Arts University Plymouth Invests in Electric Furnace
A new electric furnace has been installed in Arts University Plymouth’s hot glass studios, replacing the previous gas furnace, used frequently by craft, art and research students in undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. The first of its kind in an educational institution in the UK, it will reduce the annual energy consumption of the renowned hot glass studios by up to 80% in comparison to previous hot-glass blowing methods. It is forecasted to reduce the carbon footprint from hot glass by over 39 tonnes a year.
Gayle Matthias, Course Leader for BA (Hons) Craft & Material Practices, said: “The purchase of this equipment illustrates Arts University Plymouth’s commitment to sustainable hot glass practice going forward. The efficiencies in terms of energy usage and glassblowing practice, will greatly be improved by the addition of this state of the art equipment, it makes studio glass practice a more viable option for our graduates and models sustainable hot glass practice.”
Ian Hankey, Fab Lab Principal Technician and part-time technical demonstrator for hot glass, said: “This furnace is fantastic. It's the most efficient glass furnace I have worked with by far and also the best designed when considering ease of gathering and accessibility. The new range of equipment from Interpower Induction represents the most significant, exciting and innovative change I have seen since then.”
Craft & Material Practices student Nathan Soper said: “The new furnace is really good, a game changer. So many studios are shutting down because of gas bills. This furnace is definitely the future of glass.”
