Glass plant manufacturer BDF Boscato & Dalla Fontana Spa announced the signing of a US$ 20 million contract in April of this year for the construction of a turnkey glass container production plant at …
Glass plant manufacturer BDF Boscato & Dalla Fontana Spa announced the signing of a US$ 20 million contract in April of this year for the construction of a turnkey glass container production plant at the Chao Yang County Glass Factory, Chao Yang City, Liao Ning Province, in northern China. Situated in the western part of the province, the Chao Yang municipality is made up of two cities (Bei Piao and Ling Yuan ), three counties (Chao Yang, Jian Ping and Kalaqin) and two districts (Shuangta and Long Cheng). It has 3.2 million inhabitants and covers an area of 19,000 sq. km. In 1985, the State Council designated Chao Yang as one of China“s “open” cities. As such, it has been the object of special economic initiatives. The Chao Yang County Glass Factory, founded in 1958, is a glassworks run by the local government authorities. It is situated in the well-served urban area of Chao Yang City and occupies a total area of 32,000 sq. m., 10,000 sq. m. of which are covered. The factory has a 540-strong workforce which includes 61 engineers and technicians. The company has three divisions: – the pharmaceutical glass containers plant; – Jin Wang Glass Ware Ltd. (a joint venture with a US firm), which produces artistic glassware using traditional techniques; – the maintenance plant. According to Chao Yang County Glass Factory, current annual production of around 7,400 tonnes, for both the domestic market and for export, is insufficient to meet increasing demand, and therefore, in recent years, particular attention has been paid to increasing production and quality levels, as well as to broadening the company“s product range and boosting technological research. The contract, signed at the Italian company“s head office in Vicenza, Italy, during a visit by a trade delegation from Chao Yang City on 11-17 April, is for a complete glass container production plant with an annual capacity of approximately 50,000 tonnes, equivalent to around 120 million pieces (medicine bottles, jars, etc.). The aim of the project is not only to increase production of glass containers in Chao Yang, but also to raise quality levels in order to better satisfy the new requirements of both local and foreign markets. The plant, which will begin production in late 1997-early 1998, is highly automated throughout to ensure maximum performance in terms of efficiency and quality. Only in certain areas, where performance is not directly effected, has the level of automation been reduced in order to guarantee the use of local labour. According to Adamo Dalla Fontanta, managing director of BDF, one significant aspect which BDF had to take into account during the development of the project was the availability of energy sources in the area. Consequently, fuel oil and electricity, both readily available locally, were preferred to gas. All the “technological” components of the plant will be supplied by the Italian company, while “traditional” components will come from local suppliers, in accordance with BDF specifications. BDF will, then, be supplying a raw material mixing unit, a cullet treatment plant, a melting furnace, two automatic forming, heat treatment and coating lines, container inspection and packaging machinery, quality control laboratories, moulds, maintenance equipment and spare parts, and engineering, technical assistance and training of Chinese personnel. Meanwhile, civil engineering work, structural steelwork, electrical plant and fluid supply systems, lifting and transport vehicles and other equipment, as well as maintenance shop machinery, will be provided by local contractors.