly and keep them within your operation.

Through the adoption of robotics, we've raised safety standards by eliminating risks for glass edging operators. Concurrently, we can address bottlenecks and ensure consistent high-quality throughout. With over 50 robots worldwide, explore how a robotic system can fuel growth and establish a new industry standard for you and your customers.

presented by Federica Bovone and Johnathan Paredes, Bovone

Every glass fabricator is dealing with the same labor shortage. Automating manual processes can help, but incorporating automation can feel daunting. In this talk, Chris Cullum will walk you through strategies for building a sound foundation on which to build your automated factory. He will also cover: knowing what to expect once your automation is in operation, avoiding common missteps, training your team, and more.