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What Are the Parts of a Glass Production Line?

Paul Scott
Paul Scott

Glass production is generally broken down into two main categories, namely those processes used to manufacture plate, and blown, or molded, products. Although each category features a multitude of separate, specialist products, the basic glass production line layout for each remains similar for most products. Plate, or float, glass is a flat sheet product primarily used for glazing products such as window panes and partitions. In these factories, molten glass is passed across the surface of a bath of molten tin producing a sheet of finished glass of predictable thickness and excellent surface quality. Blown, or molded, glass facilities manufacture bottles, jars, and decorative items from small pieces of molten glass that are either blown manually in the open or mechanically into molds.

Glass is a hugely prolific product encountered in a host of different forms in everyday life. It is, however, generally encountered in only one of two basic forms — flat plate glass in mirrors, partitions, and windows, and a multitude of containers and ornamental items. Glass products are made using either float or blown glass processes, each of which features a large number of specialist procedures for the manufacture of specific products such as impact- and heat-resistant or self-cleaning glass. The float glass production line is used to make the flat glass sheets found in window glazing and other plate products. Blown glass facilities make bottles and ornaments either manually or by automated glass production line methods.

A glass bottle.
A glass bottle.

The float glass production line typically starts with a batching process where raw materials, such as soda lime, silica sand, and calcium oxide, are mixed with cullet, or re-cycled glass. This mixture is then send to a multi-chambered furnace where it is heated to approximately 2,732° Fahrenheit (1,500° Celsius), reducing it to a molten state. The molten glass is then floated out onto a bath of molten tin at a temperature of approximately 1,832° Fahrenheit (1,000° Celsius). As the tin is highly fluid and the glass highly viscous, the two don't mix with the glass, forming a perfectly flat sheet of between 0.11 inch (3 mm) and 1 inch (25 mm) thick. Once the glass sheet passes over the tin bath, it has cooled enough to be sent into a annealing oven, or lehr, to remove heat stress, after which it is cut and stored for distribution.

Many glass products are made in factory production lines, but some artisan glass blowers still use blowpipes to inflate and shape molten glass into items such as vases, bottles or cups.
Many glass products are made in factory production lines, but some artisan glass blowers still use blowpipes to inflate and shape molten glass into items such as vases, bottles or cups.

A blown glass production line differs in layout according to the intended end products involved. Ornamental items are typically hand blown by picking up a lump of molten glass from a furnace on a blow pipe and physically blowing air into it to form the rough item. The glass blower turns the item constantly, adds or cuts off pieces of molten glass, and flattens or bulges certain sections to form the finished product. Utilitarian glass jars and bottles are generally made on large, automated glass production lines that blow regularly-sized pieces of molten glass into molds. These products are passed through several annealing, embossing, and forming processes to toughen the glass, to add decoration, or to shape screw cap threads before completion and distribution.

Discussion Comments

anniunique

How to issue the product?

voordal

Can anyone suggest a glass factory where visitors are welcomed to observe the glass process? It sounds like a great vacation stop.

Ahmerus
Blowing glass doesn't seem as complicated a process as the float glass process. What's more, it is a prettier process. I have seen glass being blown and it is an art form. It still requires a great amount of heat, but watching it being blown is so much fun. I would encourage anyone that has the opportunity to observe glass being blown, to go for it!
mohawkninja

Very informative. I never heard of "float" glass before. That is quite a process and would be something to see! The annealing oven ensures that the glass will not crack or break while it cools? Funny, considering the oven is 1832 degrees Fahrenheit.

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    • A glass bottle.
      By: Elnur
      A glass bottle.
    • Many glass products are made in factory production lines, but some artisan glass blowers still use blowpipes to inflate and shape molten glass into items such as vases, bottles or cups.
      By: Alexei Novikov
      Many glass products are made in factory production lines, but some artisan glass blowers still use blowpipes to inflate and shape molten glass into items such as vases, bottles or cups.
    • Silica sand is a raw material used in making glass.
      By: Khorzhevska
      Silica sand is a raw material used in making glass.
    • Glass products are made using either float or blown glass processes.
      By: Faraways
      Glass products are made using either float or blown glass processes.
    • Plate glass may be used to make windows.
      By: dbrus
      Plate glass may be used to make windows.