According to LandGlass, a stable glass tempering process depends on more than just good hardware. It relies on a skilled operator to handle the changes in production. From adjusting for different glass types to fixing small errors, the operator is the secret to keeping the process stable and the quality high.
Glass is not always the same
An operator must adjust the settings to match the glass being used. First, thickness varies. Glass labelled as 4 millimetre is often actually around 3.85 millmetre. Thinner glass heats up faster, which changes how heat moves through it.
Second, the glass composition varies. For example, Glaverbel (low-iron white glass) and Pilkington (green float glass) are different. Green glass absorbs heat faster. Even if the furnace temperature is set exactly the same for both, the stress levels inside the glass can differ by 5 to 8 percent. If an operator just uses the standard “book settings,” the glass will heat unevenly, leading to poor quality. A skilled operator will check the actual glass temperature and tweak the heating time.
By adjusting for the real thickness and glass type, they ensure every sheet gets the right amount of heat, stopping problems before they start.
Saving glass with poor edges
The operator is also critical when the glass has edge defects. Chips or poor edge-work create weak spots. These spots break easily during the sudden cooling (quench) phase. With normal settings, over 20 percent of glass with poor edges might break in the furnace. This ruins production stability. However, a professional operator can look at the edges and spot the risk. A professional operator can assess the severity of the defects by observing the edge quality. They then take targeted measures to bring the loss rate down to within 5 percent, effectively avoiding disruptions to the process.
An operator can spot early signs of trouble by looking at the flatness of the glass or checking stress data. They can quickly adjust the heating power or cooling time to fix these small errors. This prevents a small drift from turning into a major breakdown.
In short, a stable tempering process comes from the combination of “Machine Precision + Operator Skill.” The operator fine-tunes the settings and avoids risks. Their skill level decides the quality of your final product. To keep a tempering furnace running smoothly, you must value the operator.