As mentioned some time ago our development agenda for the next years is focused on creating a logical and complete range of solutions for ultimate hot end forming process control. In the picture as per below we have put all the systems / new developments into place along with the IS machine.
Of course we will continue to strengthen our existing solutions as InfraRed Dual camera system (IR-D), SQL based information system (XMIS), Infrared Gob weight Control system (IGC) and Gob Assist. Besides we are working on the Blank side Temperature Control system (BTC) , Hot End Analyzer and we are in the process of building a true Expert system.
With the BTC we will be able to do contactless temperature measurement at the blank side. The BTC contains an innovative own developed temperature sensor. The BTC can measure multiple points in each cavity during a cycle and is synchronized with the timing of the IS machine. The points of measurements can be set by the user. In short everything which can be seen can be measured (neck ring, plunger, gob, blank hallfs, parison). In the past few months we have developed a BTC prototype, which will be installed at a customer site for live testing. We expect to have the first test results available at the beginning of 2012 and from the Glasstec in Dusseldorf we will have the BTC commercially available.
With the Hot End Analyzer we will be able to measure absolute wall thickness and dimensions fast and automatically at the Hot End. At first this system will an off line sampling system. As we will do for all our systems, we aim to relate the measurements of the Hot End Analyzer to the IR-D system. As such we will be able to relate IR-D intensity data to absolute customer requirements like wall thickness. As a result we will be able to closely monitor each single bottle according to the absolute customer requirements. The results so far are promising. During the coming Glass tech we will be able to demonstrate to you the real capability of this system.
Last but not least and based on the factual data we collect with our systems, we’re in the process of bringing these data together and building up an Expert system. This Experts system will be the door to a totally new future of glass forming.