The verifier goes Walkabout

I decided to go to Glasstec by ferry, leaving these shores in a slow but comfortable manner in one of P&O’s finest. After three and a bit hours’ drive from Rotterdam, including an unscheduled tour Düsseldorf, I booked into one of the local Holiday Inns. I finally made my way to the Messe (exhibition centre) and as expected, the place was a hive of activity.

It is no doubt that robots rule the flat glass machinery halls today. Technology has been refined to such an extent that even the smallest glass entrepreneur cannot afford to ignore the march of progress.

Vitrododi, a small family-run company from Italy, presented a new straight line edger that addresses the problem of downtime. Access to the polishing wheels is just a simple matter of turning two retaining levers and pressing a button. The wheels are rolled out for the operator to work on. A simple idea but so useful.

Also look out for Vitrododi’s new Vit-Lift, a handling device that seems well-suited for moving big pieces of glass in public places.

The glass suppliers present included Schott, Saint Gobain, Interpane and Nippon Sheet Glass. A portion of the NSG stand showed a double glazed unit that was a genuine vacuum, sealed at the edges with small micro glass stools between the glass to maintain the cavity. Interesting it was, but I can’t help thinking that I have seen this before and not in the last decade! The display claimed an impressive U value of 0.7, based on calculations, but not ratified by field tests.

Strolling down the next hall I found a large crowd looking at a wondrous little bit of machinery that allowed the glazing of roofs by means of a powered tower with a lifting suction bar attached. This multi-plane head allowed the safe installation of double glazed units and to add to the attractiveness you can fold it up and either tow it behind a Transit-type van or put it inside. Another good bit of thinking that will save both time and money. They call it a ‘Scheibenbutler’ or ‘Wienoldlifte’ from Norbert Wienold Gmbh.

One thing I did notice was the great number of Chinese machinery people exhibiting at the show. But be careful when you buy: watch out for issues with patent infringement and spare parts supply. Some UK companies have already been bitten.

Gary Dean of Bohle, knowing my love of glass and all things allied, dragged me over to his stand to show me Bohle’s new long life cutting wheel. They have made it snazzy by plating it in a gold colour but that’s just marketing. Take a good look at this little gem. It will save you money and reduce down time on your cutting machines.

There is so much to see at Glasstec. For anyone in this side of the business, it’s a fabulous few days.