On 11 July, Maasglas, the Dutch subsidiary of the Belgian Glaverbel group, inaugurated its new magnetron unit for production of low-emissivity glass. Known as “high yield glass”, this superinsulating …
On 11 July, Maasglas, the Dutch subsidiary of the Belgian Glaverbel group, inaugurated its new magnetron unit for production of low-emissivity glass. Known as “high yield glass”, this superinsulating product offers superior protection against the cold. The new production line, situated in the Dutch town of Tiel, is fully automated and equipped with the very latest technology. It produces large dimension sheets measuring 6 x 3.21 m, with an annual capacity of around 3.75 million sq. m. (depending on market requirements). Superinsulating glass meets a new and rapidly growing demand, spurred on by legislation encouraging thermal insulation in the Netherlands and Germany. To meet this demand, the Glaverbel group has teamed up with several large German partners (Isoglas, Hero-Glas and Protherm) and one Swiss firm (VIM) in order to make maximum use of the installed capacity. A joint venture has been set up in the Netherlands by Glaverbel (holding 65%) and these partners. The new plant, representing an investment of around BFr 550 million, will, according to Glaverbel, increase the group“s capacity as well as its performance. The location of the magnetron line near the Maasglas float glass plant in Tiel will not only save on transport costs for supplying the target market, but will also permit better control of production costs, the Belgian group states. With its float glass furnace and its own double glazing workshop, Maasglas now has upstream production of glass in large dimensions which it assembles downstream into high-performance glazing. The Glaverbel group already has two magnetron lines for producing low-emissivity and antisolar glass in its Lodelinsart plant in Belgium. With this third line, it now has a network offering more reliable and effective coverage of all the markets served.