Page 55 - Glass-Technology International no. 3-2019
P. 55

gone from glass proces-  course, our goal is to be
           sors not even knowing what   able to cater for large glass
           chemical tempering was   sizes, but right now we are
           to now receiving continu-  offering ‘tailor-made’ con-
           ous requests and contacts   struction – which is what
           for information about our   we have done for AGC in
           plants.                  Belgium.

           Gianfranco Rivaroli: Just   GTI: What were the main re-
           think of the glass sector and   quests of AGC?
           the many different types of   Gianfranco Rivaroli:  Their
           glass that we now have,   main request was that of a 2
           all with their own specif-  x 1.2-metre furnace, which
           ics and safety regulations,   they are using in the de-
           and so on. The changes in   velopment of their special
           the approach and requests   Falcon glass, similar to the
           for information regarding   special glass types on the
           chemical tempering came   market for use in devices
           about more or less with the   such as phones and tablets.
           introduction of laminated   These glass types can be
           glass, where chemical tem-  tempered in four hours.
           pering can actually help
           reduce the thickness of the   GTI: Tell us about the timing
           glass used while ensuring   regarding the supply of this
           the same mechanical re-  furnace.
           sistance as glass thermally   Gianfranco Rivaroli: The first
           tempered.                contact was in May 2018,
           Glass tempered thermally   and we delivered the furnace
           is usually not so flat, with   in November 2018, followed
           consequent optical distor-  by installation and commis-
           tions over large surfaces.   sioning. And the plant was
           On the other hand, chemi-  put into operation at the be-
           cally tempered glass is a lot   ginning of this year.
           flatter as tempering is car-
           ried out at a lower temper-  Gianfranco Rivaroli: We have
           ature during which glass   also supplied a smaller-
           does not deform. This    sized plant for Schott Ger-
           means that today’s archi-  many.
           tects are requesting chemi-
           cally tempered glass more   Roberta Cometti: These two
           and more.                important steps – a smaller
                                    company like ours working
           COLLABORATION            alongside the biggest inter-
           WITH AGC, BELGIUM        national top brands – have
           Roberta Cometti: This is   been made possible thanks
           why, other than our stand-  to Rivaroli, of course, but
           ard machines, we are now   also due to our way of
           more flexible – offering   working and contacting
           customization as far as   these top players. Here at
           sizes are concerned. Of   RCN, we are able to supply




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