The HEINZ-GLAS Group continues to invest in its German production sites. Shortly before Easter, the new electric glass melting furnace was inaugurated at the Kleintettau plant. The total cost of constructing the tank amounted to around EUR 13 million.
The construction of the electric furnace, involving numerous stages of work, took around 14 weeks, starting with draining and cooling the old furnace, dismantling and demolishing it, rebuilding the new glass melting furnace and finally tempering it.
The scale of this major project is particularly impressive when illustrated by a few figures regarding the materials moved:
- Within six days, 400 tonnes of refractory material, as well as 250 tonnes of glass, steel and other materials, were demolished and removed.
- Within 30 days, 450 tonnes of refractory material were transported and installed.
During a small inauguration ceremony, the management thanked all the departments and external contractors involved for their professional work on the project.
“Building a furnace is always a major undertaking that can only be achieved through teamwork,” said Carletta Heinz. “I am proud that we have successfully completed this project and that production has already started with the new furnace. My thanks go to everyone who contributed to this.”
Dr. Rolf Schieder then performed the ceremonial blessing of the new electric glass melting furnace, during which a hymn was sung. The new furnace was christened “Josephine”.
Afterwards, everyone gathered at the Kleintettau Volunteer Fire Brigade’s station to celebrate the joyful occasion of the furnace inauguration together. The new electric glass melting furnace melts the glass entirely using CO2-free electricity. Since 2024, only fully electric glass melting furnaces have been in use at the HEINZ-GLAS Group’s German production sites.