In 2002, Bucher Emhart Glass introduced the Metering Spout System designed to promote optimum gob forming conditions.  The 585 metering spout series was designed for high tonnage operations pulling between 145 and 200 mtpd in conjunction with Bucher’s servo driven NIS machine.

In the past 13 years, a great number of the large 585 feeders have been installed in glass plants around the world.  However, market developments have recently pushed some those glass plants to slow down production, resulting in pull rates below what the 585 was originally designed for.  These low pull rates can lead to excessive wear on the spout and tube refractories, as well as poor weight and temperature control for the gobs.

The Bucher Emhart Glass refractory plant in Owensville, Missouri, with assistance from the Bucher Emhart Glass Engineering group in Windsor, Connecticut, has developed a new 585 metering spout designed to operate at pull rates between 110 and 160 mtpd.  The new spout fits the standard 585 equipment, using the same feeder mechanism, orifice rings, refractory tubes, etc.  In order to change a 585 metering spout to a low tonnage situation, a plant only needs to replace the spout refractory and the refractory burner blocks.

Bucher Emhart Glass has been conducting field trials with the new 585 metering spout for the past 18 months.  Reports have confirmed excellent gob weight and temperature control, with greatly improved refractory wear.  The new spout is now available as a standard Bucher Emhart Glass product.