O-I to Deploy PaneraTech’s Continuous Refractory Monitoring
O-I recently selected PaneraTech’s continuous refractory monitoring solution, Polaris, for deployment in the bottom of multiple furnaces on three continents. O-I has worked with PaneraTech for several years to regularly inspect several furnaces around the globe with portable SmartMelter sensors. This started with a few furnaces and has gradually expanded over time. When Polaris was introduced, O-I quickly understood how this technology would complement periodic inspections.
Inspections with portable sensors are used to record a snapshot of the refractory condition at a specific time. The data from these inspections has helped O-I to plan necessary repairs as well as run assets to meet their planned down times. With this valuable data in mind, O-I moved forward with continuous monitoring to reduce the risk of unexpected and unplanned furnace upsets.
“Because of the great success we have had with SmartMelter over the last several years, we had no hesitation about installing Polaris,” said Jon Wechsel, Melting Refractory & Steel Strategy Leader at O-I. “This upgrade will help O-I to confidently schedule repairs to meet planning, design, purchasing, and customer requirements.”
“It is now more vital to understand these new melting technologies that heavily rely on electrical melting early on,” said Yakup Bayram, CEO of PaneraTech. “Polaris will help manufacturers understand these unknown factors much more quickly.”
