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Long-term relationship reinforced with leading Russian glassworks
It was in 2005 that Russian glass packaging specialist 'LLC Glass Factory January 9' acquired its first Evolution 12 machine from IRIS Inspection machines. In the subsequent 14 years, a strong relationship has developed between the two companies, with eight camera-based cold end inspection machines having been installed at the Vyshniy Volochek glassworks, located between Moscow and Leningrad. This includes both Evolution 12 and Evolution 5 systems for sidewall/sidewall stress and base/finish/base stress inspection respectively.
Recently, the decision was taken to modernise this equipment. The hardware and software for all eight machines has been upgraded and converted to the latest Evolution NEO technology, making it capable of operating as smart inspection equipment.
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Vitro Architectural Glass appoints Technical Support Manager
Michael Hammond has been promoted to Manager, Technical Support for the quality and technical services team at Vitro Architectural Glass in the USA. Providing technical support and direction to members of the Vitro Certified Network programme, primarily in the areas of product application and process training, he will also take a leadership role in managing Vitro Glass product stewardship initiatives such as environmental product declarations and company participation in the Cradle to Cradle Certified products programme. Mr Hammond was most recently Glass Products Manager at Vitro Glass's Carlisle, Pennsylvania plant.
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Bottle development for kombucha craft beverage
Ardagh Group, Glass – North America has partnered with Mountain Culture Kombucha to introduce a 12oz glass bottle design that features a convenient, twist-off cap. In the non-alcoholic craft beverage world, easily resealable 12oz clear bottles are the most popular. In an effort to differentiate its products, Mountain Culture Kombucha chose to package its product in a 12oz amber glass bottle that would offer UV protection for the live organisms within the kombucha.
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Calls for an International Year of Glass
Over the past 60 years, the General Assembly of the United Nations has recognised important global initiatives and their contributions to society, with declarations of United Nations International Years. Against this background, an international groundswell has developed to pursue a United Nations International Year of Glass for 2022 that will underline the technological, scientific and economic importance of glass. With its unparalleled versatility and technical capabilities, glass has fostered numerous cultural and scientific advancements in communications, optics, energy and medicine.
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Sisecam container production capacity reaches 1.3 million tons in Turkey
Sisecam has commissioned an $18.2 million furnace at the group's Mersin glass packaging plant, raising the group's total production capacity in Turkey to 1.3 million tons. The 80,000 tons annual production capacity furnace is equipped with the latest Industry 4.0-compliant technology.
Today, Sisecam is the world's fifth largest glass packaging manufacturer, with 10 production sites in four different countries. In Turkey, where the group operates 12 furnaces and plants at Bursa, Eskisehir and Mersin, manufacturing capacity has been increased by 30% in the past three years.
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Global centre of excellence in R&D, innovation and training
More than 100 leading names from across the UK glass industry and supply chain, academia as well as local and national government, attended the Glass Futures Industry Conference in St Helens last month. The event outlined plans to create two centres of glass excellence, hot glass at St Helens and cold end research at the University of Leeds.
These two multi-million pound international research and testing facilities have been planned to shape the way forward for the glass sector. Among other goals, the hot glass facility is aiming to eliminate CO2 from the manufacturing process.
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Packaging creation at the forefront of virtual reality
The latest version of Verallia's Virtual Glass packaging creation tool is helping customers to obtain realistic renderings of their projects in record time. The result of a significant R&D effort, this digital tool makes it possible to create and visualise glass packaging filled, labelled and encapsulated with a realism never previously achieved.
At the forefront of virtual reality and 3D computing technologies, Virtual Glass is said to generate
hyper-realistic renderings of unprecedented quality in terms of image definition. These renderings include up to six models and can be used for communication purposes (online catalogue, promotional visuals etc).
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GPI President named
The Glass Packaging Institute has announced the appointment of Scott DeFife as its next President, effective 19 August. Assisted for the past 11 months by Joseph Cattaneo, the GPI Board of Trustees and its executive leadership team worked diligently to find the right fit for the organisation and its members.
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