Dr Matthias Kümmerle has worked for Bucher Emhart Glass for 10 years. The company’s VP of Technology discusses his role and explains how innovation remains at the heart of the organisation.

Bucher Emhart Glass (BEG) launched NIS, its first all-servo machine, in 1999. NIS is ideal for high-volume, high-speed production, but less suitable for smaller producers who need to manufacture in smaller volumes. So in 2010, BEG introduced BIS, which offers the same repeatable precision as NIS but can handle a wider variety of container designs, sizes and weights.

A job change on a glass-forming  machine is always a challenge and has economic impact on the plant. Therefore, diminishing the downtime is a key goal. To optimise the machine shutdown, there is a high level of co-activity on the machine, with operators working simultaneously on both sides of the machine. Numerous parts of the section equipment have to be changed and adjusted.

The glass packaging industry faces the growing challenge of attracting young, highly skilled people, who are willing to work in glass plants. Over time, says Thomas Bewer, process knowhow within the plant will diminish, resulting in less productive processes and reduced revenues. In order to face this challenge, Bucher Emhart Glass’ End to End strategy provides technology and services to bridge the knowledge gap.

It was in 2011 that a joint-venture was created between Bucher Emhart Glass and China’s Shandong Sanjin Glass Machinery Co Ltd. Vincent Pang, Chairman of Sanjin and Martin Jetter, President of Emhart explain how the initiative has benefited both parties, as well as numerous customers in the Chinese glass container market.

Kenneth Andrew Domann*, Ceramic Engineer and Larry Finn**, Laboratory Manager discuss a formulation that has helped solve the issue of thermal shock in applications such as expendables. Research included a collaboration with the local university as well as testing in glass plants.