Since commissioning a second float glass production line in 2019, AGC Vidros do Brasil reports strong operational performance in its core float, mirror, coating and automotive glass fabrication businesses. Fabio Oliveira (President) and Isidoro Lopes (General Manager, Building and Industrial Glass for South America) highlight some of the organisation’s current activities. This article was researched and written prior to the spread of the Covid-19 pandamic and the full version appears in the July/August issue that has been mailed globally and is also available now free of charge in the digital archive*.

For glass plant operators, manufacturers, plant and machinery builders, as well as glass processors and finishers, it is a good time either to join or expand the world of connectivity. The IIoT (Industrial Internet of Things) offers many opportunities, as Tobias Wachtmann explains. The full version of this article appears in the July/August issue that has been mailed globally and is also now available free of charge in the digital archive*.

Winner of the Glass Focus Apprentice of the Year Award 2019, Joe Boyd recently completed his apprenticeship as a Control and Instrumentation Engineer at Saint-Gobain Glass UK. Joe spoke to Glass Worldwide about his achievements at one of the UK’s leading flat glass manufacturers, some of the skills acquired via the company’s apprenticeship programme and how national glass industry award recognition has reinforced his career aspirations. The full version of this article appears in the July/August issue that has been mailed globally and is also now available free of charge in the digital archive*.

Dipl-Ing Bernhard Fleischmann summarises the glass relevant results of the SynErgie project and describes an idea that unfolds from numerous discussions about CO2 emissions and reduction. The idea of a closed CO2 loop is drafted that still uses fuels, however renewable fuels, to melt glass. The concept allows compensating the fluctuations of renewable electric power regarding availability, with the possibilities to store electric energy when disposable as synthetic fuel. This article is based on a paper presented at the GlassTrend sessions during the 25th International Congress on Glass
(ICG2019) in Boston, USA in June 2019 and the full version appears in the July/August issue that has been mailed globally and is also now available free of charge in the digital archive*.

As President of the Japan Glass Bottle Association (JGBA) and the Ishizuka Glass Group, Hisatsugu Ishizuka spoke exclusively to Glass Worldwide, preferred journal of the JGBA, about prevailing market conditions in Japan, the priorities of the association and his company’s diverse activities in traditional and advancing sectors. The full version of this article appears in the Focus Japan feature in the May/June issue that has been mailed globally and is also available now free of charge in the digital archive*.

Reportedly, some of Russia’s biggest float glass plants are considering expansion plans, as exports show signs of growth and as margins increase. Vladislav Vorotnikov reports. The full version of this article appears in the May/June issue that has been mailed globally and is also available now free of charge in the digital archive*.

A shift in mindset has finally begun within the glass container manufacturing industry and focus is now moving towards a carbon-free future. Everyone in the industry should be excited to hear the latest news about several hybrid and all-electric melting initiatives becoming a reality. The need for larger installed power supplies brings new design challenges, as well as interesting opportunities. Choosing a power supply provider with a high level of expertise is key to achieving the most energy-efficient and cost-effective solution, says René Meuleman. The full version of this article appears in the May/June issue that has been mailed globally and is also available now free of charge in the digital archive*.

In the face of the escalating international Coronavirus pandemic, Stuart Hakes outlines some of the activities planned by the Society of Glass Technology during 2020. The full version of this article appears in the May/June issue that has been mailed globally and is also available now free of charge in the digital archive (sponsored by FIC)*.

Digitalisation has become a key topic for almost all businesses in the glass industry and the necessary technologies are now available. But along with progress come new questions: For example, how to start the digitalisation process and where? And what are the benefits to the bottom line? Learning more about digital twins will bring readers closer to the answers, says Bernhard Saftig. The full version of this article appears in the May/June issue that has been mailed globally and is also available now free of charge in the digital archive*.