Taiyo Nippon Sanso Corporation (TNSC) has successfully conducted a demonstration test with 100% hydrogen combustion to melt glass using a hydrogen–oxygen burner jointly developed with Nippon Electric Glass Co., Ltd.

The jointly developed hydrogen–oxygen burner can switch the mix ratio of natural gas and hydrogen as needed.

In the demonstration test to melt glass, it was confirmed that by adjusting the flow rate according to the ratio of mixing natural gas and hydrogen, the same melting capability could be obtained with either combustion fuelled using 100% hydrogen, or a mixture of both natural gas and hydrogen, or only natural gas.

Energy company E.ON and glass manufacturer AGC have strengthened their existing partnership with a joint project for waste heat recovery and production of green power at the float glass plant in Seingbouse, France.

The project will be developed, implemented, financed and operated by E.ON.

The heart of the glass production process is the float glass furnace which operates at temperatures above 1000°C.

About 30% of the heat needed for the production process at the end is lost in the flue gas and remained so far unused. E.ON and AGC Glass Europe want to change that.

At AGC's production site in Seingbouse, this heat will be recovered to generate CO2-neutral electricity by implementing an innovative Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) plant with a capacity of 1.3MW.

Stoelzle Glass Group has celebrated the first year of the family-owned company’s venture into the North American spirits market following the acquisition of the Stoelzle Monaca plant in March 2021.

The former Anchor Hocking Glass Company plant has undergone renovations to its plant facilities, enhanced employee safety protocols and equipment, and enjoyed a successful first year, working with the largest North American spirits customers to provide a local production option, all launching in the midst of a pandemic.

Pilkington United Kingdom Limited has launched a new range of glass products, Pilkington Botanical, for the horticultural market that facilitates better crop growth and helps to optimise conditions in commercial greenhouses.

The range uses Optifloat Clear, or low iron Optiwhite glass. Anti-reflective coatings on one or both sides of the glass can then boost the transmission up to a potential 98%.

This helps maintain a high hemispherical light transmission, which accounts for the different angles of incidence at which light meets the glass as the sun moves through the day.

This ensures that plants in greenhouses, orangeries and winter gardens have the longest period possible where daylight enables the plants to grow.

Saint-Gobain Sekurit is opening the doors of its User Experience Lab in Herzogenrath for a three day creation sprint.

As a provider of glazing systems and solutions, the company’s mission is to pave the way for future mobility.

To achieve this goal, students, doctoral students and post-docs with a game-changing mind are invited to join the event on 31 May to 2 June to create and develop innovative solutions and new business models to shape the future of automotive glazing and sustainable mobility.

"Verallia posted a very strong sales increase as a result of a highly dynamic glass market and price increases offsetting some of the cost inflation. In the current geopolitical context leading to unprecedented energy inflation and a negative inflation spread, the Group increased its EBITDA thanks to the operational leverage from the increase in volumes and its Performance Action Plan. Despite the current uncertainty, Verallia can rely on its agility and resilience and therefore reaffirms its 2022 objectives", commented Michel Giannuzzi, Chairman and CEO of Verallia.

In the first quarter of the year, Verallia recorded revenue of €750 million, compared to €605 million in the first quarter of 2021, representing a strong 24.0% increase in reported revenue.

Ubiquitous Energy has demonstrated 1.5m wide glass coated uniformly with its transparent solar organic semiconductor materials, called UE Power. Demonstrating the ability to scale UE Power to large sizes uniformly paves the way for the company’s high-volume manufacturing line for the production of floor-to-ceiling solar windows while maintaining the beautiful aesthetics and function of traditional low-emissivity glass.

The company expects its first high-volume US manufacturing line to be up and running in 2024. Each UE Power glass sized 1.5m by 3m could generate up to 1kWh of electricity per day.

Glaston has received an order from one of the leading glass manufacturers in North America for an advanced flat tempering line for complex production.

The close to €4 million order is booked in Glaston’s Q1/2022 order book and the line will be delivered in Q4/2022.

Stricter building regulations and tighter glass quality requirements drive demand for safety glass.

In North America, the glass processing market shifted towards high-quality safety glass processing already some years ago and this development has further accelerated.

With over 40 years of experience in the glass industry, Dave Dalton of British Glass has taken over from Richard Leese of the Mineral Products Association as Chair of the UK Energy Intensive User Group.

He will be supported by British Glass Federation Manager Jenni Richards as co-chair during the two-year term.

The change in chair comes at a challenging time for energy intensive industries with unprecedented energy costs and a crucial six months that will determine whether some energy intensive companies can continue to manufacture in the UK or export production abroad.

Many energy intensive sectors and subsectors have already relocated, but those products are still imported into the UK for use.