Glass manufacturing is divided into two categories: flat glass for windows and partitions, and blown/molded glass for containers and ornaments. The float glass production line uses a mixture of raw materials and recycled glass that is heated and floated on molten tin to create a flat plate. Blown glass is made by hand or with automated production lines using molds. The glass is hardened and decorated before distribution.
Glass manufacturing is generally divided into two main categories, namely those processes used for the manufacture of blown or molded sheets and products. While each category features a multitude of separate specialty products, the basic glass production line layout for each remains similar for most products. Flat glass, or float, is a flat sheet product mainly used for glazing products such as window panes and partition walls. In these factories, molten glass is passed over the surface of a bath of molten tin producing a finished glass sheet of predictable thickness and excellent surface quality. Blown or molded glass facilities produce bottles, jars, and decorative items from small pieces of molten glass that are blown manually outdoors or mechanically into molds.
Glass is an extremely prolific commodity that is encountered in a myriad of different forms in everyday life. However, it is generally encountered in only one of two basic forms: flat glass in mirrors, partitions and windows, and a multitude of containers and ornamental objects. Glass products are made using float or blown glass processes, each of which has a large number of specialized procedures for manufacturing 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 panes and other sheet products. Blown glass facilities produce bottles and ornaments manually or with automated glass production line methods.
The float glass production line typically begins with a dosing process in which raw materials, such as soda lime, silica sand and calcium oxide, are mixed with cullet or recycled glass. This mixture is then sent to a multi-chamber 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 on a bath of molten tin at a temperature of approximately 1,832° Fahrenheit (1,000° Celsius). Because tin is very fluid and glass is very viscous, the two do not mix with the glass, forming a perfectly flat plate between 0.11 inch (3 mm) and 1 inch (25 mm) thick. Once the glass plate passes over the tin bath, it has cooled enough to be sent to an annealing furnace, or kiln, to remove the heat stress, after which it is cut and stored for distribution.
A glass blowing production line differs in layout depending on the intended end products involved. Ornamental objects are typically hand blown by collecting a piece of molten glass from a furnace onto a blow tube and physically blowing air into it to form the rough object. The glassblower is constantly turning the object, adding or cutting pieces of molten glass, and flattening or inflating certain sections to form the finished product. Utility glass jars and bottles are usually made on large automated glass production lines that blow regular sized pieces of molten glass into molds. These products undergo various annealing, embossing and forming processes to harden the glass, add decorations or shape the threads of the screw caps before completion and distribution.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
