Evolution, not revolution

GlassBuild America hosts updated, improved versions of machines and equipment

Most machines displayed at GlassBuild America: The Glass, Window & Door Expo in Las Vegas had one common trait: ease. Manufacturers have improved their machines for easier operation, maintenance and integration into fabrication lines.

“We haven’t seen anything revolutionary at this show,” said Howard Hanes, vice president for fabrication machinery supplier Salem Distribution Co. in Winston-Salem, N.C. “But we’re seeing improvements, many to automation and electronic control.”

One such updated machine that Salem Distribution displayed at the show was the Bohle Profil vertical drill. Improved electronics on the machine provide easier application, Hanes said.

Many manufacturers have made changes to their computer systems and the placement of the controls to make their machines easier to operate, said James Gulnick, sales manager for Tamglass America Inc. of Pittsburgh, Pa., the North American arm of Glaston Technologies companies Tamglass of Finland and Z. Bavelloni of Italy.

“People are looking for machinery to be as user friendly as possible so they don’t need people with as much experience, or they can have fewer people on the line,” Gulnick said.

If machine repair becomes necessary, fabricators also need the problem to be fixed quickly and conveniently. In response, Gulnick said Tamglass aims to build machines with simple parts that can be replaced by local vendors or parts that fabricators can replace themselves.

In addition to easy repair and replacement, fabricators also require easier maintenance and cleaning, said Ed Steinman, a factory representative for the glass industry. He represented Italian machine company Schiatti Angelo S.r.l. at the show.

“Machines need to not only be easier to operate, but also easier to maintain,” Steinman said.

For easier maintenance, Schiatti Angelo’s updated 50 series features a brush section that easily comes out in one piece. “If it’s simple and convenient, the operator won’t hesitate to clean the machine,” Steinman said. “That improves operation and keeps it running longer.”

Many machine updates from CMS North America Inc. of Caledonia, Mich., involve introducing more modular units into the production process, making it easier for managers to integrate equipment into their existing lines, said Saba Vasanthan, project manager for the company’s glass and stone division.

“Our machines have gone through improvements so they can be used independently in a customer’s facility, or they can buy different pieces for a whole production line,” Vasanthan said.