A new £5.4 million white flint furnace is now fully operational at glass manufacturer Beatson Clark, UK (pictured).
The furnace has a daily capacity of approximately 200 tonnes of glass and gives the plant in Rotherham the same size melting area of 70.6m² as the previous furnace.
However, an improved design will mean greater efficiency and reduced CO2 emissions in line with new government targets.
According to the company, the new equipment now utilises the flame length to burn more gas, thereby reducing NOx emissions by over 20%.
Improvements to the regenerators and an increased wall height have increased the combustion volume, which means that more heat can be recycled.
Meanwhile a new burner system with an oxygen trim facility ensures combustion is optimised, further increasing efficiency.
Approximately 80 contractors have been involved in the rebuild and maintenance project, including Sheffield-based Tecoglas who designed the furnace, Chapman Brack who has undertaken the rebuild and Batts Engineering of Rotherham who fabricated and installed the structural furnace steelwork.
The furnace rebuild is just part of a major £10 million investment which Beatson Clark has made in the plant and equipment at its Rotherham base in 2012.
A successful repair was made to the amber furnace in December 2011 and it has also installed new vision based inspection equipment at its factory.
“Our staff have worked closely with the contractors to ensure a smooth installation,” said Beatson Clark’s Furnace Manager Dean Duke.
“The new furnace and the major maintenance work that has been undertaken will enable us to continue to produce quality glass for our customers for years to come,” he added.