Thompson I.G., enhances its already high commitment to quality glass products by installing a FeneVision LineScanner automated quality scanner.
Thompson I.G., a leading supplier of fabricated glass for the commercial, residential architectural and recreational, mass transit and commercial vehicle markets, is upping its already high commitment to quality glass products. Located in Fenton, Michigan, Thompson I.G. serves customers throughout North America with innovative and high-performance insulating, tempered, laminated, specialty, digitally printed and Pleotint’s Suntuitive dynamic glass products.
To help ensure its flagship insulating glass products are defect-free, the company has installed a FeneVision LineScanner automated quality scanner after the washer and before the build station.
LineScanner detects inclusions, scratches, fingerprints, stains, chips and more. Thompson’s LineScanner is fully integrated with their production system and provides logo check to ensure the logo on each unit is in the right location.
“We offer our glazing contractor and manufacturer customers a practically unlimited range of aesthetic and technological choices,” said Lorne Flaig, vice president of customer and supplier services for Thompson I.G. “Automating inspection before an essential production step has improved our outcomes and yield.”
Founded in 1989, Thompson can produce IG units up to 80 by 138 inches and offers warm edge spacers, low-e coatings and argon fills. It has two cutting lines, a tempering oven with convection heat and advanced lamination and autoclave technology and makes specialty glass, digitally printed and spandrel glass.
“Our emphasis is on customer service, short lead times and high-performance products,” Flaig said. “The LineScanner helps us get more product right and to the customer when they want it.”
Nate Huffman of FeneTech, Inc., which sells the FeneVision LineScanner in North America, said, “Automated scanners helps operators consistently find glass defects and confirm the size and fabrication locations. It can be used on individual lites as well as dual and triple IG’s.”
The LineScanner is accurate at speeds of up to 180 feet per minute and can be made up to almost 11 feet wide (3.3 meters). Mounting can be horizontal or vertical with as little as 2.75 inches clearance to the glass.