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With all this statistical analysis, out. We’ve also been able to
part design and quality testing run controlled tests with raw
going on, our lab became increas- material suppliers to find bet-
ingly crowded! It was great to be ter specifications that boost the
so busy, but the quality work performance of our mixes – all
left less room for R&D, which in the lab, with no interruption
was engaged in major efforts to manufacturing.
to develop new production lines We’ve appointed a ceramic
and two potential products. It engineer, Andrew Domann, and
became clear that the lab should given him his own area to run
consolidate some functions while tests and manage our links with
gaining some extra space. industry consultants and universi-
ties. These include our work with
Extra space and the nearby Missouri University of
equipment for testing Science and Technology, where
So, later in 2017, managers we collaborate with experts in
approved the reallocation of the glass, ceramics and refractories
west side of the second floor at and access some of the world’s
Owensville for our R&D lab. The most advanced analytical equip-
space had been a casting area ment.
for manufacturing as recently
as 2015, and still contained the BENEFITS FOR
equipment for these past produc- MANUFACTURING TOO
tion lines: three counters with Manufacturing has benefitted
overhead hoists and rails, and a too. In the past, if casting was
much larger central area with an having an issue with a part or
overhead hoist system. mix, we would have to trace
The extra space and equip- the process in manufacturing – ment and sales personnel. In par-
ment has allowed us to stream- effectively, watching them lose allel, we’ll be testing new and
line activities in the lab. Standard another part so we could find out upcoming offerings so sales can
testing now includes batch mois- what to fix. Now, parts are sent keep customers informed of new
tures, mix flow rates, density, to the lab for process improve- developments. The tests includ-
porosity, modulus of rupture, ments, changes are recorded in ed in this system include blis-
green shrinkage and fired shrink- standard operating procedures ter potential, dynamic corrosion,
age, along with chemistry and and the part is passed back to thermal shock and vapour cor-
XRD tests carried out at uni- manufacturing for implementa- rosion.
versities. All incoming materials tion. We still follow the imple- Suppliers and customers often
are controlled via certificate of mentation, but without getting visit the Owensville plant to see
analysis parameters, and all fine in the way of normal production. these new tests in action, and to
raw materials undergo an addi- Finally, customers will also see for themselves BEG’s refrac-
tional flow test to control mixing benefit from our new equipment tory expertise. O
parameters. for processing lab specimens.
Previously, we would usually have
Developing new mixes to use manufacturing equipment
Using our expanded research for this, after normal produc-
area, we can develop new mixes, tion hours. As a result, preparing
some with new raw materials, customers’ test specimens had
right through to manufacturing to be scheduled, and often took EMHART GLASS
sized parts for customer trial. too long. We’ve also sharpened
We’ve also begun pilot-scale up our processes for managing MANUFACTURING INC.
manufacturing with new form- customer projects and tracking 405 East Peach Avenue - Po Box 580
ing processes, to test for further parts, samples and reports. Owensville, MO 65066 - USA
material property enhancements. Very soon, we will have col- Tel.: +1 - 573 - 4372132
Materials for experiments can be lected enough SPC data to offer Fax: +1 - 573 - 4373146
pre-staged, allowing us to use the best refractory offering for www.emhartglass.com
the same material lots through- specific applications to manage-

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